Hidden Cotswold Tour 4th May 2024
I was back at the Fleece Hotel at 10:00am to pick up Darryl for our second day in the Cotswolds. There was time for a cup of coffee before heading off towards Painswick.
It was a different day today as the sun was shining and it was going to be relatively warm 😊
Painswick Beacon
I took to the small windy roads into the Slad valley. We passed through the sleepy village of Sheepscombe and then back up, out of the valley, and upwards still to Painswick Beacon.
Here we walked up the hill passing, and stopping to watch, a number of golfers hitting off the tee. It has to be said, some with more success than others!
It was a great view from the triangulation point at the top.
Painswick Beacon, originally Painswick Hill, is an isolated summit of 920 feet, along the western escarpment of the Cotswolds.
The high point is marked by an obelisk, positioned just within a series of concentric ditches and embankments from the Iron Age Kimsbury Hillfort, built around 400 BC. A few scattered trees grow on the upper slopes of the hill, but otherwise the ground is covered only by short grass, mingling with many wildflowers.
Painswick
We drove down from the beacon and into Painswick. It was annoyingly busy and there was nowhere obvious to park. It soon became apparent that there was a wedding and the guests had nabbed all the spaces. Having parked, we wandered around the town and the churchyard listening to the peel from the 14 bells welcoming the congregation to the ceremony.
I had promised to drop back down into the valley to pass through Slad, but unfortunately forgot and headed straight on to Minchinhampton Common.
Painswick is quite often referred to as the Queen of the Cotswolds due to its fine buildings of pale grey limestone. These are a reflection of the town’s former prosperity during 300 years of activity in the cloth and wool industry.
Tetbury
The cattle were not yet out on the common, but we drove on, passing walkers and golfers before taking the road down into Tetbury.
It was lunch time by the time we arrived. I pointed out the Chipping steps before we went for a light lunch at Cafe 53 and found a seat in the garden. Neither of us wanted a big meel so we shared a salt beef panini and some chips.
The town of Tetbury is proud of its 1300 years of recorded history since 681 when Tetta’s Monastery was mentioned in a charter by King Ethelred of Mercia. Now famous for the annual Woolsack Race.
Castle Combe
Moving on from Tetbury our next stop was Castle Combe. I knew it was going to be busy but had not anticipated another wedding! Taxis were trying to ferry bridesmaids and wedding guests out of the village and causing huge congestion!
When we eventually escaped the mayhem in Castle Combe we were on the road and on our way to Malmesbury.
Castle Combe has been described as the prettiest village in the Cotswolds. This magical and ancient village, mentioned to the Domesday Book of 1086, was once a weaving town at the heart of the Cotswolds wool trade. Now a popular tourist destination with good reason.
Malmesbury
Unfortunately, the Abbey was closed so we could not get in. But, we did walk past The Old Bell which, also, claims to be the oldest hotel (in continual use) in England dating back to 1220.
In the Cloister Gardens there was a Civil war re-enactment going on which we spent a little time wandering around.
It was then time to head back to Cirencester and the Fleece Hotel.
Malmesbury is rightly called the “Queen of Hilltop Towns” being England’s oldest borough with a rich history over 1000 years. Officially Malmesbury can be traced back to the fifth century, but modern excavations have revealed the remains of an Iron Age Fort, which casts the settlement possibly as far back as 500 BC. Malmesbury is also home to England’s oldest hotel, the Old Bell, which has been offering bed and board since 1220.
Route
It was such a pleasure showing you around both the North and the Central and Southern Cotswolds.
I was fascinated by your career and the things you have achieved, especially the jouney in your Mini!
I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in the UK and on your Viking Cruise.
If you enjoyed my tour and would be happy to share any thoughts or photos please click on the TripAdvisor link below. Thank you
