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Cotswolds
A range of hills in the west of England, extending from Bath at their southernmost point to Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, are known as the Cotswolds and are famed throughout the country for their beauty and for the beauty of the towns and villages which are scattered in and around them. This lovely heart of the English countryside is no suddenly discovered attraction. The Romans, on their way up from the south, found it greatly to their liking. So much so that they built several villas here, the floors decorated with their usual mosaics. No doubt they found, as would future builders, that the limestone, whilst initially easy to work would harden and form ideal building material. This stone has been a feature of the area for many years. It hardly seems the same from one day to the next, subtly changing its color from day to day, and from season to season, as the light falling upon it changes.
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In the thirteenth century Cistercian monks reared sheep in the Cotswold pastures and this was to be instrumental in the area becoming, in the middle ages, one of, if not the, most important wool producing areas in the country. This importance continued until the eighteenth century when, with the coming of mechanization, the wool trade began to move further north, to Yorkshire. Sad though this may have been for the wool merchants whose trade and homes were centered in the Cotswolds, it should be counted a blessing for us that no industrialization overran these lovely hills; sheep still graze on the pastures. The beautiful old Market towns remain, almost unchanged, for us to enjoy.
With names like Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton, Stow on the Wold and Bourton on the Water it would not be too surprising if our expectation of places, both beautiful and typical of the rural heart of England, exceeded the reality, but this is not the case. There are few people who have visited the Cotswolds and not been completely won over by their charm. Many visitors, especially those from overseas, carry a mental picture of English villages as being composed of quaint old half timbered houses, stocks on the village green and peaceful old churches, the whole nestling in the fold of some green, pastured valley. Happily, this is exactly what they find here. Even today it is possible to stand in the timber roofed market hall in the high street of Chipping Campden and see, through the arches, the fourteenth century houses opposite. This is by no means a rarity either. Such sights and pleasures are too numerous to mention and are always enhanced by the memories of that lovely mellow stone.
Cotswolds Hotels
Bear of Rodborough - Rodborough Common, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 5DE
Broadway Hotel - The Green, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7AA
Brookthorpe LodgeStroud Road, Brookthorpe, Gloucestershire GL4 0UK
Burford House - 9 High Street, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX18 4QA
The Castle Inn - Castle Combe, Wiltshire, SN14 7HN
Dumbleton Hotel - The Parks, Offenham Road Nr. Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 8JP
Charlton Kings Hotel - London Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 6UU
Cleeve Hill Hotel - Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3PR
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