Hidden Cotswold Tour 15th July 2023

I was back at Buckland Manor to pick up Nancy, Dick, Melissa and Jeff at 10 am.  
The sun was shining although there were a lot of clouds about and the forecast was not good.  Again, undeterred by the weather we set off on the first leg to Bibury.
It was Nancy’s Birthday today so I hoped I could make it a good day 🤞

Stanton and view from the Mount Inn

On the way we passed through Stanton, so we had to have a little trip down memory lane for Nancy and Dick and a loop round the Mount Inn.
Next on the little detour was stopping at Stanway House and a sneaky view over the wall from the church yard.  Dick could not resist pulling the door-bell, but sadly no liveried man-servant came to the gates.

View from the Mount in Stanton

Stanton is probably one of the prettiest and idyllic villages in the whole of the Cotswolds. Little changed in 300 years it nestles beneath the slopes of Shenbarrow Hill. 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.

Sudeley Castle - almost visited!

Nancy had wanted a little more of a walk since yesterday as we were in the car for most of the tour.  So we pulled up to Sudeley Castle as I had a little walk in mind.  Only to find the castle closed due to the impending storm!
Looking at the ominous clouds and Jeff’s weather app we decided against a walk and turned around.

Sudeley Castle
The view I wanted to show Melissa and Jeff 😒

With royal connections spanning a thousand years, Sudeley Castle has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past.

Today Sudeley Castle remains the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds – Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII – who lived and died in the castle.

Bibury

On the journey to Bibury, down many a twisting and turning narrow lanes the heavens opened.  It was biblical rain as we navigated our way through the ever-growing and deepening puddles.

Fortunately by the time we reached Bibury, the sun was shining and it looked as if they had had no rain.  I let everyone out by Arlington Row and met them 15 minutes later by the gift shop.  And on we went.

Arlington Row Bibury June 2023

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.

Burford

In Burford, I dropped them off at the top end of the high street with a view to meeting them at the bottom.  This worked well and we walked to the car by the church before deciding it was time for lunch.
Today we went to the Maytime in Asthall and all had a delicious lunch.  Thank you for treating me again.

Burford High Street

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

It was now time to head back  and we drove North towards Broadway and Buckland Manor.
It was lovely spending time with you all and getting to know you. 
And I hope I fulfilled the brief set out by Nancy 😊

Hidden Cotswold Tour 15th July 2023

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