If you keep up with the news you’ll probably have heard several stories coming to the fore recently that haven’t painted the Cotswolds in the best possible light. You’ve probably read stories about countless different celebrities moving up to the Cotswolds, about the Chipping Norton Set and overall that people who live here only drive Range Rovers, Land Rovers and where only Hunter wellies! Please, please, that’s not fair and it’s certainly not true. Sometimes it seems like the area has been completely taken over by the rich and famous. Hardly the sort of place you’d want to go to on holiday, I’m sure you may have thought.

But is this really the case?

Of course not, at least not from my 12 year old battered estate car. There are many, many hard working locals who have lived in the region their entire lives alongside many intrepid entrepreneurs who have created brilliant new business. People like ‘Love My Cow’ and ‘Cotswolds Ice Cream’ to name just two who are displaying just what is brilliant about the region. Yet, do the newspapers talk about these when they bang on about Jeremy Clarkson or Kate Moss? If you elect to come on holiday to the Cotswolds would you really be tripping over celebrities at every turn and feeling as if you were sitting in the houses of Parliament rather than enjoying a break?

This is where the truth must be separated from the fiction. Even though it feels as if there is every chance of coming across celebrities and politicians when you visit such destinations as Moreton in Marsh and Chipping Norton, this isn’t the case. It’s much the same as visiting any other part of the country – it’s not Cheshire or London for sure you won’t see politicians on every corner, if at all but neither will you see any footballers!! It’s understandable to read these stories about famous people in the papers every now and then. It’s also understandable to read about them taking over the Cotswolds if a good few of them happen to move there around the same time. But when you visit for a holiday you’ll be very unlikely to see anyone famous – no more likely than you would if you went anywhere else.

Do you believe everything you read?
The truth is that the Cotswolds has much to offer, as you can well imagine and it doesn’t have to happen in or around Chipping Norton, Mr Clarkson or Mr Cameron. Indeed you are probably going to understand why these people have made the decision to stay in this beautiful part of the country in the first place. When you come to stay for a week or two in a Cotswolds cottage you’ll find it difficult to leave at the end of the holiday too. The area offers so much in the way of natural beauty and attractions to see and enjoy that you’ll find yourself wanting to come back over and over again.

It’s also easy to forget how big an area the Cotswolds actually is. You’ve got lots of towns and villages to explore here, including Broadway, Moreton in Marsh, Chipping Campden, Upper and Lower Slaughter and many others as well. When you think about it, it shouldn’t be surprising that there are a few famous people living in this part of the country, seeking to escape the public eye every now and then. Being able to come here to see why the Cotswolds is so popular is a great thing to do. Once you’ve seen it for the first time you’ll want to keep on coming back as so many other people do.

So perhaps the idea of living here to escape the city isn’t such a bad idea after all.

If you have a comment to make, you’ve seen an article about the Cotswolds which you think wrong (or right!) then send us a tweet or respond.

It seems that since the Royal Wedding last year, we’ve been focussed on the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee and all the partying opportunities this offers us and here we are. The villages across the Cotswolds are beginning their preparations and the posters are going up announcing their plans. Some are gearing for a weekend of festivities, others a single day of activities.

The May Bank Holiday at the end of the month has been moved to the following week and added onto another Bank Holiday to give us all a four day weekend to celebrate the Queen’s remarkable rule on the throne. Sixty years is a long time and there are celebrations and events taking place up and down the country to mark this occasion. Only recently did I see on the news that some of the old fashioned activities of ‘bun throwing’ are being rekindled for the weekend – how bizarre is that?

The dates to remember are from Saturday 2^nd June to Tuesday 5^th June, and if you happen to be in the Cotswolds around that time you’ll have the chance to join in some wonderful celebrations.

So what is happening?
Broadway, up in the northern Cotswolds, is certainly planning to celebrate in style, with a village party being held on the village green. This is a charming place to visit whenever you are staying in Cotswolds accommodation, but what better time to visit than this? There will be a Jubilee Beacon and Proms on the Green too, so there is plenty to look forward to. In fact you’ll find lots of information on all kinds of beacon lighting events taking place across the Cotswolds over the four day weekend.

Another street party will be taking place in the famous and delightful Bourton on the Water too, on Monday afternoon. There will also be a concert going on there, so keep your ears open for the music. Let your nose lead you to the mouth watering pig roast too!

Our local town, Burford, is holding its own street party and this will be cracking if past parties are anything to go by. Villages such as Combe, Fulbrook, Swinbrook and Kingham have huge plans.

Of course the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will be taking place on Sunday in London, so if you are in the Cotswolds you might want to set aside some time to watch it on TV if you want to put your feet up for the afternoon.

Where to stay?
The region is renowned for its accommodation as the recent Cotswold Tourism Awards testify to – the options of hotels, bed and breakfast and self catering are amongst the finest the countryside has to offer. The hotels in Burford look to be busy judging by the conversations we’ve been having and I suspect that the same will be the case at all the Cotswolds’ hotspots’ such as Tetbury, Stow on the Wold and Chipping Campden.

From the self catering perspective, there is a great choice, but if you are looking for something then you had probably better move quickly. If Manor Cottages are anything to go by, we have just 14 properties left – you never know you might be able to get a deal on one of these too!

As you can see there is plenty going on and wherever you might be staying in your chosen Cotswolds country cottage you won’t be far from some of the celebrations. Burford is holding its own street party and lots of other villages across the region will be having similar events to enjoy and mark this special occasion.

While some may think the place to be over the Jubilee weekend will be in London, you can see that there is plenty to enjoy in the Cotswolds region too. If you take part in one of the street parties or watch some of the beacons being lit, you will feel just as much a part of things as you would do at home.

If you are travelling to the Cotswolds over the Jubilee weekend, find out where you are staying and then look for information on the celebrations being held in that area. Many pubs and restaurants have their own plans to celebrate, so you’ll be able to make bookings and enjoy the atmosphere there too.

Don’t delay though – it’s now just a few short weeks until the big event and you’ll want to make the most of it. What better way to enjoy the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee than to come to the Cotswolds?

So, what better than to talk about the truly British and Cotswolds past time of ‘Afternoon tea’, at some of the region’s finest tea rooms. There is no better experience during a Cotswolds holiday than to happen upon a charming tea room where you can have a nice pot of tea and a mouth watering slice of cake or scone. After all we all need some additional sustenance from time to time, don’t we?

So if you’re staying in a Cotswolds cottage and you end up discovering one of the tea rooms listed below, make sure you have time to drop in. These could be considered to be the cream of the crop.

Huffkins

When you see the words ‘award winning’ next to the name, you know you’re in for a treat. Huffkins can be found in Burford High Street, and it also has other branches in Witney High Street and the Square in Stow on the Wold. They also have a branch on the Promenade in Cheltenham, so you’re bound to trip over them somewhere! These are probably my favourite, for obvious reasons and the staff are always extremely friendly.

Sally Lunn’s

Ah, Sally Lunn’s. As anyone who has ever been to Bath will know, this is where the famous Bath Bun originated. Try it in its original setting at Sally Lunn’s, a charming setting with an equally charming menu to enjoy. Sample the Sally Lunn bun as originally created by Sally Lunn herself over 300 years ago.

Hobbs Bakery

You’ll find this bakery in Church Street, Tetbury, although there are other branches too including the one in the Corn Hall, Cirencester. The business goes back five generations to 1920, so it is a real Cotswolds classic. Be sure to sample their real bread and tasty pastries; even if you’ve just had lunch when you happen upon this tea room, you should get something to go! This is one a always pop into on the way back from a the southern Cotswolds, which explains why my trips are always that little bit longer than they should be!

The Rose, Oxford

This particular tea room was voted 14^th place in the Independent’s top 50 tea rooms so it is definitely worth more than a look. When you drop in for afternoon tea you’ll see why the placing was so well deserved. The cream tea special includes tea, finger sandwiches, a scone with jam and cream and homemade cake. Alternatively you can have the classic scones, clotted cream and jam with tea – and take note that the clotted cream is locally made too.

Llangoed Hall, Wye Valley

If you’re staying in the Wye Valley rather than the Cotswolds, this tea room won’t be too far away. This isn’t a drop in affair though – you will need to make a booking ahead of time and dress appropriately for the surroundings. Since Llangoed Hall is in Wales you can expect traditional Welsh cakes to be served. You could also skip lunch and prepare to be amazed by the full afternoon tea they can provide for you.

I’m fortunate enough to live and work in the Cotswolds and this means I get to sample these fabulous places regularly. If, however, you’re coming down for a weekend then you must make the time to pop into a local café or tea room, they’re where you’ll see real Cotswolds people.

If you own a tea room or café and I’ve not mentioned you and you think I should, then you should tell me and if your cream cakes and buns are that good, I’ll be telling our customers – for sure.

It’s plain to see that wherever you go on holiday in the Cotswolds or surrounding areas, you’ll never be far from a delightful tea room to fill up that gap you’ve created in your appetite. I’ve found some wonderful tea rooms on my travels – perhaps you’ll start with one or two of the ones above and then find your own delights too.

You might be surprised to learn that Stow has been a settlement for hundreds of years, ever since the Iron Age. It is also the site of many events throughout the calendar year, so whenever you decide to visit the Cotswolds it is worth coming here to see what is going on.
The Fair

Certainly, if you’re nearby on Thursday 10^th May 2012 you should pay a visit to see the Stow Horse Fair. This has been going on for many hundreds of years according to a charter that was granted way back in 1476. Unusually enough it originated as a sheep fair, but things changed remarkably over the years and now the onus is on horses instead! This is also known as a Gypsy Fair, and it takes place twice a year in Stow. The second event is in October, so if you miss the May event you at least have another chance to come back and see that one instead.

What to Expect?

This is quite a sight to see because hundreds, possibly thousands of travellers from all over the country flock to Stow on the Wold in readiness for the day of the fair itself. If you choose this particular week to come to the Cotswolds, perhaps it is wise to stay just outside Stow, places such as
Naunton,
Bourton on the Water or
Broadwell for example are literally minutes away.

Once in Stow, though, don’t be too surprised to see gypsies swarming around the streets on horse-back or on horse carts. You’ll spot the horses and also the caravans that are indicative of this event and you’ll also spot them swaying around having had one or two ales too many! But it is all good natured.

Indeed the day of the Fair itself can be quite a spectacle, it was originally meant for trading and today a certain amount of “trading” – sometimes of animals – still goes on today. Of course the fair can be quite an experience for everyone, and it must be said that while it is a tourist spectacle it is first and foremost an opportunity for travellers to meet up. And they do indeed travel from all corners of the country to get here for the Stow Horse Fair and hence why alcohol flows from daybreak to daybreak in an old fashion style knees-up.

It’s worth remembering that many of the shops in Stow close while the fair is taking place, so do take this into consideration, but this isn’t true of all of them and it can vary, but if you are going to go to Stow it’s wise to make sure you have everything you need with you for the day. Conversely if you are going to see Stow itself rather than the Horse Fair, it’s best to pick another day to make sure you can see everything it has to offer.

In any event Stow has been the centre of this fair for more than five hundred years. It would seem impossible to imagine it without it occurring twice a year, and it brings many people together for all kinds of reasons.

I will probably make a fleeting visit to the fair, as I usually do, but for fear of getting stuck in a pub buying the biggest round of beers imaginable, I usually make it a brief sojourn!

The History

The Cotswolds and Morris Dancers
It is quite something to see it still being practised today, and indeed if you visit one or more fairs or events in the Cotswolds area while you are staying here, you are bound to see Morris dancers in all their finery. They look distinct with their frilly handkerchiefs a particular feature. In fact there are two rather important Morris Dance Festivals each year that happen in the region, one in Bampton, just south of Burford and another in the delightful Chipping Campden in the northern Cotswolds. Added to this is the particular Cotswold style of Morris dancing whichis beyond me, but I’m assured that there is something different about ‘our’ style!

Where should you go?

Of course you can still see Morris dancing taking place all over the country at various times of the year. But each area has its own unique take on the pastime, and the Cotswolds is no different. Indeed when you book your Cotswolds cottage to come and stay for a week or two, you should look out for local events in areas close to where you are staying. Here are a list of a few places to consider (plus a list of our properties!)

1. Ascott under Wychwood
2. Bledington
3. Chipping Campden
4. Woodstock
There is every chance you will find one of them that has Morris dancers booked to perform. They always attract large crowds and if you want to see Cotswolds style Morris dancing it’s best to get a good spot at the front for the best view.

You’ll soon find that Morris dancing is enjoying a 21^st century revival in another sense too. There are even classes taking place in and around the Cotswolds that introduce this type of folk dance as a way to have fun and get fit at the same time. You may simply want to enjoy it as a way of getting closer to some of the most traditional Cotswolds traditions.

Did You Know….?
A group of Morris dancers is known as a ‘side’ and you’ll discover that many towns and villages in the Cotswolds have their own sides. Many of them came together for the Moreton in Marsh Show in 2007 to try and break the world record for the largest number of Morris dancers together in one place. But even if you don’t see a world record breaking attempt when you visit the Cotswolds, you will definitely have a good chance of seeing Morris dancers in action.

Now this can mean different things to different people. For example some will want a family friendly B&B or hotel to stay in, where they don’t have to worry about cooking. But others will want nothing better than a self catering cottage – just the kind of thing we have in plentiful supply here in the Cotswolds!

There are plenty of advantages to finding boltholes like this to call home for a week or two in the Cotswolds region. If you have fussy kids or kids who are allergic to certain foods, you need to be sure you provide them with the kinds of foods they’d be used to at home. Self catering accommodation gives you the best of both worlds – a nice holiday cottage to enjoy and your own timetable to stick to as well. Pick somewhere with a convenient supermarket nearby and you’ll be all set to go.

Of course family friendly can mean finding somewhere where the dog can come too. Watch for cottages that allow pets: not all of them do. Make a shortlist and ensure you pick a cottage that is close to some nice walks, so you can enjoy taking the dog out every day as well as enjoying the outdoors with the children.

Furthermore it doesn’t matter where in the Cotswolds you want to stay. You can find superb cottages and accommodation that is ideal for kids everywhere from Broadway to Wotton under Edge and Moreton in Marsh to Chipping Campden. In fact this is one of the best things about the Cotswolds. It is fairly dotted with charming villages and towns that are all within easy reach of each other. This means you can look for a true family friendly bolthole that gives you easy access to a variety of the most famous Cotswolds villages and destinations.

Of course another great perk of finding boltholes that are ideal for the whole family is that they are typically close to some of the Cotswolds’ finest destinations for all ages. Take Birdland in Bourton on the Water for example. This village is one of the most famous of all in the area, and the kids can also visit the model village and the Cotswolds Motoring Museum there. If they have seen Brum on the television they’ll delight in seeing this little car for real too.

Every holiday takes planning. But you’ll have more planning to do if you have kids to think about as well as yourself. The great news is that the Cotswolds has plenty of family friendly places to stay, so whatever you want from your holiday you are sure to have a sensational time here. It could just be one of the most family friendly places you’ve ever stayed in.

The whole idea of sustainable tourism is to provide prosperity for the area as well as preserving it for the benefit of future generations. This means you really can get the best of both worlds. The Cotswolds sees a huge influx of millions of people every single year, all coming to enjoy the unique landscape and delights the area has to offer.

Eco-Friendly Cotswolds Holidays?

There are lots of ways you can enjoy an eco-friendly holiday in the Cotswolds. For example many people choose to stay in Cotswolds cottages, using them as a base for cycling holidays. You may decide to drive to your cottage to get there in the first place, but once you have arrived, you may find you have few reasons to forget the car and get out and about on foot or bike instead. There are plenty of cycle routes and hiking routes you can explore, leading to all kinds of wonderful places. The Cotswolds is dotted with charming villages such as Upper and Lower Slaughter – otherwise known simply as The Slaughters – and they look much more delightful than they sound!

You could even come on holiday using public transport, as there are lots of trains and buses that can help you connect with wherever you choose to stay. It might be easier to get here by car but it may not be the most relaxing journey for you, so you can consider all the options and then find the right solution for your needs.

Green Tourism
Green tourism is also about supporting local businesses and there is no better way to do this than to select a Cotswolds country cottage to stay in – yes I suppose I am bound to say this!! But we are a local business working with predominantly local individuals / owners. By ‘going local’ and self-catering you can also explore and support the local shops and farmer’s markets in the area, of which there are many – see my recent blog post.  These will give you access to all kinds of wonderful products and foods that are grown and produced locally. This is an essential part of sustainable tourism and a great way to support it. In fact you may even decide to stock up on items to take back home with you at the end of your holiday.

Of course another essential fact to remember is that you must leave the area as you find it. This is part of supporting the eco-friendly nature of the Cotswolds so other people can enjoy it as you did.

While many Cotswolds businesses are run in sustainable ways, you can do your own bit while you are here to help preserve and support this for the future as well.

1. Cheltenham Jazz Festival

The first one is the Cheltenham Jazz Festival which takes place this year between the 2^nd and 7^th May. This is seen as the official start of summer by many locally and it always runs over the early Bank Holiday weekend in May, so now (mid-March) is a great time to book a short trip to the Cotswolds. If you’re Cotswold holiday is located around the central region of the Cotswolds, your journey is about 20 mins to the heart of Cheltenham. Be aware though that it is wise to book early if you can as this is a very popular weekend – it being a Bank Holiday!

Look for your choice of Cotswolds country cottages now so you can get in early and know you have somewhere to stay.

2. Cheltenham Science Festival

I’ve been to the Science Museum in London umpteen times and while there is nowhere quite as good, we are blessed with our own little version: The Cheltenham Science Festival from 12^th to 17^th June, and while it might not sound as exciting you’d be surprised! With names like Robert Winston and Brian Cox on the bill you can get an idea of what is in store for you if you attend. This is not like science was at school, that’s for sure and kids and adults alike are sure to enjoy this.

3. Cheltenham Music Festival

If sipping a cool drink and taking in some light hearted music then this is a great option especially if you are coming for a weekend as a family. The Cheltenham Music Festival happens in July, from the 4^th to the 15^th of the month, and as you would expect with this being a Cotswolds festival this will be a terribly relaxed affair. It tickled me when I saw that the organisers are pointing out that this is the Diamond Jubilee Year and it is also the Olympics, and their festival just so happens to sit between the two! It’s not quite on that scale please note!! So if you are planning a summer of celebration this could be the ideal place to while away some time in the middle.

4. The Hay Festival

If you’re looking to visit the Cotswolds for a holiday at the beginning of June, you could do little better than to get tickets for the Hay Festival as well, probably one of the most famous of our ‘local’ festivals. This starts on 31^st May this year and runs until the 10^th June and gives you a chance to enter into the world of literary giants along with some high quality musicians and entertainers. It gives you a chance to see the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales – not too far away from the Cotswolds in fact. It’s hard to believe it started at someone’s kitchen table. It just goes to show what can be achieved when you put your mind to it.

As you can see the Cotswolds and surrounding areas are rife with all kinds of festivals for people to see and enjoy. No matter whether you’re a jazz fan, a fan of literature or you simply love to know more about the world around you, you can find all manner of festivals here to enjoy. They can form an essential part of a great Cotswolds holiday, giving you another excuse to come and visit the area (not that you need one, of course).

So check out the options and think about where you would like to stay!

So now, the sun is out and the garden is leaping into action which should mean I get down, get dirty and get ready for the allotment. But as ever, I like to look for excuses to avoid the back breaking digging where possible or even reward myself if I have put the spade work in – literally. It means I can get out and see some classic Cotswolds gardens, of which there are many within easy distance of every corner of the region.

Cotswold’s Arboretum…
Luckily for me, as part of my job I do travel around the Cotswolds every week which allows to see spring in full flow, daffodils, crocus and snowdrops for example, and then the trees showing the first sign of waking up from their winter slumber. If, however, you are staying in the area for any length of time, then be sure to go to Westonbirt Arboretum, located near to Tetbury in the southern Cotswolds or the Batsford Arboretum just outside Moreton in Marsh where you will see acres of plants and flowers saying goodbye to the cold weather and getting ready for the spring and summer months ahead. Both of these ‘gardens’ (much bigger than that in reality) are quite spectacular at any time of the year, but right now they are quite amazing.

If you’re looking for holiday cottages in either of these locations try:

Holiday Cottages Tetbury or Holiday Cottages Moreton in Marsh

River Avon
If you are staying or travelling in the northern Cotswolds, anywhere near Evesham you will delight at the sight of the blossoms that tend to appear at this time of the year. Look out for apple trees in their hundreds, taking over nearby fields as you approach the market town itself. Don’t miss a visit to the River Avon either, as it is lined with trees and looks quite resplendent at this time of year. A great spot for walking

Painswick Rococo

Snowdrops are a popular sight during spring as well, so if you are in time to see them and you are coming to the Cotswolds make sure you head for the Painswick Rococo Garden. The area around Painswick is simply stunning; as is the town itself – a real traditional Cotswolds location – but to get the best of spring I would urge you to take a trip to the gardens here. To say there is a blanket of snowdrops covering the gardens in February/March would be an understatement. They will be coming to an end in the next few weeks now but you can still mark it in your diary for next year. We have a really top drawer cottage nearby in Cranham called Lakeside Cottage.

There is a lot to be said for taking an early break in the Cotswolds, even if only for a long weekend! Relaxing in a Cotswolds cottage for a few days is just what any doctor would order – except for a few walks among the snowdrops, of course.

Bluebell Weekend
This is also the time of year when the bluebells wake up. In fact if you can wait until April you can take part in the Cotswolds Bluebell Weekend. This is on the 24^th and 25^th April this year. Chipping Norton, Chipping Campden and Wotton-under-Edge are just three of the areas where bluebells will be seen on this particular weekend.

I could go on and many people stay I ‘go on’ for far too long, but of course you don’t have to follow any of my suggestions or a particular trail or event to see the Cotswolds welcoming in this most important season each year. You can visit the area and (hopefully!) stay in a nice Cotswolds cottage from Manor Cottages, planning your own route to see everything the countryside here has to offer. It is good to see some of the main areas such as the arboretums and some of the gardens that are open to the public. But it is just as good to wander around the local footpaths and to follow some of the Cotswold Way to see what else you can see while you are in the area.

Spring has definitely sprung, and you can make the most of it now. We’d be delighted to hear or read your suggestions about your Cotwolds Spring ideas. After all, I’d be delighted to kept off my allotment for a little while!

The Cotswolds?
We’d heard about the Cotswolds, we’d read about it and after a little research we selected a little cottage in a quiet spot. Ah…, those were the days, just the two of us…. now we are five and such weekend treats are a distant memory.

So there we were on our way – ‘escaping to the Cotswolds’. It’s easy to treat the term “getting away from it all” as a cliché, but in fact it is one of the best and truest terms there is when you decide to stay get away and especially when travelling to a Cotswolds cottage. We were in Broadway and in a sweet little cottage just off the High Street. Sadly it doesn’t exist anymore, but it got me thinking about cottages, the Cotswolds and self catering accommodation. The rest, as they say, is history.

As we took in the ambiance and the tradition of the region, we quickly realised that while there are many Cotswolds cottages that sleep three or more people, there were an amazing selection of properties that can only take two people. When I looked closer, I understood why; many of them were and still are converted cow sheds (Wagon House, as the name says!), barns (Star Barn – wow) and all sorts of unusual spaces (The Old School House). Some are modern and constructed especially for twosomes, but many are conversions of some kind. Some stand on the owner’s property in their own private corner (The Old Reading Room), while others lurk in quiet places that can easily be missed until you are right on top of them (Duck End). (I couldn’t let the chance pass to let you view some of our current properties that fit, click the links view)

Who’s Map Reading?
As we started to learn more about holiday cottages and the sector, so we started to see more and more of the area and the cottages. As you can imagine, in those early days we had our own share of challenges in finding the holiday properties, particularly those that sleep two people and, it seemed, especially in the Cotswolds. We had a running joke (based in fact, unfortunately) that we would drive for hundreds of miles and not get lost once. But as soon as we were getting to within a mile of the cottages we were staying in, it would take a further two hours to actually find it. All I’ll say is that I was driving and I’ll leave the rest for you to work out. (I’m delighted to say that we’re married now but I’m still moaning about my wife’s map reading!)

However good the directions were, we’d still get lost with the complaint ringing around the car that these directions were actually not quite good enough to get us there. I’m not sure what to say, without getting into more trouble than it’s worth. I’m sure the owners want to keep these delightful properties to themselves.

Those were the days

We’ve stayed in several holiday cottages that sleep two people over the years and every single one of them has been nothing short of excellent. Just enough home comforts to settle us in and make us feel at home, with plenty of quirky touches to remind us we’re in the Cotswolds and enjoying a relaxing holiday. I believe that this remains the case today.

Added to this there seemed other reasons pull ed all these cottages together as well. Wherever you stay in the Cotswolds and whichever cottage you pick, especially those that sleep two, it will almost certainly be within a few steps of at least one footpath and within a few miles of a top draw pub. We were quite amazed to find an extensive network of easy to follow footpaths all over the Cotswolds, leading us to and from our chosen cottage every day. It was wonderful to step outside the cottage into the countryside and to know we were able to explore the local countryside at our leisure. To this day I still use the many walks that you can download from the local tourism websites, see for yourselves. The Circular Walks are excellent.

1. Oxfordshire Cotswolds

2. Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

You might think that a cottage that sleeps two would be small and poky. Not so – not in our experience and bear in mind that I’m well over 6 ft all and not exactly slim. Of course if you search for and book your cottage online before you go, you can look at photos of the cottage and sometimes a virtual tour as well. This is a good idea because it will give you an idea of what to expect when you get there. Back in the early days we didn’t have such visual assistance, instead we had to be specific on the phone. Even in today’s world wide web, a significant number of customers still want to speak to us about the cottage, making sure that they get what they expect. We know exactly how they feel!

Having said that all of this, there really is nothing quite like pulling up in front of your cottage that sleeps two, ready to pile out and start your Cotswolds holiday.
I’m terribly Boring!

With so much to tell and talk about, you can see why people’s eye’s gloss over when I start to answer a question that they very quickly regret asking – the fact is I’m rather lucky to do what I do and I suspect people know that by the time I leave them!

Please do tell us about your first trip to the Cotswolds and what is what like. Did you change career?! We look forward to hearing from you