Cotswolds Holidays - Exploring Rental Options and Villages to Visit - Following some research on Cotswolds towns and villages before a trip with my family, we discovered a new perspective to Cotswolds Holidays and staying in traditional rental accommodation. Here's a brief overview of some Cotswolds history I uncovered and a list places you may wish to research before your visit.
Cotswolds Holidays - Exploring Rental Options and Villages to Visit
By Howard Evans
Dec 29, 2009 - 7:41:57 AM
Exploring the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is a beautiful
corner of England that’s at the top of the list of places you must visit in the
UK. Stretching from Ilmington in Warwickshire for over
100 miles to the historic city of Bath
, it’s officially an area of outstanding natural beauty.'Wold' is an old English word meaning 'open
rolling countryside in the uplands'.
When
‘Wool’ was King
Historically many of the Cotswolds towns and villages owe
their initial prosperity to the wool industry. This trade lasted several
centuries, with over half a million sheep grazing the land at one stage, and a
highly significant volume of trade with Europe. Flemish weavers were brought to
England to cope with demand, and many of the wool merchants grew wealthier than
the King!
As a result, numerous fine
homes and churches were built over the centuries from the wealth of this trade.
Fast-forward to present day life and the booming wool industry has long gone –
however you still find sheep and arable farming on the open rolling hills. The
local breed 'the Cotswold' can produce an impressive fleece in excess of 10
Kilos.
English
Castles and Market Towns
Amongst the contours of the countryside you’ll find a whole
host of interesting places to visit including English castles, ancient
churches, glorious gardens, stately homes and many historic houses.
Head out towards the picturesque market
towns and you’ll find some of the oldest chartered weekly markets in the
country! You can literally spend days out exploring the picturesque Cotswold
countryside and many visitors take time out for a leisurely ramble - stopping
for refreshments in a traditional Cotswolds pub.
Beautiful
Cotswolds Scenery
Magnificent parkland and lakes, spectacular walks and
breathtaking scenery awaits you with a wide range of wildlife such as badgers,
beavers, butterflies, wild deer, kingfishers, nightingales, otters, egrets,
owls and precious wild orchids. A ‘top of the list destination’ if: you’re
exploring the UK for the first time; seeking a traditional Cotswolds Cottage
holiday for a family break, or looking for a romantic weekend away. You’ll find
plenty to do and see with pretty towns and villages scattered everywhere,
providing a picture-perfect backdrop, easily identified as ‘The Cotswolds’ by
the mellow coloured stone buildings. Alternatively, visit Cotswolds Water Park
- there’s award winning modernist architecture and spectacular lakeside
accommodation available for those looking for all of the modern-day luxuries in
a traditional Cotswolds countryside setting.
Cotswolds Towns and Villages
Places in the
Cotswolds where you may wish to research before your visit are: Adlestrop,
Amberley, Bath, Bibury, Blockley, Bourton on the Water, Broadway, Burford,
Castle Combe, Charlbury, Cheltenham Spa, Chippenham, Chipping Campden, Chipping
Norton, Chipping Sodbury, Cirencester, Cotswold Water Park, Fairford,
Gloucester, Guiting Power, Ilmington, Lacock, Lechlade, The Slaughters,
Malmesbury, Mickleton, Minster Lovell, Moreton in Marsh, Nailsworth,
Northleach, Painswick, Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, Snowshill, Stanton,
Stow on the Wold, Stroud, Tetbury, Willersey, Winchcombe, Woodstock, and Wotton
under Edge.
As a keen outdoor
enthusiast and traditionalist, I've had many Cotswolds holidays in the UK.
Following some research on a list of Cotswolds towns and villages before a trip
with my family, we discovered a new perspective to staying in traditional
Cotswolds Holiday rental accommodation resourced from http://www.luxuryholidays.uk.com
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