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The Area
Welcome to the colourful Cotswolds
As the River Severn winds its way through the Severn Vale at Stroud in the west of the Cotswolds, the ‘wolds’, or gently sloping green hills, that dominate the ancient and magnificent landscape roll gracefully off to the east and the only thing that keeps you from discovering every square metre of this beautiful area of England is, perhaps, time. There is so much to see, do, taste, and experience that you will need a fair amount of this precious commodity to take it all in. Many visitors find themselves returning again and again for this very reason, and the effort is certainly worth the reward. Indeed, time often seems to move at a slower pace out in the country.
The ‘cots’ of Cotswold refers to the stone sheep shelters of ages past, built largely from the honey-coloured limestone that is predominant in this region. Sheep farming has long been the mainstay of the Cotswolds, and it was the local breed of sheep, with their much sought-after wool, that created the medieval wealth that led to the building of the numerous stately homes and churches, complimented by beautiful, brightly colourful gardens, which dominate the architectural splendour of the villages and towns of the region. The Cotswolds is sometimes referred to as the heart of England for more reasons than its location in the middle of the country. It can indeed be likened to the beauty and serenity of the Middle Earth of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. The area stretches from Bath in the south to Stroud in the west, north onto Stratford with the university city of Oxford in the east. The Cotswolds is easily accessed by road or rail, especially if one is travelling from London, Manchester or Birmingham. Whether you have planned a shopping day-trip to one of the market villages in the area or you have booked a stay in one of the towns, whether your idea of the ideal holiday includes music festivals, nightclubs and the theatre, or if you prefer antique fairs and fetes, or equestrian and other sporting events, the Cotswolds has much to offer everyone. There are memories just waiting to be created for young and old alike. Activities to include on your itinerary are visiting the local museums, taking a browse in the antique and craft shops, enjoying a meal in some of the local teashops or pubs, breathing in the fresh rural air, but most important of all is to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of life in the countryside.
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