Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE
COTSWOLDS
by Stephen Keeling
11
Between Oxford and the River Severn, the pastoral
Cotswolds comprise a stretch of rolling limestone
hills, steep escarpments, and meandering streams.
Some of England's most ravishing villages dot this bucolic
region, made rich from the medieval wool trade and distinctively built of
honey-brown Cotswold stone.
SIGHTSEEING
Witheringly beautiful villages such as
Bibury,
Pains-
wick, Broadway,
and
Chipping Campden
are likely to be your most
endearing memories of the region. Eating at medieval inns, soaking up the
picture-perfect scenery, and wandering the narrow lanes—before the
crowds arrive—is at the heart of the Cotswold experience. There are
plenty of traditional sights, of course:
Gloucester
is home to a handsome
cathedral; Cheltenham is a sophisticated spa town; and
Sudeley Castle
provides some historical glamor.
EATING & DRINKING
When it comes to food, the Cotswolds is all
about fresh, locally grown produce. You'll find
farmers' markets
and
organic farm shops, like the one near
Cirencester,
throughout the region,
and organic meat and vegetables are served at numerous restaurants. You
can buy
fresh fish
at trout farms, like those at Bibury and Donnington.
Cheltenham
is the gastronomic capital of the region, with a host of styl-
ish and acclaimed restaurants led by
Le Champignon Sauvage.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
The lesser-traveled roads of the Cotswolds
make tempting targets for
cyclists,
and there are plenty of rental shops
and specialist cycle tour companies to help. Another enticing outlet
for healthy activity is the
Cotswold Way,
a 100-mile trail that cuts across
the most seductive of the region's landscapes, towns, and mercifully, his-
toric pubs.
ARTS & CULTURE
Cheltenham is also the region's art and culture
hub, celebrated for its roster of
festivals
that cover everything from
folk, jazz, and classical music to literature. Elsewhere, the 19th-century
Arts and Crafts Movement has a shrine in the form of
Kelmscott
Manor,
the home of William Morris, while the
New Brewery Arts cen-
ter
in Cirencester harbors 12 contemporary artists who craft all manner
of goods for sale.