Information on The Gloucestershire Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, England
Heritage Britain

The Gloucestershire Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, England

A Historic Tour of The Gloucestershire Cotswolds

The Gloucestershire Cotswolds

Anyone in search of the true English Countryside need look no further than the Cotswolds, considered by many to be amongst the most beautiful areas in England. Two things above all give the Cotswolds their special warmth and richness: the soft, natural limestone and the wealth of the wool trade in days gone by which has left a heritage of superb buildings. The Cotswold Hills rise gently from the green meadows of the Upper Thames and its tributaries in the east to the great western escarpment where the hills plunge dramatically into the Vales of Severn and Evesham. The river valleys cutting through the plateau form the setting for many of the small towns and villages, which are the great delight of the Cotswolds and seem almost to ‘grow’ in the surrounding landscape.

Several of the Cotswold villages such as Bibury and Bourton-on-the Water are world famous as the quintessence of the English rural scene. Less well known are the smaller villages away from the main road, each with its own secrets waiting to be discovered by the more adventurous traveller with time to go deeper into the real Cotswolds – perhaps an unspoilt historic church set on an older, iron age rampart, an unassuming pub with a log fire in the hearth, serving locally brewed real beer and good food, or a stone bridge spanning a crystal clear stream – each one in its unique setting, given harmony by picturesque cottages and imposing manor houses of Cotswold stone.

Exploring the real Cotswolds at any time of the year is a rewarding experience, each season throwing a different light on the changing scene. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty an interest in itself, the Cotswolds are an excellent centre for visiting nearby heritage towns – the university City of Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Regency Spa Towns of Cheltenham and Bath.

For more Information please contact:
Cotswold Visitor Information Centre
Web:  www.cotswold.gov.uk/tourism
Tel: +44 (0)1285 623000

Where to stay and things to do in Gloucestershire

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