Destination of the month - The Cotswolds : Enjoy England

The Cotswolds

Quick! Pack the boot and head off with the family to the Cotswolds this autumn, the perfect season to visit the area. One of the most beautiful areas in England, the Cotswolds, offers unique stone-built heritage, gently rolling hills and broad sweeping valleys. Explore historic market towns and discover small charming villages dotted across the landscape, each with an interesting church and perhaps a country pub! Every season throws a different light on this quintessentially English scene. Autumn is of course a beautiful time. Imagine what the Cotswolds will look like now.

Places to visit

There are famous cities such as Bath, well-known beautiful towns like Cheltenham and hundreds of delightful villages such as Burford and Castle Combe (www.castle-combe.com/). The local honey-coloured limestone, used for everything from the stone floors in the houses to the tiles on the roof, has ensured that the area has a magical uniformity of architecture.

Where to stay

Row of quaint stone cottages in the Cotswold village of Bibury

You’ll find a wide choice of accommodation in the Cotswolds, from elegant country house hotels and small family run bed and breakfasts to excellent farmhouses, self catering and camping and caravan sites.

Use our accommodation search (www.enjoyengland.com/book/accommodation/Gazetteer.aspx?Sec=accommodation&advsrch=1&Rad=3&TowPosCd=cotswolds&durat=1&room=1&adult=1&child=0&display=map) to find a place to stay now.

The Priory Inn

If you're looking for the perfect place to escape the rush of modern life, try the homely and stylish delights of The Priory Inn (www.enjoyengland.com/Accommodation/Tetbury/Hotel/96022/The-Priory-Inn.htm) in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. This family-run, family-focused hotel is an ideal place to relax and recharge, with its large comfortable beds and en-suite rooms, spa, in-room massages, real ales and mouth-watering menu. The Inn's owners, Tanya and Dave, will even have their chefs prepare you a picnic, including local cheeses and home-baked bread, to take with you should you wish to explore the area.

Find out more about and book accommodation at The Priory Inn (www.enjoyengland.com/Accommodation/Tetbury/Hotel/96022/The-Priory-Inn.htm)

Food and drink

The Cotswolds is an agricultural area and its food producers have wonderfully tasty cheeses, wines, fruits, vegetables, juices, biscuits, beers, meat and fish. You should be able to buy these from local shops in towns and villages in the Cotswolds. Farmers' markets are also held regularly in many of the market towns in the area. The Cotswolds is known for historic hotels and a great tip is to visit these for afternoon tea, where you can enjoy traditional scones, sandwiches and cakes.

Walking

There are some great walks in the Cotswolds, many based in and around the characteristic towns and villages. One of the best ways to walk with confidence in the countryside is to use a Circular Walk, following a leaflet describing the route. This will provide a map with clear instructions and usually notes places of interest to look out for on your way.

To explore some of the historic towns in the Cotswolds, why not spend an hour following a Town Trail taking in the architectural heritage and history written in stone, before stopping for a drink at a traditional pub or afternoon tea at a tearoom?

A well-earned rest should be enjoyed! For a perfect English Autumn visit the Cotswolds. Mellow in an endless sleepy scene and let the summer float away over distant meadows. It’s never been so easy to let go.