Hidden Cotswold Tour 23 July 2023

Our tour was due to start at 10 am this morning.  But I received a text requesting a delayed start as they had enjoyed themselves so much at the wedding last night, that they needed a bit more time!
I was there at 10.45 to meet Renee and Mark and and we set off with full confidence that the sun would come out.

Chastleton House

Chastleton house was our first stop and a look at the house from betewen the railings.  We tried to get in to the Church but were too early for the today’s tea making team.  And, anyway, the lady there could not open the key safe 😒

Image Chastleton House

Chastleton House was built between 1607 and 1612 as a statement of wealth and power by prosperous wool merchant, Walter Jones. Owned by the same increasingly impoverished family for nearly 400 years, Chastleton has remained a time capsule and hidden treasure-trove for generations.

Blockley

We had more luck when we stopped at Blockley and had a good look in the Church of St Peter & St Paul.
We had parked outside the Northwick Bowls Club where a few gentleman were practicing.  This brought up the subject of a couple of games played in Tennessee.
I have now looked up Cornhole and Bocce.  I even read the rules!

The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Blockley
The view I wanted to show Melissa and Jeff 😒

During the eighteenth century when the wool industry was in decline Blockley turned to silk production. By 1884 six silk mills powered by the fast-flowing Blockley brook provided work for about 600 people preparing silk for ribbon-making factories in Coventry.  The Church is also well known from its role in the TV Series Father Brown.

Chipping Campden

In Chipping Campden I pointed out the 17th Century Market Place and left them to wander up the High Street and to meet outside Sir William Greville’s House.  From where we wandered up, past the Alms Houses, to the Church of St James.
Renee managed some very quick shopping,  buying a bag for a friend of hers 😊

Chipping Campden Market Hall

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.

Broadway Tower

Our next destination was Broadway Tower.  Driving up the lane, we stopped to look at a flock of resting sheep.  To our surprise there was a red deer hind hiding nonchalantly amongst the flock.  At the tower Renee and Mark got out of the car and had a little walk around the tower. It was very blustery at the top of the hill!

Broadway Tower

Built in 1799, Broadway Towere is a perfect example of an eighteenth century Gothic folly from which it is possible to survey an area which includes as many as thirteen counties.
It was built for Lady Coventry to see if she could see it from her home some distance away.  She could, but never visited it!

Broadway

It was now time for some food and after a little discussion we decided on going to Russell’s Fish and Chip restaurant.
Fortunately, we found the perfect parking space and then a spare table at Russell’s.  We all enjoyed Haddock and Chips – Thank you for treating me 😊

The Cotswold village of Broadway is often referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’ and the ‘Show Village of England’ because of it’s sheer beauty and magnificence. The ‘broad way’ leads from the foot of the western Cotswolds escarpment with a wide grass-fringed street lined with ancient honey coloured limestone buildings dating back to the 16th century and earlier.

Stanton and Stanway

We drove up and down the high street of Stanton, one of the several villages with a claim to be the ‘Prettiest Village in the Cotswolds’!  We then drove through the beautiful classic English Parkland of Stanway Estate  before getting out to look at the impressive Jacobean Manor House and then into the ancient Church of St. Peter.

Stanway House Gate House

Stanway House is an outstanding example of an English Jacobean manor house; built of mellow Cotswold limestone between 1580 and 1640.

The Slaughters

I always like to stop and look at the Church of St Peter in Upper Slaughter.  Partly for the approach along the sunken path, but also for the impressive list of Rectors going back to 1265.
We had a gentle stroll past the ford, along the river eye and back to the car.

St. Peter's Church in Upper Slaughter

Upper and Lower Slaughter – the slightly macabre name comes from the Anglo/Saxon word for marsh. Lower Slaughter Mill is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Upper Slaughter is equally attractive – and one of only 14 Double-Thankful villages in England, villages that lost no men during either World War I or II. The villages are are linked by the gently flowing River Eye.

Bourton-on-the-Water and Burford

We drove slowly through Bourton-on-the-Water stopping only to have a look at the crowds from the car windows. 
It was then on to Burford. I felt that now the night before was beginning to catch up and rather than getting out and spending time in Burford, I thought a rejuvenating cup of tea was called for in the relaxing atmosphere at Daylesford Organic Farm Shop. 

View of Burford Church from Taynton

Burford, 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.

Route

From Daylesford it was a short journey back to Icomb.
The sun did shine for us and I trust you enjoyed the day and got a good feel for all that is unique and beautiful about the Cotswolds.
I really enjoyed meeting you and spending the day with you.
Thank you for making what I do such a pleasure 😊
I wish you a safe journey home and I hope you got to set foot in Wales.

If you enjoyed my tour and would be happy to share any thoughts or photos please click on the TripAdvisor link below.  Thank you