| Great weekends: Cotswolds 2 |
| Sunday: Village People |
| Take a whirlwind car tour through the Cotswolds' picturesque towns and villages. There are plenty of opportunities for walks, too |
The Cotswolds is one of Britain's favourite beauty spots. A great way to explore the best the region has to offer is by car, driving at a leisurely pace. With our route you can easily traverse the Cotswolds in a day, taking in everything from the limestone heights of the escarpment to the peaceful wooded valleys, as well as many manor houses, churches and delightful pubs along the way.
A word of warning: some of the lanes along our route are narrow and steep, and in winter should be tackled with care.
1. Mosey into Moreton
Turn left from the Caravan Club's delightful Moreton-in-Marsh site and within half a mile turn left again onto Moreton-in-Marsh's main street.
Moreton-in-Marsh is a busy little market town on the northern edge of the Cotswolds. There's parking all along the main street. The town itself was founded on the route of the Fosse Way, an ancient Roman road which ran from Exeter through Cirencester, across the Cotswolds and on to Leicester and Lincoln.
The Curfew Bell on the tower at the corner of Oxford Street still houses its original clock bell. It was rung daily from 1633 to 1860.
2. Stow-on-the-Wold
Zero your car's trip meter. Take the A429 in the direction of Stow-on-the-Wold and at eight miles turn left at the second set of traffic lights to enter the town's square.
Stow-on-the-Wold is the highest town in the Cotswolds and has a beautiful old market square. Anything up to 20,000 sheep could once be sold in one day in the square, but today Stow-on-the-Wold is primarily a tourist town and now a famous centre for the antiques trade, too. It is also the site of the final battle of the first English Civil War, in March 1646.
3. Slaughter time
Zero your trip meter. From Stow-on-the-Wold turn right off the A429 at the third set of traffic lights and continue along the B4068 towards Lower Swell and Naunton. Pass the crossroads on the green in Lower Swell and at 1.2 miles turn left at the signpost for The Slaughters. Continue straight on to the village of Lower Slaughter. Turn right over the bridge at 3.3 miles and, with the river on your right, follow the signs for Upper Slaughter (pictured, above).
The neighbouring villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter on the banks of the River Eye are quintessential Cotswold villages. Park in one of them for a pleasant walk to the other.
4. Naunton curiosities
Zero your trip meter. From Upper Slaughter follow the signs for Cheltenham and at 0.8 miles turn left onto the B4068. At two miles, turn right for the village of Naunton.
One of Naunton's most interesting features is its 17th-century dovecote which has more than 1000 entrance holes, making it the largest in England. Also worth a look is the church, which still displays the Table of Kindred and Affinity that acts as a genealogical chart detailing in great length the family members a man or woman was forbidden to marry.
5. The way to Winchcombe
Zero the trip meter. Continue through Naunton and turn right at the B4068. At 2.4 miles turn right again onto the A436, signposted Cheltenham. At six miles turn right at the traffic lights at the junction with the A40. Follow the road through Charlton Kings back towards Cheltenham town centre, then follow signs for the A435 Evesham Road. At 11.5 miles turn right at the roundabout at Cheltenham Racecourse, signposted Prestbury, keeping the racecourse to your left.
At 12.4 miles you will reach Prestbury, said to be one of the most haunted villages in Britain. Here turn left along the B4632 and begin the climb up Cleeve Hill for Winchcombe, which lies on the descending slope.
This attractive small town in the north-west of the Cotswolds dates back to Saxon times, when it was capital of the kingdom of Mercia. On the outskirts is Sudeley Castle and its beautiful gardens, once the home of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife. Although the castle is closed between September and mid-March. At other times it is still a splendid work of architecture to admire from the outside.
6. Stunning Stanway
Zero the trip meter. Leave Winchcombe on the B4632, following the signs to Stratford and Broadway. Turn right at the roundabout at 3.1 miles and follow the signs for Stow along the B4077. At 3.9 miles turn left for Stanway. Shortly after you will see the Jacobean gateway to Stanway House, with a church next door.
Stanway House dates from the 16th century and is built from local Cotswold stone. A tithe barn, built in the 14th century by the Abbot of Tewkesbury, now serves as a beautiful meeting hall. The House itself is open to visitors only in July and August but is a fine spectacle, even from the outside.
7. Most famous Cotswold village
Zero the trip meter. Continue along the road from Stanway and at 0.9 miles turn right at the junction for Stanton. Take the road signposted Broadway and rejoin the A4632, turning right towards Stratford. At the next T-junction, at 2.7 miles, turn right into Broadway. Park in the public car park on the left, next to Church Close.
Broadway sits at the foot of Fish Hill, where the Cotswolds join the Vale of Evesham. It is one of the most famous of all Cotswold villages. Elizabethan houses, a green and the historic Lygon Arms - patronised by both King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell - are among its many attractions.
8. A tower with a view
Zero the trip meter. Continue out of Broadway and up the hill, past Snowshill Manor and right at the fork in the road. Carry straight on into Snowshill Village and turn left immediately past the church. Go straight on at the crossroads signposted Broadway Tower and Chipping Campden, then take the first left and follow the brown tourist signs for Broadway Tower, arriving at 4.5 miles.
Broadway Tower is a folly built in 1797 by the Earl of Coventry.
It's open all year round, but between October and April only from 11am to 3pm. Entry costs just £3 and the views from here are magnificent.
9. Jewel in the crown
Zero the trip meter. Cross the A44 and follow signs for Saintbury. Pass through the village and rejoin the B4632, turning right for Stratford and following the road into Weston Subedge - a pretty little village at the foot of the escarpment. Continue out of the village and turn right onto the B4035 for Chipping Campden.
One of the jewels of historic Cotswold, Chipping Campden is a picturesque, honey-coloured village with buildings dating from the 14th century. A feature of its beautiful high street is the 17th-century Market Hall. Visit the nearby Hidcote Manor Gardens while you're in the area.
Turn left onto Sheep Street, signposted Bourton-on-the-Hill, then take the next left for Broad Campden and Blockley. Leaving Broad Campden, turn right for Blockley and Moreton-in-Marsh. At Blockley turn left for Bourton-on-the-Hill then right at the next junction into Lower Street to leave the village. Head south on the B4479 towards the A44. Turn left onto the A44 for Moreton-in-Marsh and the campsite. |
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Distance 75 miles
Time 5-8 hours
Start/finish Moreton-in-Marsh Caravan Club site
Suitable for All the family
Attractions
Sudeley Castle and Gardens
Tel 01242 602308
Open March to October, but still great to see from the outside at other times of the year.
Broadway Tower and Country Park
Tel 01386 852390
Open all year, but from October to April at weekends only, between 11am-3pm. Cost of parking and
visiting the Tower is £3.
Stanway House
Tel 01386 584469
Open July and August only, but still an impressive spectacle during the rest of the year.
Information
Cheltenham Tourist
Information Centre
Tel 01242 522878.
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