The best way to see The Cotswolds is by car so we took a chance and rented a car. We decided to get an automatic (and extra insurance!) since it was our first time driving on the wrong side of the road. Oscar drove the whole way and did a great job. I was very impressed :) We got up bright and early Saturday morning and were back in London by late Sunday afternoon. It seemed like we were gone for much longer, which made it really feel like a nice vacation.
Our first stop was Bath. Bath is famous for the Roman baths, which we had to visit. We also visited the Abbey were the first king, King Edward, was crowned; then, just enjoyed wandering about the town center. We found the cutest little coffee shop, "The Boston Tea Party", where we had lunch. It was a quaint place packed with locals having a late, late breakfast, lunch, or tea. I loved it!
View from the town center.
View from the terrace of the exterior bath.
One of the interior baths.
Fresh hot spring water.After Bath, we headed north to Castle Combe. A friend of Oscar's had recommended it so we had to stop. It had so much character. We had perfect weather for our trip - crisp, and cool with a few clouds, sunshine, and no rain. It made our experience even more authentic. I think this village was one of my favorites.
The main road through the village.
The cottages all had really short doorways.
The local church. It was a little spooky because the cementery was right out front. Then, when Oscar went to open the front door, it started to open itself and freaked him out. We didn't realize someone from inside was trying to leave. I was hysterical laughing.
The gardens at the Manor House Hotel. This hotel was unbelievable. It looked like it came right out of a storybook. I had tea (Oscar had a beer) inside in one of the old sitting rooms. So much fun!After Castle Combe, we headed to Bibury where we were going to stay for the night at a great Bed&Breakfast, The Swan Hotel. By the time we got there, we were exhuasted and it was already dark. So we rested before we went downstairs for dinner. Sunday morning we had a traditional English breakfast at the hotel and then headed out to explore the village. The hotel owned a small trout farm right infront of the hotel, where they catch fresh trout for the restaurant. The brook was filled with trout, ducks, and swans.
Our hotel with a view of the brook. The water was so clear you could see trout.
When they turned down our bed, they tucked in their signature bear. Very cute idea!
Wildlife in the river.
A view of the village from the local church.
The local church and clock tower. The clock is over 500 years old and still works.
Just a beautiful view.
We followed a public footpath through the forest ...
... and made some new friends :)
The famous honey colored cottages.Our last stop was in Burford. It was only about a 15 minute drive from Bibury and on our way back to London. The main street in this town was filled with antique shops, cafes, and adorable little stores. We had fun just going in and out of the shops and enjoying the views. For lunch, we found another great treasure. An intimate cafe that has been in business since the 1800s. The food was great and it was the perfect end to our wonderful trip. We picked the best time of year to go because all of the leaves were changing colors and the contrasts were beautiful. I would love to go back again - there are lots of other villages still left to explore!
The main street in Burford with a great view of the countryside.
No comments:
Post a Comment