I was outside the Lygon Arms at 10 am and soon found my guests for the day.
A delightful group of Ladies from the USA who had been abandoned by their husbands to play Golf in St Andrews.
Once buckled up we set off for Hidcote Gardens. Fortunately, someone had had the foresight to book tickets in advance so there were no concerns about getting in.
I left the ladies to wander through the gardens.
When they had finished we met in the car park and loaded various souvenirs into the back of the car.
Hidcote gardens is one of the best-known and most influential Arts and Crafts gardens in Britain, with its linked “garden rooms” of hedges, rare trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders.
The next stop on Today’s tour was the nearby town of Chipping Campden.
Saturday late morning and the town was buzzing and nowhere to park. I dropped them off at one end and arranged to meet later.
As it was lunch time, they stopped off at the Bantam tea Rooms for lunch and cream teas.
A bit later we re-grouped and wandered around the churchyard before heasding off.
Chipping Campden is one of the loveliest small towns in the Cotswolds and a gilded masterpiece of limestone and craftsmanship. The main street curves in a shallow arc lined with a succession of ancient houses each grafted to the next but each with its own distinctive embellishments.
Thinking time might be short I thought we could give Cotswold Lavender a miss. But, since we were passing right by the front door, so to speak, the Ladies wanted to go and have a look.
It was past it’s very best, but it was still worth the stop.
A family farm in the Cotswolds growing and producing a wide range of lavender for gifts, toiletries, soaps and home fragrances.
Now we were heading for Upper Slaughter. This involved navigating the narrow lanes and the oncoming traffic on a Saturday afternoon in July.
But we did stop to get some photos of Alpacas and some wonderful Cotswold views.
Passing through Upper Swell and then up and down into Lower Swell before arring at Upper Slaughter.
We wandered around the village taking in the Church and the ford. We were serenaded by the sounds of bleeting sheep and lambs. All quite innocent, I assured them!
The building that dominates Upper Slaughter is the beautiful gabled Manor House which is one of the finest buildings in the area. The oldest part of the house dates from the 15th century but the front is Elizabethan. The Manor is now a hotel.Upper Slaughter is known as a Double Thankful Village due to all their then members of the armed forces surviving both World War I and World War II.
It was a short journey to Lower Slaughter and by some stroke of luck we found a parking space. Allowing us to have a gentle stroll up and down the river.
I was very pleased that two of my favourite villages gained their approval too.
The name of the village of Lower Slaughter stems from the Old English name for a wet land ‘slough’ or ‘slothre’ (Old English for muddy place) upon which it lies. This quaint village sits besidea the little Eye stream and is known for its unspoilt limestone cottages in the traditional Cotswold style.
As this was a tour of the Cotswolds I was duty bound to take my guests to visit Bourton-on-the-Water. A very pretty town and always worth a visit. But maybe not on Saturday afternoon in July. It was vey crowded so we completed a drive through and decided it was time to head back to Broadway in time to get ready for their table booked for 6pm.
Bourton-on-the-Water has been described as the ‘Little Venice’ of the Cotswolds and is one of the most popular tourist spots in the region being serviced by the many shops, cafe’s, and attractions
Safely back at Broadway we said our goodbyes.
It was a great day out gently touring the Cotswolds visiting the towns and villages and taking in all the views of the beautiful countryside.
A good tour is a two-way thing, so thank you for being such lovely and enthusiastic guests.