Today’s pick up was to be the Bathen House Boutique Hotel in Bath. So, at 10 am I was there to meet Erin and Mia who had had a couple of days touring Bath. My brief was to take them around the Cotswolds. The forecast for the day had been heavy rain. But here in Bath the sun was shining and following introductions we set off on our way to Castle Combe.

Castle Combe
Castle Combe was a little busier than I was expecting it to be, but we had a relaxed walk down to the river and managed some pictures looking up to the market cross without too many people.
A look into the church before climbing back into the car and heading off towards Malmesbury.

This magical village was once a weaving town at the heart of the Cotswolds wool trade: you can still see weavers’ cottages where the local red and white cloth was produced.
Malmesbury
From Castle Combe we travelled north east to Malmesbury and its very impressive Abbey there.
Another ‘locals’ market town the day before christmas eve and we were fortunate to find a parking space.
We wandered around the Abbey and looke at the tombe of Athelstan the first King of a united England.

On the top a perfect flat hill encircled by the River Avon at the southern entrance to the Cotswolds, sits Malmesbury, said to be the oldest continually inhabited town in England. Malmesbury is rightly called the “Queen of Hilltop Towns” being England’s oldest borough with a rich history over 1000 years.
Cirencester
En route to Bibury, we passed through Cirencester and driving through the centre Mia spotted a sculpture which she wanted to photograph. They both jumped out of the car whilst I did a loop of the one-way system and the busy pre-Christmas traffic. But was there when they had finished.

Cirencester (often referred to as the Capital of the Cotswolds) was the second largest town in Britain during Roman times.
In later years it was a very prosperous medieval wool town.
It now boasts the cathedral-like Parish Church of St. John Baptist (one of the largest in England).
Bibury
On we drove to Bibury, parked the car and continued to chat as we walked the famous Arlington Row then back to the car via Rack Island and on to the Mill. We stopped to admire a pair of majestic swans before climbing back into the car.

During the 18th C when the wool industry was in decline Blockley turned to silk production. By 1884 six silk mills provided work for about 600 people.
Blockley is now a very peaceful charming village with its mill stream winding its way through the bottom of the valley. The beautiful Norman Church will be a familiar sight to fans of Father Brown.
The Maytime Inn
It was now about 1.30 and time for lunch as we were heading for Burford. I had had in mind a country village pub and so I drove to Asthall and the Maytime Inn.
I left thme there to enjoy their meal on their own.
I was very glad to hear that they had had a very good lunch and esprcially the Bloody Marys!
The Maytime’s picturesque garden features an outdoor bar, boules pitch and stunning views over the rolling Oxfordshire countryside. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy al fresco dining.
Burford
Burford was busy on this friday afternoon and I dropped them off at the top of the High Street whilst I drove to the bottom and waited by the Church.
By the time they reached the bottom it was time to head back to Bath.

A beautiful old Cotswold town, its High Street sloping from the high Wolds, where you have beautiful views over the open countryside, down to the willow fringed River Windrush in the pretty Windrush valley. A fine three arched medieval bridge crosses the river at the foot of the hill.
As it was now getting dark and we had a long journey back, I chose what I thought would be the quicker route only to find ourselves stuck in traffic on the M5.
But, we eventually got back and I dropped them off at their hotel.
It was a lovely day out and such a pleasure to have such fun and enthusiastic people.
Fond farewells and back home.
