Well, after everyone was so generous in giving me Barcelona hotel information, it turns out we're not going to Barcelona after all. We've only got 6 weeks left here in London and want to treasure every moment. That, and the fact that our American friends are coming over! We're going to spend two days in the Cotswalds (either at the King's Head Inn at Bledington or their new inn, the Swan, at Swinbrook) and then they'll have another two days here in London.

Other than seeing Oxford, what else should we be doing? We'll have a car and none of us is 'hiking in the country' people. They've been before but I have you, so I'm sure I can come up with some suggestions they may not know.

I'll read the existing posts too.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
gtg

To clarify that hiking statement, we're all fine with long walks, even very long walks. It was just hiking in the woods, I meant.

Blenheim Palace

"we're all fine with long walks, even very long walks. It was just hiking in the woods, I meant."

What on earth is the difference?

I took that to mean exactly what she said - they are fine walking for a long times, however, they do not particularly care to do it in a wooded setting.

GTG - have you been to Bath? It's WONDERFUL.

I really love just driving around, discovering the villages and visiting the country pubs. We found the food in the country pubs to be very good, and lots of atmosphere!

I personally wouldn't combine Oxford w/your stay in the Cotswolds. Oxford is a very short train ride from Paddington and you can go there any free day you have in the next 6 weeks.

To enjoy the Cotswolds - you need to slow down and experience the countryside/villages/walks. So go to the country and do the country. Then hit Oxford on any day the whim strikes you. That's what I'd do anyway.

As I see the difference -- all you will have in the Cotswolds are 'walks'. Hiking to me involves more strenuous/longer distance treks w/ maybe altitude changes and a bit of climbing.

Walking/pubs/exploring villages is what to 'do' in the Cotswolds.

The Chedworth Roman Villa is well worth a visit. http://www.chedworthromanvilla.com/ Interesting mosaics including one of the four seasons featuring a figure wearing the Birris Britannicus.

I've also always been interested in falconry and spent a fascinating hour or two here. http://www.cotswold-falconry.co.uk/ The day I was there was sparsely attended, and they let us don gauntlets and lure the birds. Interesting experience having an eagle fly to your hand!

And lots of pleasant walks. As janisj says, these are not wilderness excursions.

hi gtg,

if you want to see a typical Cotswolds garden, Hidcote is lovely and such a bu..er to get to that you'll see loads of the Cotswolds on the way.

i also like Cirencester very much; others rave about Broadway.

Oh do go to Sudeley Catle and Hailles Abbey... they are near each other. Janisj is right (as usual) the villages are the the main attraction IMO.

Cotswold towns that we found underwhelming: Stow-on-Wold, Chipping Camden, Broadway. These towns were pleasant enough and have plenty of amenities but for us just did not have that "special" feeling.

Towns that we really liked: Upper and Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water (we were not there in the tourist season), Castle Coombs, and Winchcombe. We really enjoyed visiting these (we based in Bourton-on-the-Water). They are beuatiful, charming and all of the other adjectives we associated with the Cotswolds. A walk in the Slaughters was perfect for bucoloc scenery and length.

make that "bucolic"
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I agree about Upper and Lower Slaughter - its a very nice walk between the two as well!

lizzie's got it right; janisj and jamikins too. I have no interest in hiking in the woods but "Walking/pubs/exploring villages is what to 'do' in the Cotswolds" is exactly what we want to do. The villages are our real interest. I'm going to have to sit down with a map and pinpoint all the villages and sites you've mentioned and see if we can come up with a bit of a plan. We'll have two full days and depending on when my friends want to get to London, much of a third day to wander around.

We have been to Bath but so long ago it was merely a sponge-down (haha). Upper and Lower Slaughter sound interesting and I like the fact that you can walk between them.

Thanks everyone

Another village I loved was Stanton - there is a pub at the top of the hill that has great views and is worth a stop. The village is adorable.

Hi there!

Well, you've had plenty of advice about the north Cotswolds from those who are much more familiar with them than I. I would agree the walk between the Slaughters is very pleasant and not at all difficult.

Now, about the south Cotswolds:

Here the country side is no longer rolling hills and bucolic vistas. The hillsides are steep and the valleys deep and narrow with tumbling streams and grey stone cottages clinging to the steep slopes, the villages being built to no pattern but randomly placed in clusters.

The views are tremendous, across the Severn valley to the Welsh mountains - on a clear day you can see the Sugar Loaf Mountain at Abergavenny. And south you can see to the Marlborough Downs, north to the Malverns, Abberley hills and very occasionally to Clee Hill which towers above Ludlow in Shropshire.

Some of the villages are really lovely, the Duntisbournes, Sapperton (really nice walk through Siccaridge Woods along the old canal banks), Chalford (the canal walk again along the Golden Valley), and up on the hill is Chalford Hill and then Bisley. From Bisley you can walk the Toadsmoor Valley which is absolutely gorgeous). On the other side of the valley are Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons - 13,000 acres of National Trust land. In the summer months this is open for grazing, but the cattle will be in now. This is a wonderful place to walk, with stunning views.

Then travelling further west there are pretty villages like Uley with the ancient manor of Owlpen, Nympsfield, Ozleworth, Alderley and Tresham, then dropping off the Cotswold escarpment there's Berkeley Castle down in the Severn Vale.

Email me at [email protected] if you want to come to this part of the Cotswolds, and we could maybe arrange for me to pick you up after a walk and take you back to the start where you left your car, or I can suggest some pubs, etc.

Still enjoying reading your trip report!

As you say you're probably staying at the Swan at Swinbrook, then you're near my favourite Cotswold village, Burford. Please take time out to visit the lovely historic church, and perhaps a walk along the river Windrush (we saw a kingfisher there recently). The church at Swinbrook has the marvellous Fettiplace monuments and the graves of 3 of the Mitford sisters. Asthall Manor nearby will probably not be open to the public but you can see the lovely Jacobean frontage from the churchyard next door.

julia,
that's such a lovely post -- you should be a travel writer (as should we all, no?) Your offer is very generous and I'll consult with the friends to see if they have a plan in mind.

bellini, they're taking care of the inn reservations but, yes, I think it's going to be the Swan, so we'll definitely put Burford on the list.

I have a question about Bath. I haven't looked at a map yet but is Bath do-able on this trip or should we come back to it? And if you say Oxford might use a day on its own, wouldn't that be true of Bath as well?

hiking vs walking and what to expect on typical cotswold walks...

most britons do not use the term 'hiking' even with reference to strenuous walks done for challenge or fitness and involving mountains/altitude. therefore, there is very little distinction in strictly provincial british english between mountain walking/climbing and much more relaxed ramble or walking to a country pub. perhaps not vital to your question but a potential source of confusion among people who might think of various things based on the terms used.

to set the expectation right for the OP, typical cotswold 'walking' consists of a fair amount of ramble on countryside paths with the expected mud, crossing through fields with sheep or cows, etc. most people will wear leather 'hiking boots' (to use international terminology) on these walks and some will use gaiters and other 'hiking' gear and a few will use poles (although more of a liability than help on such tame walks). it also typically involves visits to villages and country pubs and you often see quaint little cottages along the way. such typical walks are usually not through heavily wooded areas for great lengths of time, nor do they typically involve climbing steep paths for extended periods but rather rolling hills. obviously you can plan a walk however you wish but typical cotswold walking does involve the elements that i describe.

"<i>And if you say Oxford might use a day on its own, wouldn't that be true of Bath as well?</i>"

yep

I do think there is more to see in Oxford -- but some of the sites in Bath (especially the Roman Baths) take a lot of time- So each city would take a full day at minimum.