Now hang on a minute – surely we have got our geography completely wrong there, haven’t we?
Actually we are perfectly correct. The Thames might well run right through the middle of London, cutting the city into north and south, but it originates up here in the Cotswolds. As such it is well worth planning a trip to see how the river starts life in this part of the country.
The best area to visit is a town called Cricklade. This is right up at the start of the Thames, and it has plenty to offer to the visiting tourist in search of a different look at part of the Cotswolds. There is also a place called South Cerney that is just north of Cricklade, and we have some wonderful properties in that area you could choose to stay in.
Orchard Cottage is a nice example that provides plenty of room for four people to stay in comfortably. If you would prefer to stay in the nearby Cotswold Water Park, then we can offer more than one property in that region too. And again you are nice and close to the beginnings of the Thames. Try our lodges that are available very close to the lakes, at either The Reeds or The Moorings for example.
If you would rather stay nearby in a smaller property, you can also visit Little Atkyns in South Cerney. This sleeps two very comfortably, and is the quintessential Cotswolds cottage!
Wherever you choose to stay in South Cerney, you aren’t far from the origins of the Thames. And you will be pleased to hear that there are plenty of boat trips available to indulge in, that are rather different from the kind you would normally get in the middle of London!
The best place to go for boat hire is the Trout Inn. This is located at Lechlade on Thames, which is the next town along on the river. The cheapest option is to hire a rowing boat to explore the local part of the river. But if you haven’t got the energy for rowing too far, they have small electric boats which do the job just as well.
And of course when you return it is good to know that there is a pub nearby – the famous Trout Inn itself – that can slake the thirst you will have built up from all that rowing!
It might seem strange to be able to go home and tell people you have seen the Thames in the Cotswolds. Not everyone realises that this is where the river originates from. But it certainly makes for a nice story, and there is nothing quite like a spot of boating on the river up here. It is definitely far quieter than it would be if you went boating on the Thames down south!
There are lots of different places to explore in the Cotswolds when you are following the river, so be sure you don’t miss them.