Only two hours from our home in South Wales we travelled to the Cotswolds. Staying in Shipston on stour, the drive is a mixture of corn fields and rolling countryside. Arriving at our home for the week, on Saturday afternoon. A lovely cottage in a quiet neighbourhood, fully equipped with everything we needed. A short walk from the town centre and small shops.
Sunday started with a walk into town to see what was around. Filled with little pubs, convenience stores, little cafes & restaurants. Walking on the edge of town we walked out into the countryside and over a beautiful ornate bridge not wanting to venture to far with Zoey. She has been unwell lately, and requires a lot of water stops. This is one of the few holidays we aren’t by a beach where she can swim.
Monday- Deciding to do a road trip, Stratford upon avon, was somewhere close and with the history we craved. Shakespeare’s home town. This place really was stunning, the River Avon. Geese taking off alongside the canal boats. Old batton buildings with reference to Shakespeare everywhere. We stopped for lunch at the local sports centre away from the hustle and bustle. Enjoying great coffee and paninis. Getting back later that afternoon we decided to try the local Italian restaurant Buon Gusto. The owner allowed us and the dogs in. We were spoiled with seafood risotto, bruschetta, calamari and dessert. A fab meal for a reasonable price.
Tuesday- Another walk today to Honington, leaving our cottage we ventured left out of the street and up the main road, turning off towards Honington. The walk taking us past thatched roofs, apple windfalls with locals picking sloe berries and blackberries. A peaceful walk that lead us back over the bridge we had past earlier in the week.
Wednesday- Started off with a bump literally. I hadn’t really read the instructions on recycling at the cottage and had emptied the bags of recycling straight into the big bin. Thinking i should put this right i was reaching in to get out the recycling. When the bin tipped itself up. Full force of a heavy bin coming straight at my forehead. Standing there dazed. I knew i had hurt myself as i couldn’t really move my forehead for the pain. The only cool thing i could find to ice my forehead was the glass of wine I hadn’t finished the night before and had put in the fridge for the next day. Jas comes down stairs and immediately says “it’s a bit early for drinking isn’t it” removing my drink, i point to my head telling him it’s for that. He goes on to tell me it’s not that bad. So with a bump on my head which is still sore a week later we decided to head out for the day. I really wanted to go to Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly squat farm as it wasn’t too far away. Off we headed getting there just after it opened. Getting to the carpark, the queue was insane, hundreds of people there. I said to Jas keep going i ain’t waiting 2 hours just to get in. Bourton on the water our next stop. A picturesque village with multiple little bridges crossing over the canal, it was pretty but filled with so many tourists. We decided to walk out of the village a little bit, towards the slaughters villages. Passing the best hidden gem. Someones back garden , beautiful lily pond with a canal and little bridges.
Thursday- After our big day out yesterday we decided to walk again close to home. Honington with a little detour to the local church grounds, more thatched roofs and this time vintage cars driving past. Very old school english countryside.
Friday- Deciding to go home one day early we got up, packed and headed for the capital of the cotswolds Cirencester. Arriving it was one of the many market days. Reminding us of europe and all the fab produce and products you can buy on the market square. Passing a fab bakery we stopped and had stuffed croissants and coffee. They were so good. Heading off towards the walled park. I had heard there was a roman amphitheatre, so we walked to it on the edge of town. Literally a grass mound, no stones its reminds me of Caerlon in Wales. Before we left we found some public toilets, 40p to use we thought ok. Until i was stuck in there, unable to get the handle working or the exit button. Jason on the outside pulling and pushing, me on the inside. After a minute or two finally the handle allowed me out. A guy smiling as i said, well i cant believe i paid 40p to get stuck in a toilet. Heading home mobile traffic lights everywhere for roadworks. And our second viewing of car crashes at mobile lights this week. Either people are impatient or they cant drive. The first one at the end of our street at the holiday cottage, car into the back of a motorhome, the second looking like they were trying to turn around in the queue on our way home.
Overall the week was a nice time away, but we think we prefer holidays with a bit more coastal walking. Think Devon and Cornwall might have to be next
Wanderlust Craddocks 