Hidden Cotswold Tour 17th May 2024
After several communications it was good to
meet up with Marc and Judy at Stow Lodge Hotel in Stow-on-the-Wold at 10:00am on what I hoped would be a lovely summer’s day.
Following introductions and a discussion of the day ahead, we set off.
Blockley
Our first stop was to be Blockley but before getting there we stopped to admire a wonderful view across the valley looking towards Moreton-in-Marsh and the ancient Roman road of Fosse way.
We had a brief stop in Blockley with a chance to look into the Church, being the parish church of the TV series, Father Brown.
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
We drove on with an aim to get to Hidcote gardens.
I let them out to enjoy the gardens on their own. But, we did bump into each other as I was having a little wander as well. The gardens were looking fabulous and despite the three coaches in the car park it did not feel over-crowded.
I was very pleased to hear the they loved this garden.
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
Back in Chipping Campden. I let them out to wander up the High Street on their own. We re-grouped to visit the church and catch a piano recital practice.
It was now time for lunch. After a brief discussion on where to eat we opted for the pub, the Eight Bells.
We had a good meal – thank you for treating me.
Judy had seem some little dishes in the market square which we popped back to buy.
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 / Broadway
We decided to just enjoy the view of the tower from the car and did not get out.
We did the same in Broadway as time was getting on and I wanted to visit more towns.
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
We drove up to the top of the high street in Stanton, which was once stated as being the prettiest village in the Cotswolds. I pointed out that this was on the route of the Cotswold Way. I also stopped outside the Dovecot.
Moving on to Stanway House, we got out of the car to have a look at the Jacobean Manor from the church yard. We were fortunate to get a viewing of the gravity-fed fountain. And then a quick visit to the Norman church.
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.
Upper Slaughter
I knew you were planning to walk to Lower Slaughter, but I wanted to take you to Upper Slaughter, a “Double-Thankful” village. We took a little walk around the church.
We then drove through Lower Slaughter, and Bourton-on-the-Water as they were on our route to Burford.
The parish church of St Peter has a slightly unusual approach; the path leading to the south door is cut between two high banks. The church dates to the 12th century. The name comes from old English ‘Slohtre’, which ‘muddy place’. Today’s village the epitome of idyllic charm. Straddling the banks of the River Eye, the village has remained utterly unchanged for more than a century with no building work taking place at all since 1906.
Burford
Getting in to Burford was easy, but as we drove up the high street it was obvious we were not going to get back down quickly as the queue started up at the roundabout!
Taking the back streets through Burford we drove onto Swinbrook.
We all got out to visit the pub to look at the 6 portraits of the Mitfrord sisters.
Then driving onwards through the stunning Swinbrook valley and back to Stow-on-the-Wold.
Burford is a beautiful old Cotswold town. Its High Street slopes down from the high Wolds, providing 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
The sun shone most of the day and we managed to see a lot of the North Cotswolds.
It was a great pleasure to meet you and spend the time together.
I wish you all the best on your onward journey to Scotland.