Oadby Town Football Club - Aspire Magazine

Explore The Cotswolds
Be Charmed By
The Cotswolds
©VisitBritain/ Tony Pleavin
The Living
Green Centre,
at Bourton on the Water
Combining the counties of Gloucestershire,
Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire,
Wiltshire and Somerset, the Cotswolds is a truly
diverse place. 'Cotswolds' is a combination of two
very old English words; everyone's pretty much
agreed that ‘wolds’ are gentle hills, and most
people agree that 'Cots' are sheep enclosures, so
'Cotswolds' probably means ‘an area of gentle hills
with plenty of sheep’.
The Outdoors
As the Cotswolds have been designated an Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) there are some
magnificent views to take in, especially over the Severn
and Thames Valleys and the Vale of Evesham. The largest
AONB in England and Wales, the Cotswolds are a paradise
for walkers and wildlife enthusiasts. The best way to see
some of England’s best scenery is to take a stroll along
The Cotswolds Way, a long distance footpath which
runs the length of this AONB, mainly on the edge of the
Cotswold escarpment.
If you’re after a bit of adventure, the Cotswolds’ diverse
landscape provides plenty of opportunities to experience
the thrills of canoeing, white water rafting and cycling, to
name but a few.
History
This historic region also allows you to experience its
varied past thanks to the numerous historical sites dotted
around the ‘heart of England’. Our top recommendation
would be a trip to Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe,
Gloucestershire where you’ll be given a fascinating
insight into Sudeley throughout the ages. There is also
the opportunity to explore the 14 acres of magnificent
gardens surrounding the castle.
Another excellent fun yet educational day out can be
enjoyed at Gloucester Cathedral. Standing in the north of
the city, the Cathedral has welcomed worshippers for over
900 years.
Gloucestershire is also home to 32 Iron Age hill forts,
many in strong positions on the Cotswold scarp.
Leckhampton Hill has a fine accessible example from this
period.
If you’re a fan of William Shakespeare, no trip to
the Cotswolds would be complete without visiting
Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of England’s
national poet. Enjoy the exhibition at Henley Street,
Shakespeare’s childhood home, as well as the exhibit at
Anne Hathaway’s cottage just one-mile from Stratford.
Step back in time to old Stratford and visit New Place on
Chapel Street, where Shakespeare spent his last years or
even visit his last resting place at Holy Trinity Church in
Stratford-upon-Avon.
Traditional Towns
The Cotswolds are home to some of England’s most
charming and unspoilt towns and villages. These towns
and villages are built of the underlying Cotswold stone (a
yellow oolitic limestone). This limestone is rich in fossils,
in particular fossilised sea urchins, adding to the area’s
unique charm.
Nestling in the Cotswold Hills you’ll find the beautiful
villages of Snowshill and Painswick, whilst the historical
market towns of Tetbury, Stroud, Evesham and Cirencester
offer visitors of all ages excellent local shopping.
Shopping in the Cotswolds these days is a welcome
escape from the usual trundle around your local
supermarket. There are numerous Farmers’ Markets held
around the region that offer locally produced goods,
such as cheese, craft items and veggies. Cheltenham was
recently voted ‘Britain’s Favourite High Street’ largely in
praise of the Promenade row of excellent smaller shops.
©VisitBritain/ Britain on View
If you’d prefer to experience the countryside from a more
urban base, the towns of Gloucester, with its historic
waterfront, and Cheltenham, with the Royal Crescent and
the Municipal Buildings, offer impressive architecture,
stylish shopping and world-class horse racing.
Food & Drink
Fabulous local produce and award-winning restaurants
make eating and drinking in the Cotswolds a truly
memorable experience. The restaurant scene here is
healthy, with established Michelin-starred addresses in
Cheltenham at Le Champignon Sauvage and 5 North
Street in Winchcombe.
The sheltered climate beneath the escarpment of the
Cotswolds, the light, loose soils and the ready availability
of river water for irrigation in dry weather has led to a
great deal of vegetable production in the area: spring
onions, leeks, cabbages, Brussels sprouts and runner
beans but also rhubarb, lettuce, spinach, broccoli,
beetroot, courgettes, artichokes and pumpkins.
The Vale of Evesham (known as the fruit and vegetable
basket of England) has numerous orchards in the area,
survivors of a time when the entire Vale was covered with
blossom in the spring, making Evesham town the perfect
place to pick up locally grown, delicious produce.
Film & TV
With stunning rural scenes, historic pubs, ancient
buildings and market squares, it’s not hard to see why the
Cotswolds are used for numerous TV programmes and
films each year. In the past, big productions such as Harry
Potter, James Bond in ‘Die Another Day’, Bridget Jones's
Diary and Doctor Who have all used the area for filming.
Heath Farm
Swerford, Chipping Norton OX7 4BN
Award-winning luxury self-catering holiday cottages
in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Relax in comfort and
style in the privacy of your own space in the English
countryside.
Self-catering holiday cottages in the Cotswolds, lovingly
converted from old farm buildings set round a stunning
paved courtyard with water garden and adjoining the
owners’ house, these five award-winning, very individual
stone cottages offer guests the ultimate in comfort, quality
and cleanliness and a chance to enjoy the high standards of
craftsmanship, which is the hallmark of this idyllic retreat.
Tel: 01608 683270
Email: barbours@heathfarm.com
www.heathfarm.com
For more information on travelling to the
Cotswolds, visit www.cotswolds.com
Whether you are wanting to explore the
famous English countryside or looking for the
perfect place to get away from it all for the
weekend, The Cotswold Gateway Hotel can
meet your needs.
Situated in the historic Cotswold region of
England, this charming hotel, restaurant
and bar is ideally located for those wishing
to visit classic traditional villages, beautiful
countryside and world-famous Oxford.
Traditional comfort and service, fine cuisine,
and a charming attention to detail await you
at the edge of one of the Cotswold’s premier
destinations.
The Cotswold Gateway Hotel
216, The Hill, Burford,
Oxfordshire OX18 4HX
Tel: 01993 822695
Email: cotswoldgateway@btconnect.com
www.cotswold-gateway.co.uk
Waiten Hill
Farmhouse
Imposing 19th Century farmhouse
overlooking River Coln, water meadows,
old mill and famous church. Short walk to
pubs, (5 minutes) shops and restaurants
(10 minutes). Ideal base for touring the
Cotswolds and water park, and local
walks.
The farmhouse stands within large
gardens, where you will find vegetables
and soft fruit beds, cherry, plum, pear
and apple trees. There are also spacious
south-facing lawns with tables and chairs,
ideal for picnics, playing or just enjoying
the beautiful surroundings and summer
sunshine.
TV, coffee/tea in all rooms. Ample private
parking.
Richard Rymer
Waiten Hill Farmhouse, Coronation
Street,Fairford, Glos GL7 4HX
Web: www.waiten-hill-farmhouse.com
Email: richard@waiten-hill-farmhouse.com
Telephone: 01285 712 652
Right on the High Street, at Bourton
on the Water, the Living Green Centre
is a place where you can see for real,
the ideas and actions that can be put
into practice in any home. We believe in
people change not climate change and
encourage people to take positive steps.
First impressions are ‘what a beautiful
place! I’d like to live here’. In its charming
setting the organic show garden and
ultra green shop building really have the
wow factor. The eco-show home is now
going ahead. It looks at how to make
existing houses environment friendly.
Attached to the project is a marvellous
shop. You can shop with confidence
every product is carefully chosen with
the environment as number one. Lovely
local products made in Gloucestershire,
interesting eco gismos and an extensive
range of Fairtrade and fairly traded
goods.
Tel: 01451 820942
Email: people@living-green.co.uk
www.living-green.co.uk
The Old Coach House B&B
Whether it’s the sublime cathedral of Gloucester, you want to visit or the racing at
Cheltenham, equine pursuits at Gatcombe or Badminton, the wonderful trees at
Westonbirt, or just a relaxing walk in the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside, Rachel
and Stephen are waiting to welcome you. The Old Coach House B&B in the village
of Eastcombe, set beside the beautiful Toadsmoor valley in the Cotswolds Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has two en-suite bedrooms, one with ground floor
access onto a courtyard. The bedrooms offer king-sized beds with all the extras you
would expect from a quality B&B.
On arrival, a cup of tea and home-made sponge cake will make you feel at home. If you
require it, an evening meal can be provided by prior arrangement, and then – after a
good night’s sleep – breakfast! Fresh baked croissant, home-made breads and rolls,
locally produced bacon and sausages, and Winnie's eggs (however you want them) all
complement the home-made marmalades and jams; fresh fruit salad and yoghurt or
good old cereals and muesli. Take your pick and tuck in!
If you are going to stay in England this year, stay in the Cotswolds, and where better than
the Old Coach House B&B, in Eastcombe.
Tariff: £75 per night for double occupancy. £60 per night for single occupancy.
Visit England Four Stars, Breakfast and Silver Awards.
Contact: Stephen W. Wright
Dr. Crouch’s Road, Eastcombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL6 7EA
T: 01452 771196 | E: admin@oldcoachhousebandb.co.uk
www.oldcoachhousebandb.co.uk
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