Hidden Cotswold Tour 11th May 2024
It was an earlier start today. I was at the Manor Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh to pick up Aric and Libby.
We had not discussed a route in detail beforehand so, I discussd my plan for the day which, as always, was going to be adapted as we went along.
The sun was shining, it was Saturday and I knew that certain places were going to be busy.

Blockley
We drove slowly through Bourton-on-the-Hill and on to Blockley. We eventually found a space and had a little wander around the Church.
As Libby had seen some of the UK TV show, Father Brown, it was great to show her the church and the village.

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
From Blockley we drove slowly through Broad Campden and stopped at a beautiful spot overlooking the valley and smelling the bluebells. Then down into Chipping Campden. I left Aric and Libby to walk along the High Street, agreeing to meet at the end. From here we all walked around the church and poked our noses over the wall to have a closer look at the ‘woollies’ in the fields.

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
From Chipping Campden, we drove up the hill to Broadway Tower. The weather was good, but quite hazy so the view was not as clear as it coould have been. But this did not stop Atric and Libby from climbing to the top of the tower for the full experience.

Built in 1799, Broadway Tower 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!
Stanton / Stanway
Our next vilage was to be Stanton. I did a little loop via the car park at the Mount Inn with a quick stop for a photo. Then onto Stanway House where we got out and had a look over the wall, in the church yard, to get a better view of the Jacobean Manor of the Earl of Wemys.
I had booked a table at the Plough at Ford for lunch. We all had a good lunch and thank you very much for treating me.

Stanton is probably one of the prettiest and idyllic villages in the whole of the Cotswolds. Little changed in 300 years. It has a very pleasing long main street with several delightful corners where the ancient house are built in typical Cotswolds style with steeply pitched gables, mullioned windows and glowing honey coloured limestone walls.
Stanway House is an outstanding example of an English Jacobean manor house; built of mellow Cotswold limestone between 1580 and 1640.
Donnington Brewery
As the Pub was a Donnington Pub, I felt we had to visit the brewery. As we drew up into the car park we found ourselves in the middle of a classic car rally. Triumphs, Porsches and a Ford Galaxie.

Donnington Mill was perhaps one of the Mills of Broadwell Manor, which dated back to 1291. In the 16th century it was used as a Cloth Mill.
However, early in the 17th century, the Mill became a separate freehold estate and in 1827 the buildings were bought by Thomas Arkell, whose descendant Richard Arkell started a Brewery there in 1865. The Brewery flourishes today and has been owned and run by the Arkell family ever since.
Upper Slaughter
From Donnington it was a cross-country route along single track narrow lanes and on to Upper Slaughter. On the way we stopped at another viewing point where we disembarked to walk a little of the footpath and chat about farming.
We wandered around Upper Slaughter which was quite busy. Back in the car we drove slowly through Lower Slaughter.
We also drove slowly through Bourton-on-the-water, wisely deciding not to stop as it was heaving with people.

The building that dominates Upper Slaughter is the beautiful gabled Manor House which is one of the finest buildings in the area. 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.
Didley Squat
Again on the back roads we drove on to Burford. This too was busy and we decided not to stop but, to carry on to Didley Squat farm shop. By the time we arrived the shop had shut and the car park was slowly emptying, but still a lot of people around.
Time for a fun-selfie in front of the sign before heading back towards the hotel.
On the way back we had to stop and get out to watch the ‘woollies’ in the park land of Cornwell Manor. This was great as we watched and listened as hungry lambs called out to find their mothers for a feed.

Established in 2020, Diddly Squat Farm Shop was the brainchild of Jeremy Clarkson after realising that potatoes did indeed grow well on his farm and he had accidentally produced 40 tonnes of them. From there, with his partner Lisa, he bought hives and began to produce and sell bee juice, along with apple juice and cow juice from a local dairy.
Route
The Cotswolds were looking really wonderful today and it was such a pleasure to show you both around. We managed to see a lot during the day without, I felt, rushing too much.
It was great to spend the day with you and I thoroughly enjoyed your company.
If giving reviews is something you do, I would really appreciate a few words on my tripadvisor page 😊
