Cotswolds Information & Tourism Guide

It would appear that the area is fairly well haunted in one way or another, and there are plenty of buildings, locations and villages that can lay claim to at least one ghost. And on many occasions they can claim far more than that.

Take the Black Abbott for example, who resides in a churchyard close to Cheltenham, the home of the famous racecourse. We have plenty of Holiday Cottages close to the area, so if you fancy the idea of trying to find the mysterious Black Abbott, you won’t have to try quite as hard to find a nearby property to stay in while you do!

For those staying near Cheltenham the best way to find out all there is to know about the ghosts in the area is to take a ghost walk. These are guided by experts in the subject, so you will be assured of a disturbing but enjoyable night out. Make sure you find out about these in advance though, as they usually need to be booked. They are certainly rather popular among those visitors who want to see a different side to the area!

If you are staying a little further afield in our Grosvenor Place Apartment in Bath, then you’ll be glad to know you can see a similar side to this city too. These ghost walks have been going for over thirty years, which should tell you how popular they really are!

The Royal Crescent in Bath is one of the most famous and recognisable sights in the city. And the ghostly Gravel Walk which leads to it holds a few stories of its own.

But Moreton in Marsh is perhaps one of the most haunted places you could visit on any Cotswolds Holiday. And for the bravest among you we have just the property to put you right in the middle of this haunted location!

We can’t guarantee that you’ll find any ghostly activity at all at The Cottage in Moreton in Marsh, but you might see something nearby. A good number of the local hotels and pubs have at least one ghost on the property, and if you fancy a drink at the Black Bear Inn there is something you ought to know first. You shouldn’t be too surprised if you find yourself in the middle of some poltergeist activity there. This is a German phrase which literally refers to a noisy ghost.

So you see, while most people think of Cotswolds Cottages as being lovely, calm and stunning places, the area surround them has a lot more to offer than that. On a Cotswolds Holiday, you might actually see more than you bargained for, with ghosts and ghouls abound.

There are lots of things you can do during a stay in your Cotswolds Cottage. You can visit the Cheltenham racecourse, you can hike across the countryside, you can explore the many towns and villages that await you, and you can also enjoy many stops in a whole host of different pubs and inns.

The Cotswolds is famous for quite a few things, but it certainly knows how to tempt you with a great pub or two while you are here! So let’s explore some of the best ones in the area, so that when you visit you’ll know exactly where to go.

First of all, it’s good to know that wherever you want to stay you won’t have to go too far to reach a pub. That’s ideal if you are going to spend most of your days out and about, enjoying the various delights of your Cotswolds Holiday. Once you’ve gone back to your Cotswolds cottage or accommodation to freshen up, you’ll be able to wander down the road and straight into your local pub for some refreshments.

For example if you are staying somewhere near Aston, you won’t want to miss a meal at the Trout Inn, at the equally wonderfully named Tadpole Bridge. Our Bakehouse holiday cottage is perfectly located just a short distance away so there will be no excuse for not trying it out! Local food and a great choice of drinks are on offer to delight you as soon as you arrive.

The Carpenters Arms is another pub worth paying a visit to on a day out. In fact if you are staying in one of our Cottages in Fulbrook, such as the quaintly named Footstool Cottage for example, this pub won’t be too far away for you. We also have the Manor Farm Cottages and Honeysuckle Cottage – both equally well placed to allow you to pop into the pub for a drink on your way back each evening!

That’s one of the great things about our cottages. We have lots of them dotted around the whole of the Cotswolds, and none of them are too far away from at least one pub. Even if you plan to cook at your holiday cottage most evenings, you can still set aside some time to soak up the atmosphere in one of the Cotswolds pubs every now and again.

It’s also worth taking note of where the pubs are located if you are planning to go out and explore for the day on foot. The good news is that they are fairly evenly spread, and they differ enough that you can always find something that will appeal to your own tastes.

It’s also possible to get a nice taste of history while you are visiting the Cotswolds pubs. Some of them have been standing for a hundred years or more, such as the Queen’s Head in Stow on the Wold for example. So be sure you don’t miss out on this intriguing and refreshing side of the Cotswolds.

Have you ever noticed that many cottages and holiday lets operate on a Saturday to Saturday basis?

That’s all well and good if you work in an office or any other job which is on a Monday to Friday basis.  But if you work odd hours, odd days and strange shifts you might actually benefit more from a midweek break.

Unfortunately that can cause problems.  Not all locations will offer anything other than dates which go from one Saturday to the next, which can cut down on your options.

Luckily here at Manor Cottages we have plenty of options for you, no matter what day you want to start your short break or holiday in the Cotswolds on.  Take the wonderful Blacksmith’s Cottage for instance.  Located in Winchcombe, this cottage provides a lovely base from which to explore all the best parts of the Cotswolds.  And since you can book your stay to begin on any day of the week, you can make the best of whatever time off work you have.

Of course if you would like a more unusual place to stay in for a few days, you might like the Old Ann Cam School.  Yes we did say a school!  This impressive building began life back in 1825, and is now enjoyed by many visitors to the area.

Meanwhile, the village of Bampton is out to the east of the Cotswolds, and it offers a stunning barn conversion to stay in if you’re bringing a few people along with you.  Extremely light, airy and very spacious, this retreat offers the ideal base for anyone who wants to explore the great outdoors.

This property is near the Buckland Road, which leads into the village of Bampton in one direction and Buckland Marsh in the other.  This offers  plenty of opportunities for walkers to stretch their legs and get up close to the best of nature that the Cotswolds is renowned for.

There are many reasons why opting for a midweek break is better for some people than others.  But one of the best ones is that you don’t have to limit yourself to a seven day holiday.  If you want to book nine days away, that’s fine.  Perhaps you have an extra couple of days to take, or you want to take less than a fortnight?  That’s not a problem either, since you are in control and you can book one of the above properties for however many nights you wish.

You’ll notice that some of our new properties operate on an ‘any day’ start basis, but be sure to check the listing for each one to see whether you can book it in this way.

You can see that all the most versatile properties in this sense are dotted about the Cotswolds, offering you the biggest selection of places to stay in.  So no matter what you want to do when you arrive in the Cotswolds, you can be sure to fit it in just when it suits you best.

Yes it’s nearly that time again.  On the 10th March 2009, thousands of people will flock to the Cotswolds in order to soak up the atmosphere that is associated with this prestigious horse racing event.  It may only last for four days until the 13th, but during that time well over two hundred thousand people will flock to Cheltenham to grab a taste of horse racing up close.

Of course, some people make the trip every single year.  It’s been over a century since the Cheltenham Races first began, so there is a wealth of history tied up with the annual event.  But every year some people make the trip to see what goes on for the very first time.  And perhaps this year, you might be among them.

There is no better time to come and explore the Cotswolds if you are a fan of horse racing.  For example, if you come and stay in one of our delightful cottages in the picturesque village of Bourton on the Water, you will be about sixteen miles or so from the racecourse itself.  That equates to a nice half hour drive on some pleasant A roads which take you in virtually a straight line for most of the way.

But let’s go back to the races themselves to find out a bit more about what goes on each year.  Each day sees a number of different races being run at Cheltenham.  For example, on the first day at about half past one in the afternoon, the crowd will send up an excited roar as the first race gets underway.  This is the Supreme Novices Hurdle, and there are five more races in total before the first day is over.

There are seven races on day two, including the National Hunt Chase.  Those who know a bit about the history of the Cheltenham Festival will know that this is the original race that started the whole event.  For that reason – as well as the fact that both the riders and the horses are new to horse racing – it tends to be a very popular event.

The third day sees a further half a dozen races, and day four winds up the whole event with another seven.  All eyes will be on the final race this year, which is the JH Grand Annual Chase.

As you can see there is plenty to enjoy (and indeed place a bet on!) no matter whether you come for a single day or return for the whole event.  And if you are planning on staying for the whole thing, why not book a cottage with us now from Saturday to Saturday?  If you do you can enjoy a few days exploring all the delights of the Cotswolds before the Cheltenham Festival itself gets underway.

Millions of pounds are placed in bets every year, and inevitably there will be losers as well as winners.  Although if you have booked your accommodation here in the Cotswolds, we reckon you’ll definitely be a winner regardless of whether your horse comes in or not!

Not everyone is suited to a lazy type of holiday, and if you are up for seeing the Cotswolds from the saddle of a bike, you certainly won’t be disappointed.

You can bring your own bike on the back of your car if you wish, or alternatively you can hire one locally.  But whichever way you choose to get going, you won’t fall short of places to explore during your stay.

The beauty of the Cotswolds doesn’t just lie in the miles of stunning countryside you can gaze at as you pedal along.  It also lies in the variety of cycle routes you can follow.  If you are used to being in the saddle every day, you’ll appreciate the off-road options that will take you onto some of the more challenging routes available.  Beginners might feel more comfortable on the quieter roads, of which there are many in the Cotswolds area.

The one essential item you will need if a cycling holiday appeals to you is a map.  It’s worth investing in a proper cycle map too, as this will highlight all the local routes that you can follow near to where you are staying.  For example, some of our cottages and properties can be rented in the Cotswold Water Park.  This alone has two beautiful routes that you can try out for starters.

In fact, you don’t have to be out on your bicycle every day if you don’t want to be.  You can hire bicycles for a single day to try it out, and then book for additional days if you wish.

On the far east of the Cotswolds the rolling countryside dips down toward the Thames, whilst the northern side is ridged with a steep escarpment, and within this varied countryside there are any number of routes, from the easy to the relatively challenging.

One of the best advantages of cycling in the Cotswolds is that the terrain is very suitable for bikers of all abilities.  You won’t find any steep mountains to puff your way up.  Think of it instead as a series of gently climbing and falling hills, so you won’t be in for any great difficulty for a prolonged period of time!

That the Cotswolds is a well established location for cyclists means that there are a large number of cycle hire specialists in the area, who can provide whatever you need – from hybrid and mountain bikes to guided tours, advice and maps.

There are plenty of cycle paths and routes criss-crossing their way all over the area, but you might like to come up with your own ideas as well, as you become more knowledgeable about the area.  In fact, there is no better activity than to put your feet up in one of our superb quality cottages in the evening, glass of wine to hand, as you plan your route for the very next day.

If that sounds appealing, it doesn’t begin to cover the joy you will get when you actually go out on your bike for real!