Hidden Cotswold Tour 13th May 2024
Today’s tour was booked way back in July last year and I was looking forward to meeting Carey and Judy. I was at the Manor Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh to pick them up.
Following introductions, we set off for our day in the Cotswolds.
Blockley
We drove slowly through Bourton-on-the-Hill and on to Blockley. It was very busy in the town and nowhere I could leave the car. So, I let them out to visit the church on their own. As Judy had watched Father Brown this was a good place to start the tour.
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.
Hidcote Gardens
Our first major stop was to be Hidcote Gardens. And taking to some unfamiliar roads (I wanted to avoid Chipping Campden for now) we eventually found our way to the gardens. Unfortunately, the sun was not shining, but it was not cold and it wasnt raining!
Hidcote is one of the best-known and most influential Arts and Crafts gardens in Britain, with its linked “garden rooms” of hedges, rare trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders. Created by Lawrence Johnston, it is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.
Chipping Campden
I was ready and waiting to take them on to our next stop which was a short journey into Chipping Campden. Here, I let them out to wander up the High Street and we re-grouped out side William Greville’s house (the oldest in the town). We then had a walk up to and around the ‘Wool’ Church of St James.
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
Back in the car, we drove up out of the valley and up to see Broadway Tower. The wind was blowing and was quite cold so we opted not to get out and just had a look at the tower from the car.
We also stopped to see the red deer hind who thinks she’s one of the sheep!
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!
Broadway
Then down into Broadway where it was time for some lunch. We opted for a sandwich with crisps (or chips!) in Hunter’s Tea Room. Just what was needed, and thank you for treating me. Following a brief chat with a Chelsea Pensioner outside the cafe we were back in the car and on our way to Stanton.
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 / Stanway
Stanton was once voted ‘The Prettiest Village’ in the Cotswolds. A number of which will also claim this. We stopped briefly as I pointed out the dovecot and carried on to Stanway.
We stopped to admire the beautiful cattle lying down – was this a sign it was going to rain?
There was a film crew at the house and they gave Carey a hard stare when he got out to take a photo!
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.
The Slaughters
From here it was on to Upper Slaughter. We got out of the car and walked up to the church followed by walking the loop past the ford and back to the car.
The cattle were right as it was now raining a bit and we took cover under our umbrellas.
Onwards to Lower Slaughter where we just stopped to look at the mill. We drove up and down the High Street of Bourton-on-the-Water, unaminously agreeing it was too ‘touristy’
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.
Cornwell Manor / Daylesford Farm Organics
We stopped briefly in Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in teh Cotswolds and then drove on to Cornwell Manor. I was very pleased that the ewes and lambs were there and as noisy as I had hoped. As we were so close to Daylesford it wa only right to pop in. Carey and Judy found some cheeses and biscuits to take back their hotel for supper.
After a brief stop to look at Chastleton House, the Jacobean Manor, before heading back to Moreton.
Daylesford farm shop is a truly special shopping experience, with an abundance of fresh organic produce to tempt you.
Your senses will drift from the cheeses to the fresh meat to the wines. Don’t be put off by some of the eye-watering prices as it’s the perfect stop for a relaxing cup of tea and to lap up the luxury of this place.
Route
Fortunately, the rain held off for most of the day and we managed to get around this beautiful part of the Cotswolds.
It was a lovely to meet you both and spend time with you.
I hope you had a good day in Oxford and that you enjoy your Viking Cruise down the Seine.
If you do leave reviews, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a few words on my Tripadvisor site😊