The Cotswolds? Where is that? What is there? These are some of the questions I was asked as we prepared for our British invasion.
The Cotswolds covers a huge area – almost 800 square miles – and runs through five counties (Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire). One of the delights of visiting the Cotswolds is exploring the different areas, each with its own identity, yet all with those defining Cotswold features: golden stone and rolling hills, the ‘wolds’. The beauty of the area alone is almost indescribable especially if you stay as we did on a farm in a tiny village. Our place was a refurbished barn in Nauton, blink twice and you will miss it. The roads throughout the area are edged with golden stone walls from local quarries. This characteristic stone is used for many buildings also as an subtle indication that you are in the wolds.
Our week here took us to many of the villages as well as four local highlights about an hour's drive from our cottage. Our first excursion was to school. But this time it was Oxford. Of the 38 colleges that make up the University, Christ Church college is probably the most famous with such notable alumni as John Locke and Lewis Carroll. They even do an Alice in Wonderland tea to honor the author. Today many will know the college from it's great Hall dining room used in the Harry Potter movies.
Classes were on spring break when we were there but many students had come back early to study for end of term exams. As always, prospective students were visiting, providing a youthful energy to very old buildings.
Our next outing was closer. Just a few villages away to the Cotswolds Falconry Center. http://www.cotswold-falconry.co.uk/. This was an adventure I had been looking forward to. We had scheduled an appointment to fly a bird of prey. Unfortunately their was a problem with the reservation and they had no record of us. Thankfully, we were able to hold some of the birds which was really cool then watch the show. If you get a chance this is a not to be missed visit.
The show may have ended but we are still fans of Downton Abbey. So of course a visit to Highclere castle was a must. Be sure to reserve a ticket in advance and check the calendar. The castle is closed when the current Lord and Lady are in residence.
It's not hard to be the Bard when an entire town is about you. I'm talking about Stratford upon Avon of course and the man himself, William Shakespeare. The drive out was longer than we expected but completely worth it. We visited Shakespeare's birthplace as well as his grave before attending a performance of Anthony and Cleopatra by the Royal Shakespeare Company https://www.rsc.org.uk/. We were treated to more of Will’s words in a garden outside his birthplace by two talented performers. A truly great day.
The Cotswolds. A week was not enough to explore and words are not enough to explain all there is to enjoy here.
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