Hidden Cotswold Tour 12th March 2024

This was to be my first tour of the 2024 season so I had to brush up on my knowledge of the Cotswolds!.
I had to be in Windsor at 10am to pick up Tyler and Cynthia and the rain was constant and heavy all the way down.
Fortunately, the rain was moving East and we were going West and we started the tour with optimism that the weather would improve.

Cynthia and Tyler Morris

Hidden Cotswold Tour from Sir Christopher Wren Hotel Windsor around the North Cotswolds and back to Windsor.

Burford

Our first stop was Burford and despite the weather it is still a great view of the Cotswolds as we turned off the A40.  We parked up and went for a take away coffee .and wandered down to the impressive church of St John the Baptist.
We took the back roads fom Burford passing through the sleepy village of Taynton, stopping briefly to look at the folly in the field at  Great Barrington.

 

Burford High Street

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.

The Slaughters

We jointly decided to drive straight through Bourton-on-the-Water and push on to the Slaughters.
We got out and had a little walk along the river to see the mill and then back to the car.
From here it was a short drive up to Upper Slaughter where we disembarked and went to look at the small church of St Peter.  I pointed out the list of Rectors going back to 1273.
Back in the car we drove up over the hill stopping to take in some of the wonderful views.

Lower Slaughter Mill

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.

The Plough Inn at Ford

It was now getting close to lunch time and while discussing where to go we were passing the Plough Inn at Ford and decided to stop here.
As it was Cheltenham Festival Week there was a huge television showing the racing.  But we found a table in the restaurant area and had a lovely meal washed down with two of the local ales.  Thank you for treating me.
Sorry, I called it the Fox.  It’s actually the Plough!

The Plough Ford

Situated right in the very heart of The Cotswolds, The Plough Inn provides customers from near and far with a great selection of traditional seasonal food, pub classics and a wide range of real ales and beverages to be enjoyed in a beautiful Cotswold pub environment.

We have a strong connection to the local horse racing community being situated just across the road from Jackdaw’s Castle, the home of Jonjo O’Neill racing stables.

Chipping Campden

By the time we had finished it was pushing 3 pm so we had to get a bit of a move on. 
We stopped very briefly to admire the front gates to the Jacobean Stanway Manor and then drove slowly through Stanton, one of several Cotswold villages with a claim to be the prettiest.
We drove through Broadway and then a small detour to look at Broadway Tower, before going back down the hill to Chipping Campden.

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.

Stow-on-the-Wold

I would love to have detoured to show Tyler and Cynthia Donnington Brewery, where their lunch time beer was made.  But unfortunately, time was against us.  So it was on to Stow-on-the-Wold.  Here we got out, had a look at the yew Trees that surround the church doors.  A quick stop at Th Cotswold Chocolate shop and the Porch House which has been there since 947AD. 

Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on the-Wold is the highest of the Cotswold towns standing exposed on 800 feet high Stow Hill at a junction of seven major roads, including the Roman Fosse Way. The vast Market Square testifies to the towns former importance. Around the square the visitor is faced with an elegant array of Cotswold town houses and shops.

Route

Now we had to get back to Windsor.  
Considering we were passing Oxford at rush-hour we made good time.
I really enjoyed my day with you and showing you around the beautiful Cotswolds.
Thank you for making what I do such a pleasure.
I am sure you will enjoy your trip to Scotland and I hope you both get a taste for their great Scottish Whiskys.

 

Tour Route 12th March 2024

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