Sophia’s guidebook
Sightseeing
An up to date guide on outdoor activities in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The aonb hq is in The Old Prison in Northleach on the Fosseway going North about 3 miles from here. It has a good café called The Prison Café and lots of info.
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Área de excepcional belleza natural de Cotswolds
An up to date guide on outdoor activities in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The aonb hq is in The Old Prison in Northleach on the Fosseway going North about 3 miles from here. It has a good café called The Prison Café and lots of info.
Chedworth Roman Villa is our closest child friendly destination about 3 miles away and a beautiful drive from here through The Stowell Park Estate. Yanworth is the estate village and is also worth a visit on foot or in the car.
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Chedworth Roman Villa
Chedworth Roman Villa is our closest child friendly destination about 3 miles away and a beautiful drive from here through The Stowell Park Estate. Yanworth is the estate village and is also worth a visit on foot or in the car.
Sometimes it is open to the public and has a National Trust car park but often it is shut but you do get a good view from the road.
If you carry on a bit further along the A40 towards Oxford you come to the sign to Sherborne on the left and then quite soon you come to another sign to Oxpens on the right, follow this sign and you come to a National Trust car park and from there you can walk down through the woods to Sherborne village. Where there is a prize winning village sho. It is easy getting down, not so easy getting back up which is why the shop is so useful for refreshment!
Lodge Park & Sherborne Park Estate - National Trust Estate Office
Sometimes it is open to the public and has a National Trust car park but often it is shut but you do get a good view from the road.
If you carry on a bit further along the A40 towards Oxford you come to the sign to Sherborne on the left and then quite soon you come to another sign to Oxpens on the right, follow this sign and you come to a National Trust car park and from there you can walk down through the woods to Sherborne village. Where there is a prize winning village sho. It is easy getting down, not so easy getting back up which is why the shop is so useful for refreshment!
https://www.cotswolds.info/places/upper-slaughter.shtml
Upper and Lower Slaughter
These two villages are a mile apart and you can walk between them along the River Windrush which then goes on to flow through Bourton-on-the-Water. The turning to The Slaughters(on the left) is about half a mile further North after the turning to Bourton (on the right). Both these villages are extremely picturesque and well worth a visit whatever the weather. The track between them is an easy walk but muddy and slippery just now.
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Lower Slaughter
https://www.cotswolds.info/places/upper-slaughter.shtml
Upper and Lower Slaughter
These two villages are a mile apart and you can walk between them along the River Windrush which then goes on to flow through Bourton-on-the-Water. The turning to The Slaughters(on the left) is about half a mile further North after the turning to Bourton (on the right). Both these villages are extremely picturesque and well worth a visit whatever the weather. The track between them is an easy walk but muddy and slippery just now.
Eastleach
https://www.eastleach.org
Is a hidden gem. Actually quite hard to get to but worth it when you do. It is on the River Leach which flows from Northleach all the way to Eastleach. Eastleach has 2 churches both very old and both on the banks of the river. It also has a famous pub called The Queen Vic which is a bit of a desination.
Eastleach Turville
Eastleach
https://www.eastleach.org
Is a hidden gem. Actually quite hard to get to but worth it when you do. It is on the River Leach which flows from Northleach all the way to Eastleach. Eastleach has 2 churches both very old and both on the banks of the river. It also has a famous pub called The Queen Vic which is a bit of a desination.
http://www.rrgordon.com/LittleCotswoldWalks-1BirdlipAndBeyond.pdf
This is a useful guide to local walks
Recommended OS map is OL45 Explorer The Cotswolds.
There are maps and guides in the Cottage but this map is not one of them as guests used to take it with them in their rucksacks and then forget to leave it in the cottage when they left.
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Cotswolds
http://www.rrgordon.com/LittleCotswoldWalks-1BirdlipAndBeyond.pdf
This is a useful guide to local walks
Recommended OS map is OL45 Explorer The Cotswolds.
There are maps and guides in the Cottage but this map is not one of them as guests used to take it with them in their rucksacks and then forget to leave it in the cottage when they left.
Food scene
The Seven Tuns is the Chedworth Village pub. It has a large garden and friendly management and really good food. You need to book a table if you want to eat. You can walk to it from here either along the bridle path or along the road through the village. Or do the circular walk and look in on the church on the way. Apparently they are doing pizza evenings from an outside pizza oven on Friday evenings with a big fire pit but we have not tried it yet. Wrap up well though.
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Seven Tuns Inn
Queen Street The Seven Tuns is the Chedworth Village pub. It has a large garden and friendly management and really good food. You need to book a table if you want to eat. You can walk to it from here either along the bridle path or along the road through the village. Or do the circular walk and look in on the church on the way. Apparently they are doing pizza evenings from an outside pizza oven on Friday evenings with a big fire pit but we have not tried it yet. Wrap up well though.
The Fossebridge Inn is an ancient pub and hotel at the bottom of the hill going Northwards from here. It has a large garden and lake. It is an easy walk from here but not such an easy walk back. As it is a hotel it is always open and serving food.
The Inn At Fossebridge
The Fossebridge Inn is an ancient pub and hotel at the bottom of the hill going Northwards from here. It has a large garden and lake. It is an easy walk from here but not such an easy walk back. As it is a hotel it is always open and serving food.
Further afield there is The Wheatsheaf in Northleach which has one of the best restaurants in the Cotswolds
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The Wheatsheaf Inn
West EndFurther afield there is The Wheatsheaf in Northleach which has one of the best restaurants in the Cotswolds
There is a big Tesco just outside Cirencester, a famous Waitrose on the ring road and a Lidl and an Aldi on the Love Lane industrial estate.
We did have a Farm Shop in the village but sadly it did not survive the pandemic and is now closed.
So the nearest food shops are in Northleach now which is OK as it is a nice big village with a market place. There is a small supermarket. A bakers, a really good butcher called W.J.Castle in the adjoining square. It also has a post office, a take away outlet, a chemist and a wine bar and a community café called the Black Cat cafe. Pretty good really for a country town/village. There is also an historic church which is worth a visit.
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Waitrose & Partners
Northgate StreetThere is a big Tesco just outside Cirencester, a famous Waitrose on the ring road and a Lidl and an Aldi on the Love Lane industrial estate.
We did have a Farm Shop in the village but sadly it did not survive the pandemic and is now closed.
So the nearest food shops are in Northleach now which is OK as it is a nice big village with a market place. There is a small supermarket. A bakers, a really good butcher called W.J.Castle in the adjoining square. It also has a post office, a take away outlet, a chemist and a wine bar and a community café called the Black Cat cafe. Pretty good really for a country town/village. There is also an historic church which is worth a visit.
Turn left at the traffic lights at the bottom of the Fosseway A429 going towards Cirencester and you will quickly come to signs for the Organic Farm Shop run by friends of ours. They have fabulous veg and dairy and organically farmed meat as well. They have a great café but sadly Covid has closed that down for the moment ( I think it may be open again now). Lots more info on their website.
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The Organic Farm Shop
Turn left at the traffic lights at the bottom of the Fosseway A429 going towards Cirencester and you will quickly come to signs for the Organic Farm Shop run by friends of ours. They have fabulous veg and dairy and organically farmed meat as well. They have a great café but sadly Covid has closed that down for the moment ( I think it may be open again now). Lots more info on their website.
On the way to Stroud there is a really exciting new venture called Jolly Nice. They took over a defunct petrol station and wayside inn and turned it into a local food outlet. They have great bread, dairy and deli food and a prize winning butcher. Normally they have a café in a yurt with a wood burning stove but sadly that has been another covid casualty. They do do a great drive in takeaway instead which you can eat in a large field with picnic benches/tables.
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Jolly Nice
On the way to Stroud there is a really exciting new venture called Jolly Nice. They took over a defunct petrol station and wayside inn and turned it into a local food outlet. They have great bread, dairy and deli food and a prize winning butcher. Normally they have a café in a yurt with a wood burning stove but sadly that has been another covid casualty. They do do a great drive in takeaway instead which you can eat in a large field with picnic benches/tables.
And then of course talking of Harrods in the countryside, there is the jewel in the crown of Cotswold food outlets Daylesford Organic where vegetables have become a work of art. The one and only!
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Daylesford Kingham, Gloucestershire
And then of course talking of Harrods in the countryside, there is the jewel in the crown of Cotswold food outlets Daylesford Organic where vegetables have become a work of art. The one and only!
Our local butcher which we love. Butchers to the gentry with impeccable service and best quality meat and cheese. Definitely worth a visit if you are in our sweet little local town of Northleach.
W J Castle
The GreenOur local butcher which we love. Butchers to the gentry with impeccable service and best quality meat and cheese. Definitely worth a visit if you are in our sweet little local town of Northleach.
The Stump has turned itself into a pizza and pasta pub for eating in or take away. Their pizzas are famous locally and many of our guests have said how good they are. Definitely a useful place and worth a visit. It has large garden and a spacious car park and it’s only a 5 minute drive away on the main Cirencester road.
THE STUMP
The Stump has turned itself into a pizza and pasta pub for eating in or take away. Their pizzas are famous locally and many of our guests have said how good they are. Definitely a useful place and worth a visit. It has large garden and a spacious car park and it’s only a 5 minute drive away on the main Cirencester road.
This is a very old and historic pub set above the Stroudwater Canal. Great for a drink and great for walking along the Sapperton Valley on the old canal towpath. Very atmospheric.
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The Daneway Inn
Dane LaneThis is a very old and historic pub set above the Stroudwater Canal. Great for a drink and great for walking along the Sapperton Valley on the old canal towpath. Very atmospheric.
This is an historic pub that has recently changed hands. The menu seems to have all the right ingredients i.e locally sourced meat and vegetables freshly prepared every day. It could be very useful as an alternative to the Wheatsheaf in Northleach which is quite expensive and usually quite booked up.
Sherborne Arms
This is an historic pub that has recently changed hands. The menu seems to have all the right ingredients i.e locally sourced meat and vegetables freshly prepared every day. It could be very useful as an alternative to the Wheatsheaf in Northleach which is quite expensive and usually quite booked up.
This was our best pub experience recently (October 2023), This a really proper pub that serves proper food. It's obviously popular because the tables were busy on a Thursday lunchtime. It serves good local food and has a really good atmosphere. The village also is classic with a large village green with a play area for children. The church and its very atmospheric churchyard is just a short walk up from the pub and is well worth a visit, After lunch and a walk around the village you could move onto Stow on the Wold and visit some of the many shops and cafes!
The Fox Inn
This was our best pub experience recently (October 2023), This a really proper pub that serves proper food. It's obviously popular because the tables were busy on a Thursday lunchtime. It serves good local food and has a really good atmosphere. The village also is classic with a large village green with a play area for children. The church and its very atmospheric churchyard is just a short walk up from the pub and is well worth a visit, After lunch and a walk around the village you could move onto Stow on the Wold and visit some of the many shops and cafes!
CHILD FRIENDLY
The home farm of Adam Henson is a very child friendly destination. It is off the Fosseway going North very close to Bourton on the Water
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Cotswold Farm Park
The home farm of Adam Henson is a very child friendly destination. It is off the Fosseway going North very close to Bourton on the Water
Bourton on the Water is a destination village with lots of attractions such as Birdland, the Model Village and the Cotswold Motor Museum.
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Bourton on the Water
Bourton on the Water is a destination village with lots of attractions such as Birdland, the Model Village and the Cotswold Motor Museum.
Bibury is another destination village. It is famously pretty with the river Coln running through it which also supplies fresh clean water to The Trout Farm which is open to visitors and has a café. You can take children there and fish for trout and then bring them back to the Cottage and cook them. Several parties of guests have said this was a really good experience.
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Granja de truchas de Bibury
Bibury is another destination village. It is famously pretty with the river Coln running through it which also supplies fresh clean water to The Trout Farm which is open to visitors and has a café. You can take children there and fish for trout and then bring them back to the Cottage and cook them. Several parties of guests have said this was a really good experience.
This is a great destination for children. It has lots of animals including white rhinos, giraffes and monkeys, aquariums and aviaries. It also has a little train that takes you round the whole estate. It is just off the A40 so it is a useful stop over if you are coming or going back to London.
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Parque de Vida Silvestre y Jardines de Cotswold
This is a great destination for children. It has lots of animals including white rhinos, giraffes and monkeys, aquariums and aviaries. It also has a little train that takes you round the whole estate. It is just off the A40 so it is a useful stop over if you are coming or going back to London.
Perfect for a visit in the autumn. A spectacular place for walking and also very educational.
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Westonbirt, El Arboreto Nacional
Perfect for a visit in the autumn. A spectacular place for walking and also very educational.
The best local pool when it's really hot. May be crowded though. Try it and see. There are indoor pools at Cirencester Leisure Centre and Bourton-on-the-Water.
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Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool
The best local pool when it's really hot. May be crowded though. Try it and see. There are indoor pools at Cirencester Leisure Centre and Bourton-on-the-Water.
This place started just as a climbing centre but has now developed into a kind of leisure village with a campsite and a delicatessen and cafe and various other facilities. Check out their website for the full list. They are literally a 5 minute drive from Pancake Hill.
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Far Peak Climbing Centre
This place started just as a climbing centre but has now developed into a kind of leisure village with a campsite and a delicatessen and cafe and various other facilities. Check out their website for the full list. They are literally a 5 minute drive from Pancake Hill.
Shopping
This is our local Craft Shop and Gallery. Well worth a visit if you are in our lovely local market town of Cirencester. It also has a cafe and resident craft workers.
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New Brewery Arts
Cricklade StreetThis is our local Craft Shop and Gallery. Well worth a visit if you are in our lovely local market town of Cirencester. It also has a cafe and resident craft workers.
Burford Garden Centre is a great place to visit. As well as plants it also has a cafe and restaurant and very good rugs and funiture , clothes for men and women and a brilliant toy shop for children. As it is right on the A40 it is a useful place to break your joyrney to and from London. It is also just down the road from Burford Wildlife Park which is a whole experience in itself. Burford High Street is worth a visit too and you can start good walks from the car park down by the bridge and walk along the Windrush river.
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Burford Garden Center
Shilton RoadBurford Garden Centre is a great place to visit. As well as plants it also has a cafe and restaurant and very good rugs and funiture , clothes for men and women and a brilliant toy shop for children. As it is right on the A40 it is a useful place to break your joyrney to and from London. It is also just down the road from Burford Wildlife Park which is a whole experience in itself. Burford High Street is worth a visit too and you can start good walks from the car park down by the bridge and walk along the Windrush river.
Entertainment
Giffords Circus is our home grown circus. It's a unique and a special destination every year. During Spring, Summer and early Autumn it travels around the Cotswolds and brings laughter and joy to every one who is lucky enough to get tickets. If poss try to fit it into your schedule but book your tickets as early as you can.
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Giffords Circus
Giffords Circus is our home grown circus. It's a unique and a special destination every year. During Spring, Summer and early Autumn it travels around the Cotswolds and brings laughter and joy to every one who is lucky enough to get tickets. If poss try to fit it into your schedule but book your tickets as early as you can.
This is our local theatre and they put on regular and original shows. Try going online and seeing whats on during your stay.
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Barn Theatre
3 Beeches RdThis is our local theatre and they put on regular and original shows. Try going online and seeing whats on during your stay.
Bikes and ebikes
Cotswold eBikes
Just a 5 minute drive away on the east side of the Fosseway (A429) this is the nearest bike hire depot. From there you can leave your car, jump on your bikes and have immediate access to miles of relatively flat countryside whereas on the Chedworth side of the Fosseway it is much hillier. From Far Peak you can easily ride to Bibury and back through several interesting villages.
Far Peak Cycle Hire
Far PeakJust a 5 minute drive away on the east side of the Fosseway (A429) this is the nearest bike hire depot. From there you can leave your car, jump on your bikes and have immediate access to miles of relatively flat countryside whereas on the Chedworth side of the Fosseway it is much hillier. From Far Peak you can easily ride to Bibury and back through several interesting villages.