Leisure
The Cotswolds is the largest designated area of outstanding natural beauty and on a warm sunny day it is difficult to think of a nicer place to be. The miles of bridleways and country lanes provide picturesque routes for cyclists and riders. In addition, there are many way-marked walks of differing levels of difficulty. In any case, it should not be too hard to find a pub to adjourn to if the going gets too tough.
The Cotswold Way passes through the pretty honey-coloured stone villages of Stanton, Broadway and Chipping Campden. If you are feeling nostalgic for London you could always return on foot along the Thames Path. The infant Thames starts in Kemble and winds its way 184 miles (294km) to the Thames Barrier near Greenwich in London.
The Cotswold lakes incorporating the Cotswold Water Park, represents the largest inland area of water in Britain and is 50% larger than the Norfolk Broads. There are more than 130 lakes created by gravel extraction covering 40 square miles. It is a haven for wildlife with over 40 different bird species visiting the lakes in the winter.A host of activities are possible within the area including guided walks, riding, bird-watching, camping or sunbathing on the award winning inland beach located within Keynes Country Park. There are two great playgrounds within the park. The castle and mini-diggers are particularly popular with boys.
Gardeners have a host of places to visit for inspiration, from local village flower shows to internationally renowned gardens such as Hidcote. Hidcote Manor Garden in Chipping Campden is 100 years old this year. Owned by the National Trust, it is a series of different gardens including The Old Garden, The Pillar Garden and The Red Borders. A secret garden high above the churn valley in the north Cotswolds exists at Cerney House. There is a walled garden of old-fashioned roses and herbaceous borders, bluebell woods and kitchen and herb gardens. It hosts the annual tulip festival in April and May and contains the national collection of Tradescantia.
Other attractive gardens worth a visit include Misarden Park near Stroud, with its fine topiary, some designed by Edwin Lutyens, and Painswick Rococo Garden famous for its snowdrops. The region is home to two impressive arboretums, Batsford, one of the largest private collections of trees and shrubs in England, and Westonbirt.
Westonbirt is the national arboretum and is particularly stunning in the autumn with its colourful display of Acers. It also has magnificent displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias. It runs a programme of events throughout the year including its popular summer concerts, which this year feature M People, Travis and Jools Holland.There are a number of museums in the region from the town museums and art galleries in Cheltenham and Gloucester to more quirky smaller museums. The Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum has a world famous collection relating to the Arts & Craft Movement. It also has rare Chinese and English pottery and 400 years of painting by Dutch and British artists.
Keith Harding’s World of Mechanical Music in Northleach is a unique collection of musical boxes, and all kinds of self-playing musical instruments. The restored instruments are presented as live entertainment by the guides in a period setting.
Tetbury Police Museum is housed in the original Police Office and cells in the former Police Station and Magistrates Court. The museum has a wide range of fascinating exhibits showing the history of the Gloucestershire Police Force which was set up in 1839, the second in the country.
The Cotswolds’ Roman past is well documented in the revamped Corinium Museum in Cirencester. After two years and £5m expenditure, the museum has a full programme of exhibitions and events suitable for all ages celebrating Cirencester’s position as Roman Britain’s second city.