This morning I collected my guests from the stunning Ellenborough Park just outside Cheltenham.

Ellenborough Park

We set off and headed through Cheltenham to the Village of Painswick.
We stopped to wander through and around the the village and especially the church and church yard and the 99 yew trees.

Painswick Stock

Painswick is quite often referred to as the Queen of the Cotswolds due to its fine buildings of pale grey limestone. These are a reflection of the town’s former prosperity during 300 years of activity in the cloth and wool industry.

Driving on from Painswick we detoured across Minchinhampton Common.  There were a few highland cows grazing.  But no cattle holding up the traffic.

Cattle at Minchinhampton

Minchinhampton Common is a 182 hectare biological and geological Site of Special Scientific. The site is owned and managed by the National Trust. The common is one of the largest grassland commons in the Cotswold area. 

Then we passed through Tetbury, in the middle of a rain storm.

The Market House Tetbury

The town of Tetbury is proud of its 1300 years of recorded history since 681 when Tetta’s Monastery was mentioned in a charter by King Ethelred of Mercia. Now famous for the annual Woolsack Race.

It was a longish drive to Castle Combe, but the rain had stopped by the time we arrived and had lunch in the White Hart.
A little walk in the village taking in the classic view from the other side of the bridge.

Castle Combe

Castle Combe has been described as the prettiest village in the Cotswolds. 
This magical village was once a weaving town at the heart of the Cotswolds wool trade.

From Castle Combe we set off to see Lacock village and the Abbey.  My guests wandered around the Abbey on their own and then spent time in the photography museum.

Lacock Village

The village of Lacock dates from the 13th century and has many lime-washed half-timbered and stone houses.
The Abbey was founded in 1232 and converted into a country house around 1540.  The fine medieval cloisters, sacristy, chapter house and monastic rooms of the Abbey have survived largely intact.

Back in the car and we started the return journey home via Cirencester.  Luckily we were just in time to visit a gallery just before it closed for the day.  A panoramic painting was chosen which is to be shipped home.

Cirencester Stock

Cirencester, often referred to as the Capital of the Cotswolds was the second largest town in Britain during Roman times.
The market square is dominated by the cathedral-like Parish Church of St. John Baptist which is one of the largest in England. 

Unfortunately the road from Cirencester to Bibury was blocked and there was no other quick route.  So we continued back to Ellenborough Park in Prestbury, Cheltenham. 

Arlington Row Bibury June 2022

The main attraction of Bibury is Arlington Row.  A group of ancient cottages with steeply pitched roofs dating back to the 16th Century.
This image appears on UK Passports.