Cotswolds and Wales - must sees
 

<BR>What should we not miss in the Cotswolds and Wales? We will be traveling by car but only 4 days so want to make the most of the time. Prefer quaint villages and scenery. Thanks

I never reached the Cotswolds on our two week jaunt through Britain, but can highly recommend Wales since you indicated you like small towns. The drive from Cardiff (a nice town with a very interesting castle--a very old castle is on the grounds along with Roman ruins and a new castle)north through Brecon Beacons is beautiful and there are lots of nice towns along the way and Snowdonia park in the north is also terrific. Lots of castles, too, if you are interested. A particularly nice spot was an abandoned abbey just north of Llangollen (along the main road) and although this town is more touristy than others it is still quite nice. <BR> <BR>Try the local pubs--great places for a good, cheap meal and to strike up conversations with locals. We found the Welsh to be even more friendly and curious about Americans than the Scots or English (though they were all wonderful). An example of just how hospitible they can be occurred in Southern Wales. Our car was vandalized and our luggage stolen (this can happen anywhere) and we could not make it to our B&B in Shrewsbury so a family took us in. The next day, they took my wife shopping while I traded in the rental car and before we left, they made us a grand lunch. Later, when our belongings were found, the family washed everything and shipped it to us in York. <BR> <BR>Finally, I'd recommend staying in B&Bs, as they are cheaper and offer a chance to meet people. Hotels we stayed in were far too sterile.

While I was in England this past June, I did make it to the Cotswolds. I went to Bourton-on-the-Water, which is a very quaint little village with a little <BR>stream/brook running through it. It is very <BR>picturesque and to me an ideal place to visit. <BR> <BR>Same area is Stowe-on-the Wold. It didn't get to stop here, but by just passing through I looked <BR>like another quaint place. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip. E-mail me if I can help any more.

Castle Coombe (sp) is not to be missed. It was a setting in the TV sequel of Gone With The Wind. It goes without saying, it is a beautiful area. Make sure Warwick Castle and Blenheim Palace are part of your tour. <BR>

Just returned from a trip that included a week in a Cotswald cottage. We picked up a map at a bookshop entitled Cotswolds Map & Guidebook in One. It designates which villages are scenic villages and I recommend as many of those as you can do. Stow, Bourton on the Water, Moreton in Marsh, Broadway are all tour bus stops. If you can avoid those until late afternoon,your visit there will be more enjoyable. Highly recommend Naunton (with a meal at the Black Horse pub) which is where we stayed. Also the Upper and Lower Slaughters, and if you get out to Blenheim Palace, a detour to Great Tew (chock full of thatched cottages) and a fine pub as well. There are many more. We also enjoyed Sudeley Castle, Snowshill Manor and it's village. Also in the Tourist Info office in Stow, look for a booklet titled Romantic Road. It is a drive that takes you through small villages and notes the points of interest along the way. Hope this helps.

Some of the world's most wonderful gardens are in the Cotswolds: <BR> <BR>Hidcote Manor near Chipping Campden (itself a great stop as it is one of those charming villages) <BR> <BR>Kiftsgate (down the lane from Hidcote) also near Chipping Campden. <BR> <BR>Barnesly House near Cirencester -- Rosemary Verey's justly famous gardens

. . . and famous gardens in Wales: <BR> <BR>Powis Castle near Welshpool <BR> <BR>Bodnant Gardens in north of Wales near the coast and near the River Conwy.

Snowshill and the two villages called the Slaughters along with a very small Hamlet called Coln St. Dennis are my favorites in the Cotswolds. In Northern Wales, Conway is a delightful village with a wonderful old castle and you can easily drive to Llanberis (prounounced "Clanberis)which means you will drive thru the spectacular Llanberis pass. In the town you can catch the Snowdon Mountain railroad up to the top of Mt. Snowdon. Two other very small but beautiful Welsh towns are Betswy Coed (means "Church in the Wood" and Beddgellert which for you real British fans is the home of the author of "Rupert Bear" books. Just enjoy the beautiful Welsh countryside.

<BR>Definitely Burton-on-the-Water can hike to the <BR>Slaughters (upper and lower) also Broadway <BR>is a fine place close to Snowshill Manor(one of <BR>a kind musem) and more good hiking. <BR>Stayed in Old Manse in Burton and a B&B in <BR>Broadway called The Olive Branch both nice. <BR>Have a great time, hike around if you can a great <BR>way to get a feel of the countryside. Agree about <BR>the Welsh very friendly. <BR>Have a great time.

In addition to the above (all good advice), I want to add that when we visited Wales several years ago we were taken by surprise. It was a wonderful place, and we would love to go back. <BR> <BR>Despite the unkind things Bill Bryson has to say about the Blaenau Ffestiniog railroad in his book, Notes from a Small Island (funny things - probably true - but we didn't experience them), it was a fascinating trip. It was a working rail line which brought slate from the mines down to port (and presumably took supplies back up - and people in both directions). The upper end of the line is ina little town that is all slate - hills of slate, buildings of slate - slate everywhere. It is a scene I can never forget - and it is a nice ride down the hill. <BR> As a part of a tour, we also visited Port Meirion (spelling?) a resort with fantasy Italian architecture on a south-facing inlet along the coast. Again - it is a place out of time, and eccentrics dream and vision (and home to a profitable international chinaware business). Also a very nice upscale resort - but you can visit it and its miniature Italianate "village" without staying there. <BR> During that trip I was on the prowl for fiction and memoirs which had to do with travel in the UK, or were generally about the people and the place(s). I didn't do very well with that, but we did discover Edith Pargeteer's novels set in Welsh history. We made the mistake of only buying one -so this summer we'll being buying out a bookstore somewhere between London and Wiltshire and Stratford! <BR> <BR>Finally - I don't think anyone mentioned Bath - which is right at the edge of the Cotswolds. Roman history is an integral part of British history - and you really should try to make time to go to Bath. Even if you don't have time to spend in the more modern town (which is elegant), visit the Baths - follow the crowds down through the msueums and walks through the Roman baths. You are a story or more below the modern street level, and even surrounded by people of the late 20th century, it is all too easy to imagine yourself 2000 years ago. The hot water still gushes out of the earth. It's a remarkable time capsule. I'm no fan of crowds, but I think it's worth braving them to go. <BR>Happy travels.

Dorothy: <BR> <BR>Be sure to check out Bradford on Avon (just outside of Bath). My wife and I fell in love with the quaint little village last September. Some hints: Eat dinner at the Dandy Lion, have a high tea at the Bridge Tea Rooms, and check out the 11th century Saxon church. Also, it's a mere 10 minute train ride to Bath - a simple way to visit without driving in and searching for parking. Finally, stay at B&B's - the only way to go in Great Britain. Email me if you'd like two really good ones there.

For you history seeker, Bradford on Avon also has an original Anglo Saxon Church which I believe dates from the 900's.

I just got back from a few days in the Cotswold, and <BR>a good map is vital. If you can get a Ordnance <BR>Survey map of the area or the Goldeneye map (which <BR>I purchased off of the web), you will be greatly <BR>helped. A few places that do not get as much <BR>mention that I found very nice: Burford and its <BR>church. The church is a marvelous example of the <BR>expansion of churches from Norman times and among <BR>other things has the oldest representation of Native <BR>Americans in England on the tomb of Henry VIII's <BR>barber. Painswick and the 99 Yews. Legend has it <BR>that if a 100th tree was planted the devil would <BR>take it. Golfers, try the municipal course at <BR>Cleeve Hill. On a clear day you can see to Wales, <BR>as well as Cheltenham, Winchcombe, etc.... I have <BR>no idea what the name of this town means, but <BR>Guiting Power. It has a dozen or so houses, a post <BR>office, a church and two pubs. We ate at the <BR>"Hollow Bottom" (as Dave Barry would say: I am not <BR>making this up) and had a marvelous meal amongst <BR>steeplechase and cross country racing memorabilia. <BR>We stayed on a farm/BB at Postlip below Cleeve Hill. The Albutt's were wonderful hosts with a great <BR>breakfast and teddy bears for the kids to borrow <BR>for the stay. Send me a note and I would be glad <BR>to send you their address and number. <BR>

Hi. Just got back from England last month, and did see the Cotswolds. I had originally planned to actually stay at an inn in Chipping Campde, but then later decided to stay in Stratford and just do a tour in. So glad I did. The Cotswolds are beautiful and all, but not a lot to do if you actually stay there. Unless you plan to do a lot of walking. I did a one day tour of the Cotswolds from Stratford upon Avon, and so saw Chipping, Stow, Bourton, etc..., They are all really quite beautiful, but I would only stay in one of those towns if I had a car. Public transport is very difficult and infrequent around there still. I think the best way to see the Cotswolds would be to stay in a larger nearby town, like Stratford (which wasn't at all too touristy when I was there) and then rent a car and day ramble around the Cotswolds, or take a tour. Also, Bleneheim Palace is stunning, but make sure you go on a sunny day, or at least a day that isn't raining. It really is the magnificent landscaping and extensive gardens that are so beautiful, and one can't really enjoy them on a rainy day. We ended up going on the rainiest day of the month, so i learned my lesson the hard way, Enjoy your trip!!

Echoing Marcia's advice... <BR> <BR>Bath is a must do, and Portmeiron is worth a visit if you are nearby. It's magical. There are also many, many castles in Wales (as the Welsh were always protecting themselves from the English intruders). <BR> <BR>As stated by others, just enjoy the countryside. It is the most beautiful in the world. Find places to walk, hike (Snowdon, etc.), and generally relax outdoors. Follow Fodor's advice (no, I don't work for them--I just believe the guides offer excellent advice) and the "Good Pub Guide" for advice on eats. <BR> <BR>Enjoy!

<BR>Thanks to everyone who so generously posted information for us. We will be leaving in a few days and I am sure all the things you told me will add greatly to our enjoyment of the trip. I probably will have new things to share when we get back. Many thanks to everyone. It is apprciated. <BR>Dorothy