Travel Eye on Cotswolds (England)

Write a review or view peoples experiences in Cotswolds.	Vacation Rentals & Holiday Rentals in Cotswolds and surrounding area.	Hotels in the Cotswolds	Flights	Car Hire/Rental

  
Overview:

Steeped in history, rich in heritage and awash with natural beauty, the Oxfordshire & Gloucestershire Cotswolds are a charming blend of bustling market towns, breathtaking natural scenery and over 6000 years of history.

This is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, which along with the 'gentle' rolling hills, means its great walking, cycling or horse riding country. There are miles of wonderful way-marked routes for day long expeditions or gentle afternoon ambles.

A prime central location means the area is ideal as a base from which to explore nearby landmark towns, cities and attractions too. Oxford, City of dreaming spires, lies just a few miles east, perfect for a touch of cosmopolitan city culture! To the west, down the Roman Fosse Way, are Gloucestershire's golden stone villages, the market towns of Cirencester, Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold and the larger Spa towns of Cheltenham and Bath. Venture a few miles north to Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare and medieval Warwick and to the south, the winding River Thames as it meanders from its source in nearby Lechlade, onwards to London.

Locality:

The Cotswolds are located in the South Midlands in the counties of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire with a very small part in Worcestershire.

By train, there are two convenient scenic routes through the Cotswolds.  One runs from Oxford to Worcester via Evesham, with main stations in the Cotswolds at Hanborough, Charlbury, Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh.  There are also stations with a limited service at Combe, Finstock, Ascott-under-Wychwood and Shipton.  This route is supported by the Cotswold Line Promotion Group and details of its activities can be found on web site www.clpg.co.uk . The other rail route runs from Swindon to Gloucester and Cheltenham, with stations at Kemble, Stroud and Stonehouse. Both rail routes are served by trains operated by First Great Western and details of the train service are available on its web site www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk .

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

The Cotswolds is blessed with some of the most picturesque towns and villages in England, each with its own unique past that has helped to influence and develop the thriving market towns and vibrant village communities we see today.

The most popular activity in the Cotswolds is just simply taking in the countryside on the many available walks or cycle routes. There are long distance walks as well as short routes, providing access to the rolling hills, clear river valleys and the scattered villages for which the area is so well known.

The long distance trails that encompass the Oxfordshire Cotswolds include: The Oxfordshire Way, The Wychwood Way, The D'Arcy Dalton Way, The Macmillan Way and The Thames Path. For general, shorter rambles there are suggested routes from Charlbury, Eynsham, Woodstock, Burford, Chipping Norton and the Windrush Valley as well as a host of guides available with many more suggestions.

If you're a bicycle fan then National Cycle Route 5 - from Oxford to Birmingham, comes through Woodstock and then heads north and crosses some beautiful countryside before reaching Banbury.

The Oxfordshire Cycleway takes in part of the area and is signed. There are also a number of suggested circular cycle routes within the area, including bike rides from Kingham railway station. There are also informally led leisurely day rides organised by Easyriders from Chipping Norton - a rolling programme operates through the year. The terrain can be described as gentle and rolling - so any hills are rewarded with a freewheel afterwards.