Oxfordshire & The Cotswolds
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Issue 3 - 2012
Annual Publication The Ultimate County Guide
Historic Houses | Attractions | Museums & Arts Towns & Districts | Open Air
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CONTENTS Historic Buildings Gardens Attractions Museums & Arts The Open Air
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Welcome to the 2012 edition of the Oxfordshire & the Cotswolds County Signpost Tourist Guide, your indispensable guide to the best tourist attractions and days out the county has to offer. We hope that you find our guide, a pleasure to read, both interesting and informative, and that you will take it away with you, to use again and again.
We offer a taster of the visitor attractions and events within the County, for both locals and those who wish to visit from afar.
To be featured in our next edition please email the editor.
For a free download please visit our new map-driven, online magazine website
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Published by: County Signpost Ltd Editor: Adam Davison
All material in this magazine is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of printing. County Signpost Ltd does not accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies which slipped through. Copyright County Signpost Ltd 2012. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
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Please mention Signpost when visiting any of the attractions.
County Signpost Ltd 01743 874098 info@countysignpost.co.uk
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THE NATIONAL TRUST Avoid the frenzy of the high street and see what the National Trust has to offer. National Trust places throughout the region offer the chance to unwind and relax. Great shops and restaurants, craft fairs, a wealth of history, beautiful gardens and parklands, workshops, children’s activities and family trails - all in beautiful settings too. So come along and enjoy something special.
New era for Stowe A £9 million project to transform your visit to one of the country’s earliest tourist attractions is now complete.
When the magnificent landscape gardens of Stowe were first created in the 18th century, people travelled from all around the country to marvel at their scale and splendour. These early
Picnic at Palladian Bridge, copyright NTPL
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Oxford Bridge, copyright NTPL
tourists stayed or took refreshment at a hostelry known as New Inn, before making their way into the gardens that were influencing landscape design across Europe.
Now the National Trust has created an exciting new visitor centre on the site of this previously derelict inn, so that 21st-century visitors can relive the experience of their 18th-century forebears. The end result is a seamless combination of immaculately restored heritage and new buildings designed to delight and inspire the modern visitor.
The historic rooms of New Inn have been restored and dressed to evoke the atmosphere of a Georgian country inn. The restored buildings around the original courtyard flow into an area of new build with light, airy rooms and lofty interiors showcasing the craftsmanship and quality of the materials that have been used. The energy for the site is provided by a biomass boiler using wood chippings from Stowe and other woodlands in the area, and the larch timber used in the new buildings comes from the National Trust estate at Ashridge.
From New Inn you can choose to take the landtrain down the drive to Bell Gate, the original
entry into the gardens, or take a gentle stroll to retrace the footsteps of visitors to Stowe all those years ago.
The opening of New Inn marks an important milestone in the National Trust’s restoration of the gardens of Stowe which has been continuing for over 20 years, Whether you are interested in the fascinating history and allegorical meaning of Stowe or simply looking for a day out in glorious surroundings, the New Inn visitor centre is the perfect place to start and end your visit.
You can take part in the launch of New Inn on 24th and 25th March when there will be a host of historic fun and games on offer, as well as free entry into the gardens.
For further information about times, events and admission prices please call 01280 822850 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowegardens.
Admission for National Trust members to Stowe is free. To benefit from free entry into all National Trust properties why not join today? Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for more information
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Hidcote Manor Garden,
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Hidcote Bartrim, nr Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire GL55 6LR 01386 438333 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote
Don’t miss one of England’s greatest gardens. Designed in Arts and Crafts style by horticulturist Lawrence Johnston, it is made up of a series of ‘rooms’ which each have a unique style. Nestled in the Cotswolds with sweeping views across the Vale of Evesham, Hidcote is appealing all year round. Rare shrubs and trees, outstanding herbaceous borders and unusual plant species make this a truly special place to visit.
Whilst you are there, why not enjoy a game of tennis or croquet, visit the newly transformed kitchen garden, join one of our free talks or enjoy a delicious meal using home-grown produce in our newly refurbished Garden Restaurant. Hidcote has the largest plant centre in the National Trust where you can buy species from Hidcote – including the famous Hidcote lavender – as well as numerous others. The shop stocks unique and appealing gifts and practical items too.
Children will love the new garden activity booklets.
Lodge Park and Sherborne Estate,
Lodge Park, Aldsworth, Nr Cheltenham, Gloucstershire GL54 3PP 01451 844130 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sherborne
This beautiful Cotswold Country estate contains England’s only surviving and fullyrestored deer course and grandstand. Surrounded by water meadows and parkland rich in wildlife, the rare 17th century grandstand was created in 1634 by John Crump Dutton who had a deep passion for gambling, banqueting and entertaining.
There are a variety of walks from the estate over the rolling Cotswold countryside with views of the River Windrush. Ancient trees such as veteran oak, ash, beech and lime provide important nesting and feeding sites for birds, bats and insects. Barn owls and woodpeckers can sometimes be spotted. Fallow and Roe deer as well as badgers and foxes are all in evidence on the estate.
Hidcote © NTPL / Nick Daly
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Look out for events and guided tours over the summer, follow the Sculpture Trail to discover Sherborne through art, or simply come along and enjoy the beautiful grounds.
www.countysignpost.co.uk Lodge Park is also licensed for Civil weddings, and provides a lovely setting for an intimate ceremony
Newark Park,
Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12 7PZ 01793 817666 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/newarkpark
An atmospheric house which truly reflects its 450 year history dating back to Tudor times
Furnished with an eclectic mix of old and modern furniture, it is certainly well worth a visit. Surrounding the house you will find wild and romantic gardens which will give you fantastic views towards the Mendips.
From the property there are countryside walks and footpath links to the Cotswold Way. There are croquet sets for hire, great spots for taking a picnic and lots of space to roam about. Look out for the snowdrops in early spring and family events in the summer. Dogs on leads allowed in the grounds. Newark Park Š National Trust
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Snowshill Manor,
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Snowshill, nr Broadway, Gloucestershire WR12 7JU 01386 852410 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/snowshillmanor
This is a real one-off. The manor is packed to the rafters with 22,000 unusual objects – all laid out theatrically to their collector’s – Charles Wade’s – wishes. From tiny toys to Samurai armour, he was an enthusiastic collector, spending his whole life – and inherited wealth – amassing this spectacular collection.
The beautifully restored Cotswold stone house is surrounded by a peaceful hillside garden. It is the ideal place to come and relax, enjoy a delicious home-made lunch in the restaurant, take a cream tea on the terrace, browse in the 2nd hand bookshop or treat yourself to some local produce from the gift shop. Explorer tours and children’s trails are also available.
Chedworth Roman Villa,
Yanworth, nr Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 3LJ 01242 890256 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chedworth
The remains of one of the largest Roman villas in the country provide a fascinating insight into 4th century Roman Britain. The site was discovered in 1864 on the Earl of Eldon’s estate by a local gamekeeper and then excavated by his estate workers. What remains is fabulous – more than a mile of walls, beautiful mosaics*, two bathhouses, hypocausts, a water shrine and latrine.
Highlights from the villa are: •Taking the plunge. The Romans really did know a thing or two about bathing, heating and plumbing. You can admire their work in the Bath Houses where there are two kinds of baths: one hot and sauna-like and the other a cold plunge bath.
Snowshill Manor © National Trust / Paul Watson
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Chedworth Roman Villa © National Trust Images / Paul Harris
•A gift from the gods. The natural spring that feeds the villa’s water shrine never dries up and still runs in the 4th century stone channel. This miraculous supply is no doubt the reason the Villa is built here.
•The latrines show how good the Romans were at mod cons. These flushing toilets consist of a wooden bench with a row of holes in it over a sewer. The flush came from a stone water channel which carried through fresh running water.
•Anyone for snails? Amazingly, some very large snails which were introduced by the Romans are still in existence. They would have been fed on milk and then cooked and eaten as a delicacy – but are now fully protected!
Apart from Roman delights, Chedworth also offers the chance to explore the stunning grounds enjoying beautiful views over the Cotswolds. Enjoy a picnic in the ruins, visit the shop, or take some light snacks and tea in our shop or tea tent.
rival those in Pompeii, more than a mile of Roman walls, two bathhouses and hyposcausts. Improved visitor facilities will also include a new museum exhibition, education centre, café and reception area.
The mosaics include one of the longest in-situ corridor mosaics in the country at 35 metres long, which will go on display under a special walkway allowing visitors to walk just above the Roman floor.
There is still one section of the corridor mosaic to be excavated and visitors to Chedworth this summer will be able to watch archaeologists at work. The mosaics previously on display under the Victorian shelters include three mosaics in the Bath House and one in the Triclinium or dining room. The excavations will, for the first time in 150 years, allow the display of the corridor mosaics, and three others in an additional room and two short corridors.
Following an extensive redevelopment project in 2011, this year you will be able to fully appreciate the remains of the Villa, including mosaics to
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BERKELEY CASTLE
Home of the Berkeley Family for 900 years. Berkeley Castle has been lived in by the same family for over 900 years. It is where history has been made. Where Edward II was murdered, where the Barons of the West gathered before
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Magna Carta and where Queen Elizabeth I hunted and played bowls.
The most remarkable thing about the Castle is that for nine centuries, the building, the Berkeley family, the archives (which go back to the 12th Century), the contents, the estate and the town have all survived together.
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Its place in history is significant, not just because it is still intact, but because the Berkeley family and their home have played an important part in the power struggles of so many centuries.
Built for War
The Castle is one of the March Castles, built to keep out the Welsh.
It has all the trappings to match: trip steps designed to make the enemy stumble during an assault, arrow slits, murder holes, enormous barred doors, slots where the portcullis once fell, and worn stones where sentries stood guard.
It is also a fairytale Castle with its warm pink stone that glows in soft sunset light. Outside, the battlements drop some 60' to the Great Lawn below; but inside the Inner Courtyard, the building is on a human scale, with uneven battlements, small towers, doors and windows of every shape and size. The surrounding land would have been flooded for defence.
Where History is a Home The Family are one of only three families in England who can trace their ancestry from father to son back to Saxon times. English history has been lived out within these walls and by this family. The Castle is the oldest building in the country to be inhabited by the same family who built it.
For centuries, the Berkeleys were close to the throne, able administrators and fighters who supported their king or queen (as long as they could), backed the winning side, and married well. The Castle, naturally enough, is full of stories. The Archives housed in the Castle date back from the earliest part of the 12th Century and number around 20,000 documents, 6,000 of which relate to the mediaeval period. The latter are mainly manorial records which relate to every county in England, excepting two only.
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Berkeley Treasures The Contents of The Castle are items that have been chosen, collected and treasured by members of the Berkeley family throughout the centuries, and many reflect the history of the place.
They include Francis Drake's cabin chest, Queen Elizabeth I's bedspread, and the banner that the 4th Earl of Berkeley took with him to the Battle of Culloden. Many of the unusual tapestries, paintings, ceramics and silverware, have their own story to tell.
The Estate
The Estate consists of 6,000 acres, and includes one of the best examples of a mediaeval deer park in the country, 18 tenant farms, a stretch of the River Severn and the land on which the famous Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge is situated. Berkeley town itself goes back in time as far as the Castle, and evidence suggests that there was a large Saxon settlement and possibly, a Roman Villa.
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Berkeley Castle is available to hire for weddings and special occasions
Telephone 01453 810332 www.berkeley-castle.com
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ROUSHAM HOUSE AND GARDEN
Rousham and its landscape garden should be a place of pilgrimage for students of the work of William Kent (1685-1748). Rousham represents the first phase of English landscape design and remains almost as Kent left it, one of the few gardens of this date to have escaped alteration, with many features which delighted eighteenth century visitors to Rousham still in situ, such as the ponds and cascades in Venus’s Vale, the Cold Bath, and seven arched Praeneste, Townsend’s Building, the Temple of the Mill, and, on the skyline, a sham ruin known as the ‘Eyecatcher’.
The house, built in 1635 by Sir Robert Dormer, is still in the ownership of the same family. Kent added the wings and the stable block. The south front is almost as Kent left it, but for the replacement of the octagonal glazing with plain glass. This was unfortunately carried out by the architect St. Aubyn when he added the north side of the house in 1876. Kent made alterations to the interior of the house, which retains some 17th century panelling and the original staircases, furniture, pictures and bronzes.
Don’t miss the walled garden with its herbacious borders, small parterre, pigeon house and espalier apple trees. A fine herd of rare LongHorn cattle are to be seen in the park. When you visit Rousham you will find it uncommercial and unspoilt with no tea room and no shop. Bring a picnic, wear comfortable shoes and it is yours for the day.
Rousham is also available for wedding receptions, photographic shoots and events such as car club rallies. No children under 15. No dogs.
Rousham Gardens are open every day of the year from 10 am. Last admission is at 4.30 pm and the gardens close at 6 pm (or at dusk, if earlier). Tickets for the garden are £5 per person.
Rousham House is only open by prior arrangement. The cost is £10 per person, with a mimimum fee of £100. Please contact Charles Cottrell-Dormer to book a tour.
Children under 15 will not be admitted unless by prior arrangement. No dogs are allowed in the gardens.
Refreshments
There is no tea-room at Rousham. However, you are welcome to bring your own picnic lunch or tea. Telephone 01869 347 110 www.rousham.org
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CHAVENAGE HOUSE
This wonderful welcoming Elizabethan home, offers something different. Visit Chavenage House near Tetbury and enjoy guided tours by the owner or his family. Learn of the two families that have occupied the house since the reign of Elizabeth I. Hear of the legends and stories (especially the ghosts) – Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Cotswold countryside.
The name Chavenage dates back to AngloSaxon times, from the Norman Conquest until the Reformation it was monastic land. After the dissolution of the Monasteries, Henry VIII gave the property to the Seymour family. In 1551 Chavenage was purchased by the Stephens family who resided there for over 10 generations. The house and surrounding farm were purchased by the present owner David LowsleyWilliams’ grandfather in 1891.
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The main historical interest centres on the English Civil War, when the house was owned by Col. Nathaniel Stephens MP for Gloucestershire. He was persuaded against his better judgement to vote for Charles I’s impeachment and subsequent execution. Soon after the King was beheaded, Col. Stephens died and it is said that his ghostly form was seen leaving Chavenage in a carriage driven by a headless coachman wearing the Royal vestments.
These days, the property is very much a family home and even though it is open to the public on a part-time basis.
In recent years the house and its surroundings have been used as a film/TV location on many occasions including Agatha Christie’s Poirot story ‘The Mysterious Affair at Styles’ and is being seen as Candleford Manor in the BBC’s ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’.
Open May-September Thursdays and Sundays 2-5pm. Also Easter Sunday & Monday and bank Holiday Mondays. Telephone 01666 502329 www.chavenage.com
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BROUGHTON CASTLE
"Broughton Castle ... about the most beautiful castle in all England ... for sheer loveliness of the combination of water, woods and picturesque buildings."
A generous tribute from historian Sir Charles Oman in 1898, and one continued by the noted diarist James Lees-Milne in a 1989 entry"It is still the most romantic house imaginable. English to the core, as Henry James says. ... Perfection, what with moat, gatehouse, church, and gorgeous orange and buff stone".
A more recent accolade came in 2003 in England's Thousand Best Houses by Sir Simon Jenkins. The author gives only twenty of the
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thousand houses five stars — and Broughton Castle is proud to be one of them.
The garden at Broughton Castle
The walled garden on the south side of the castle, known as the Ladies' Garden was established in the 1880s on the site of the 16th century kitchens.
The fleur de lys beds are planted with 'Rose Heritage' and Rose 'Gruss an Aachen'. The hedge against the castle is of Rose 'Felicia'. The other beds contain many old roses and
www.countysignpost.co.uk herbaceous plants, together with shrubs such as philadelphus and deutzia. The tree in the Ladies' garden is crataegus laevigata.
On the west side of the Ladies' garden wall is a mixed border, with pink the predominant colour. The roses in this border include 'FantinLatour', 'Fritz Nobis', 'Frau Dagmar Hastrup', 'Margaret Hilling', and climbing roses 'Albertine' and 'Purity'.
The rose over the arch, looking through into the ladies garden is R. 'Goldfinch'. The border nearer the gatehouse has a blue yellow and grey theme and includes roses
'Maigold', 'Golden Wings' and 'Windrush', together with berberis, potentillas, hypericum and campanulas.
The existing planting is based on advice given by Lanning Roper in 1970, the work being carried out by the then gardener Bert Dancer. In the 1980s, the planting was developed by Randal Anderson, like Lanning Roper also of American origin. The garden is now maintained and developed by one gardener , Chris Hopkins, working on his own.
Telephone 01295 276070 www.broughtoncastle.com
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SULGRAVE MANOR by the Marquess of Cambridge, the King’s brother-in-law, as “a centre from which sentiments of friendship and goodwill between the British and American peoples will for ever radiate.” This role received concrete expression in the arrangement made for the Manor’s ownership – it is held in trust for the peoples of the United States and the United Kingdom. For the peoples, not the governments, not large organisations. It has survived without government or large organisational funding for nearly a century through unremitting efforts to earn its own living.
Sulgrave Manor, once home to the ancestors of George Washington, is a superb example of a small manor house from the time of Shakespeare with a charming eighteenth century wing.
The Manor was established in 1539 by Lawrence Washington a wealthy wool merchant, originally from Lancashire and his great-great grandson, John emigrated to Virginia in 1657. John’s great grandson, George, grew up as a loyal subject of King George II and became the leader of the first nation to break free from the British Empire. The shabby farmhouse that was bought in 1914 was smaller than the house that Lawrence Washington built.
Sulgrave Manor shares with no other historic house the distinction of its symbolic role, expressed at its opening to the public in 1921
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Tours through three hundred years of history are led by friendly and informative guides who will introduce visitors to what many consider to be a gem amongst historic houses. Set in a historical garden, the Manor is surrounded by stunning countryside. For younger visitors there are trails and challenges and a Children’s Tour on Saturdays.
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For further information and details of opening please see the web site. Pre booked Groups and School Parties welcome all year. You can also book a ‘Speaker from Sulgrave’ for your club or society.
Sulgrave, near Banbury OX17 2SD Please see the website for opening details. Telephone 01295 760205 www.sulgravemanor.org.uk
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BOURTON HOUSE GARDEN
Bourton House Garden – the Cotswolds’ best kept secret! Bourton House Garden is an award-winning three acre garden surrounding a fine 18th century Manor House and Grade I listed 16th century Tithe Barn. It is a garden of surprises and contrasts: tranquil in the spring and flamboyant in the summer months. As famous for its imaginative topiary as its wide herbaceous borders, you will discover a delightful knot garden hidden behind ancient yew hedges. A topiary walk and an extraordinary parterre. Tucked away in a secluded corner is a unique Shade House full of novel shade loving plants and the water features in the garden include a raised basket pond from the Great Exhibition of 1851. Wide herbaceous borders and luxuriant
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Bourton House Garden from the raised walk
terraces showcase stunning plant, texture and colour combinations and unusual, rare and exotic plants delight the eye of every plantsman. Beautiful to visit in any season, Bourton House Garden also presents a magnificent late summer flourish when many gardens have run their course. HHA/Christie’s ‘Garden of the Year’ 2006 2012 season Open to the public every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday April to October 10am to 5pm Admission £6 (under 16 free) Groups are welcome Monday to Friday but advance booking is essential
Tea/Coffee and delicious home-made cakes are
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Melanie Wright Light, Life and Movement Wednesday 11th to Sunday 15th July 2012
Melanie is exhibiting her equestrian and landscape paintings and drawings. Much of her inspiration is drawn from local life, from the polo matches at Cirencester and National Hunt racing to Cotswolds landscapes, in a variety of drawn and painted media. Melanie is also a portrait painter and a selection of her portraits and life drawings will be also be on display.
Charity Open Days:
Sunday 5th August – in aid of National Garden Scheme Sunday 9th September – in aid of The Red Cross
Knot Garden
available in the Tithe Barn from June to mid September. You will also find an interesting selection of cards and gifts throughout the season.
Bourton House Garden, Bourton on the Hill, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AE Telephone 01386 700754 Email info@bourtonhouse.com www.bourtonhouse.com
Exhibitions in the Tithe Barn Bourton House Garden will be open to the public throughout both exhibitions
Ann Blockley SWA Contemporary Watercolour Exhibition Saturday 16th to Saturday 23rd June 2012 (closed Sunday 17th)
Ann is known internationally for her unique and vibrant style, which is unlike the traditional image of watercolour, often combining mixed media and collage with loose impressionistic interpretations. The exhibition will combine both garden and wild flowers alongside
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WATERPERRY GARDENS
Seven miles from the heart of historic Oxford lies Waterperry Gardens – 8 acres of beautiful ornamental gardens with a fascinating history. Established as a School of Horticulture for Ladies by Beatrix Havergal in 1932, it’s now home to a plant centre and garden shop, gallery, gift barn, museum and teashop.
Michaelmas Daisies in time for the special Michaelmas weekend. Running more than 200 feet along the length of the old kitchen garden wall, the south facing border was designed to give as long a display of colour as possible, using early, mid-season and late-lowering herbaceous plants and climbers.
The pride and joy is the herbaceous border – a stunning feature from early May to late September when it bursts into life again with
The garden shop provides everything you need for the gardening season and the plant centre
Lose yourself in the wonderful gardens featuring a formal knot and rose garden, colour borders, waterlily canal, riverside walk and herbaceous nursery stock beds from which all cuttings are taken for the plants sold in the Victorian walled garden plant centre.
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New design elements have been added over the years, including a contemporary herbaceous border featuring plants which are low maintenance and drought tolerant. The garden is also home to a year long exhibition of sculpture by the master sculptors of Zimbabwe which runs until April 2012.
sells mainly Waterperry-grown plants – with herbaceous plants a speciality. There’s also seasonal bedding and veg plants, Waterperry grown shrubs, trees and climbers as well as a wide range of their own apple trees grafted from our orchards where we produce thousands of bottles of the own juice each year.
If you fancy a bit of retail therapy, the Gallery and Gift Barn are must-sees – with beautiful, affordable and unusual gift ideas to suit all tastes and budgets. There’s also a small Rural Life Museum and a Saxon Church but don’t leave without a visit to Miss H’s – the lovely teashop where you can indulge in home baked lunches, patisserie and cakes – all cooked fresh on the premises each day using the best local, seasonal produce.
Opening times: Waterperry Gardens is open all year round except between Christmas and New Year and during Art in Action (19th to 22nd July 2012). Summer 10am to 5.30pm. Winter 10am to 5pm.
Groups and coach parties are welcome. Please contact us to pre-book and to find out about special rates and incentives.
Telephone 01844 339254 Email office@waterperrygardens.co.uk Website: www.waterperrygardens.co.uk
There is a full programme of year round events, from horticulturally themed weekends to outdoor theatre and concerts as well as a wide range of arts, crafts and gardening courses to allow you to brush up an existing – or learn a new skill.
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TRULL HOUSE
Trull House, built in 1843, is set amidst 8 acres of gardens in glorious Cotswold countryside.
The gardens were laid out at the beginning of the last century and comprise many varieties of garden compartments. The features include a sunken lily pond, rockery, wild garden, walled gardens, expansive lawns and mature trees and shrubs.
• The Garden was featured in 'Country Living' June 2003 • Plants (all home grown), as well as cut flowers and vegetables from the garden are available for sale • Teas (homemade cakes etc) are available each day the garden is open and for groups
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• Displayed in the garden are magnificent Burrelli pots from New Zealand (totally frost proof) which are available for sale Telephone 01285 841255 www.trullhouse.co.uk
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KINGSTON BAGPUIZE HOUSE In 1995, with her husband Francis, Virginia Grant began work on the restoration of the gardens. Since 2003 two areas of woodland have been restored and in February visitors to the gardens can enjoy large areas of naturalized snowdrops. Planting of new trees and shrubs continues both to replace specimens lost and also to extend the range of plants the visitor can enjoy.
The family home of Virginia Grant and her children Elizabeth and Alexander, Kingston Bagpuize House is open to the public on selected days and for group visits throughout the year on weekdays by appointment. Licenced for civil ceremonies. The house and grounds are also available for wedding receptions, corporate and charity events and filming. Originally built in the 1660’s the house was remodelled in the early 1700’s in brick with stone quoins and surrounds to the large Georgian style windows. There is an elegant symmetry to all sides of the house. The most prominent feature inside Kingston Bagpuize House is the cantilevered staircase in Scots pine and oak dating from the 18th century remodeling. The well proportioned panelled rooms have some good furniture and pictures.
The gardens as seen today were principally influenced by Miss Marlie Raphael the owner from 1939 until 1976. She added to the existing formal gardens by creating the Woodland Garden and Shrub Border, planting many unusual species of to trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs including snowdrops give year round interest and colour. A raised terrace walk leads to an 18th century pavilion with views both across the lawns to the house and over the gardens.
The tea room in the basement of the house serves homemade teas on all open days as well as morning coffee and lunches to groups by appointment. Plants are available for sale in the Herb Garden.
Telephone 01865 820259 www.kingstonbagpuizehouse.org.uk
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BIRDLAND PARK & GARDENS
Birdland is a natural setting of woodland, river and gardens, which is inhabited by over 500 birds, with the only group of King Penguins in England, Wales and Ireland. Over 50 aviaries and a Desert House and you will also see a display of fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects. There is the Penguin Café, indoor and outdoor Picnic areas, an indoor and outdoor play areas, Gift Shop and much more. Another 2.5 acres have recently been added to the site and a nature trail area has been developed called ‘Marshmouth Reserve’ which is
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open now, but will be opened officially on 14th May 2011 by ‘Countryfiles’ Adam Henson. The area is a maze of paths and copses with marshland and ponds and views over the Windrush River that will develop over the next few years. This will be a chance for you to immerse yourself it a small area of the Cotswold countryside where you can see many species from a dragonfly to a kingfisher.
The refurbishment of the tropical house to ‘Discovery Zone’ is nearly finished, which now offers a dry area to explain the Life Cycle of the
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Egg and the Life of Birds, seating and soft play area. There is also ‘Trigg Hall’ the new Conference/classroom/lecture theatre facility . This versatile space seats up to 60 delegates theatre style, or for smaller groups the boardroom setting offers a more personal environment. Ideal for meetings, interviews, seminars or presentations.
Family Ticket, Season Ticket, Bird Adoption and Educational sheets are available.
Arrange ‘Keeper for the Day’ or ‘Feed a Penguin’
Newsletter ‘Pelican Notes’ available form the website.
www.birdland.co.uk Telephone 01451 820480
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DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE 177 years after it was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1835, the Great Western remains Britain's best loved railway. It was built on a heroic scale by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, with a broad gauge, beautiful bridges and sumptuous stations. It served some of the most scenic areas of England and Wales and called itself The Holiday Line. It invented the Cornish Riviera as a tourist destination. In the 20th century the GWR’s Cheltenham Flyer was the world’s fastest train. Its locomotive policy in the first half of the 20th century was an object lesson in the benefits of standardisation and evolutionary design. With the end of steam on the horizon by the 1940s, the GWR had built a fleet of diesel railcars and experimented with gas turbine locomotives.
Today Didcot Railway Centre encapsulates the long history of the GWR. The replica of the 1840 broad gauge locomotive Fire Fly offers an experience of travel at the beginning of the railway era. The collection of more than 20
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standard gauge locomotives from the 1890s to the 1940s include many of the standard classes typified by tapered boilers, copper-capped chimneys and Brunswick green paintwork. They are completed by Didcot’s preserved fleet of chocolate and cream carriages. On a steamday you are guaranteed a ride in vintage carriages from the 1930s or 1940s.
But Didcot is much more than a train ride. The original engine shed, built 1932, is an exhibition hall which displays locomotives in their authentic surroundings. As the only complete GWR locomotive depot that has survived, Didcot also has a coal stage and turntable in working order. Within the railway centre, buildings have been brought from around the GWR system and re-erected. These included two signal boxes, one of which is regularly opened with staff to explain how semaphore signalling works. There is a picnic area where you can sit and watch the trains go past.
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2010 saw Didcot Railway Centre gain full accreditation as a working museum, after many years of working towards this goal.
2011 saw the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Great Western Society, as well as the launches of the newly restored Steam Railmotor, and King class locomotive 6023 King Edward I.
The railway centre also includes a comprehensive museum of small relics from the GWR. These include the colourful posters which decorated stations, an amazing variety of silverware, glass and crockery used in restaurant cars in the age of elegant dining, and the everyday items crafted in brass or steel and marked with the magic initials GWR.
An interactive Science, Learning and Railways exhibition in two railway coaches explains the theory of steam locomotion to young and not so young visitors. The original air raid shelter from 1940 has been restored as an experience of that dark era when the railways helped to ensure victory, but emerged so run down that nationalisation was inevitable. In 1948 the GWR became part of British Railways, but the brand is so potent that the privatised train operating company has re-adopted the name Great Western.
2012 will see a gala in early May to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the closure (to passenger traffic) of the Didcot, Newbury & Southampton line. As well as this gala, there will be the usual Day Out With Thomas weekends in early March and early October, and Thomas & Father Christmas events in December. (Didcot Railway Centre being the only heritage railway to offer this exciting combination!)
The entrance to Didcot Railway Centre is at Didcot Parkway railway station on the London to Bristol main line. For information about events, please refer to the website, www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk or telephone 01235 817200.
Whether you want to be entertained, educated or to admire engineering excellence, a visit to Didcot Railway Centre is a great experience. 2010 saw Didcot Railway Centre gain full accreditation as a working museum, after many years of working towards this; having been recognised by the Museums, Libraries and Archives council (MLA), as meeting the national
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CHINNOR AND PRINCES RISBOROUGH RAILWAY
The railway is a friendly country branch line in the style of the former Great Western Railway, providing heritage train rides for both families and enthusiasts alike.
The line runs for 3.5 miles along the foot of the Chiltern Hills, parallel to the historic Icknield Way passing through attractive countryside and red kites can often be seen circling overhead. Most trains are steam hauled and operate every Sunday and Bank Holidays departing from Chinnor station. The railway is open from Mothers Day to Halloween and generally tickets give unlimited travel on the day of purchase. The railway also runs a number of special events during the year, including two Gala Days in June
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and August, when all available locomotives and the DMU are in use during the day. There is also an Open Day in May, when you can see behind the scenes to see how the railway operates. In addition, the railway runs its popular Santa and Mince Pie trains on Saturdays and Sundays during December, but these have to be prebooked on 07979 055366.
It also offers superb cream teas on many of the Sunday afternoon steam hauled trains which George Pembroke of Steam Railway wrote ‘The cream tea is the best on-train catering item offered on normal service, and is highly recommended’. For Cream teas availability and advance booking please telephone 07979 055366.
www.countysignpost.co.uk The Railway offers Steam and Diesel Driver Experiences, when members of the public can learn how to control a locomotive on the Icknield Line, and drive the steam or diesel loco the full length of the line - full instruction given, and guests can ride in the train behind the driver!! Telephone 07784 189322 for more details. The railway has wheelchair access, but not on DMU trains, Disabled toilet facilities.
Light refreshments are available on Chinnor Station and most trains include a licensed buffet. Souvenirs of your visit can be purchased in the gift shop.
Open Times:
Trains run from mid-March to the end of October every Sunday, and all Bank Holidays, with the Santa trains every weekend in December. Train Times are generally: 10.00, 11.10, 12.20, 13.30, 15.00, 16.30 Santa Specials: Special Timetable Check with the Talking Timetable for the latest details, on 01844 353535., or go to the website
www.chinnorrailway.co.uk.
Location:
Chinnor station is situated in Station Road just off the B4009. The M40 J6 is 3 miles away and Princes Risborough is 4 miles further along the B4009. Once in Chinnor follow the brown tourist signs to the railway.
Contact:
Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Co., Station Approach, Station Road, Chinnor, Oxon OX39 4ER Talking Timetable: 01844 353535 Party Bookings, cream teas and other queries: 07979 055366, E-mail: enquiries@chinnorrailway.co.uk Website: www.chinnorrailway.co.uk
Ticket Price:
Adults £9.50, Children (3-15) £5.00, Concessions £8.50 and Family £24.00 (Prices may vary on special event days).
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HERITAGE MOTOR CENTRE
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Fun for all the family. The Heritage Motor Centre houses informative and interactive exhibitions charting the history of British motoring from the 1890s to present day.
Walk the 'Time Road' and discover how motoring and family life has changed through the decades with period music and memorable events including the introduction of double yellow lines.
Travel through 'Making British Cars' and see how influential the motor industry has been over the years and where it is heading in the future.
Get 'Under The Skin' and unravel the mystery of how cars work with interactive exhibits. Experience how suspension has improved over time and compare the difference between rack and pin and power steering.
Free guided tours operate twice a day and there is an onsite café serving hot and cold meals and snacks. Outdoor activities include Land Rover 4x4 Experience, and children’s Miniature
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Roadway (each with separate charge), nature path, children's playground and picnic site.
New for 2012
Being the year of the Olympics and hopefully a year when plenty of British athletes will break records; the Heritage Motor Centre is hosting an exciting new exhibition entitled “Motoring Record Breakers”. The exhibition, which will run from 11 February – 2 September 2012, presents the best of motoring record breakers including some of the fastest cars, the smallest, most economical and some of the more wacky record breaking cars. Celebrations continue with a week of Jubilee celebrations 2-10 June, and a special Jubilee Exhibition of Royal Cars. The last Friday of every month will be a 'bonnets up day' , where the Curator will select a handful of cars for the visitors to look under the bonnet. The year is also packed full of motoring events and family activities, see the website for more details. Telephone: 01926 641188 Email: Enquiries@heritage-motor-centre.co.uk Website: www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk
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DEAN HERITAGE CENTRE
of the Forest from the Ice Age to the present day; a reconstructed Victorian cottage; a charcoal burner’s camp; an adventure playground; a chainsaw carving demonstration pitch; a variety of animals and an onsite gift shop; there’s always something new and exciting to interest, inspire or surprise you.
The Dean Heritage Centre is one of Gloucestershire’s leading tourist attractions.
Set across a five acre site, the centre protects, preserves and promotes the unique history and heritage of the beautiful Forest of Dean.
With a wide range of things to do and see, including 5 onsite galleries exploring the history
With a full programme of special events, exhibitions, art shows and educational workshops across the year, it’s a great day out for all the family.
And if that’s not enough, then you can always sample the homemade snacks and cakes served in our heritage café overlooking the millpond. Telephone: 01594 822170 www.deanheritagecentre.com
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HOOK NORTON BREWERY VISITOR CENTRE
The Visitors Centre is housed in the original maltings that were bought by John Harris in 1849 and where he commenced brewing.
Tours start from the Visitors Centre and last approximately 2 hours. They consist of a trip around the Brewery, museum and village museum, followed by beer sampling. On leaving you will receive a badged glass as a memento of your visit.
Brewery Tours & Brewery Museum
Tours start from the Visitors Centre and last approximately 2 hours. They consist of a trip around the Brewery, museum and village museum, followed by beer sampling. On leaving you will receive a Badged glass as a memento of your visit.
Regretfully the Brewery itself is not suitable for people with walking difficulties or children under 12. However, the shop and reception area is able to cater for both. The brewer’s craft is rooted in antiquity and many of its secrets are on view for all to see at
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the Hook Norton Visitors’ Centre and brewery museum. Anyone wandering through this astonishing display quickly realises that traditional methods have survived for sound, practical reasons. You can also witness the steam engine on the ground floor of the brewery itself.
The Shire Horses at Work in the Brewery
The shire horse drawn dray at Hook Norton Brewery ceased deliveries in 1950, but was revitalised in 1985, mainly for public relation purposes. The shire horses now only deliver locally within 5 miles of the brewery, but attend many public functions such as fetes, pub openings and on the odd occasion, weddings and the Royal Windsor Horse Show. It should be noted that out of all of the breweries that own horse drawn drays, only two still actually deliver their products by dray and shire horse. At present the Brewery has three shire horses (Consul, Major and Nelson), who are looked after by their two draymen Roger Hughes and Philip White. Telephone 01608 737210 www.hooknortonbrewery.co.uk
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ROVES FARM
A great family day out, come rain or shine!
There are lots of indoor and outdoor facilities to entertain everyone, from the very young to the older generation. Roves Farm is a 166 hectare working, mixed, open farm situated 3 miles East of Swindon.
The Free Tractor Rides around Roves Farm, which also have wheelchair spaces, provide visitors with the opportunity to see the 60 acres of wild flower meadows, woodlands and willows, and usually stop for a fun, interactive activity along the way. Children can also become a proper farmer on the pedal and electric tractors in the barns.
Roves Farm has a large range of Farm Animals including, Sheep, Donkeys, Shetland Ponies, Highland Cattle, Goats and Pigs! There are always lots of little piglets running around, along with lambs or baby goats to bottle feed. The free range poultry are always interesting to watch too! And for those that like a cuddle, Pets Corner is full of rabbits, guinea pigs and chicks for the young and old to hold and stroke!
Additional indoor daily activities include snipping, sticking and decorating during Kids Craft, and Meet and Feed the animals. Children’s Birthday Parties at Roves Farm are always a huge hit, with a large list of activities on offer, leaving ythe house intact and mess free! Other Group Visits, Social Parties and Barn Dances are also very popular.
Every Friday during School Term Time we hold Teddy Bear’s Picnic. Additionally, there is a large range of Weekly Themed Activities every School Holiday. Including, The Three Little Pigs, Easter Bunny, Scarecrow Week, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Robin Hood, The Bear Hunt, Sunflower Week and Pumpkin Week. Father Christmas and the Nativity Plays with Live Animals are always a massive hit in December.
Roves Farm is open 10:30am – 5pm from 13th February to 31st October 2010, daily during school holidays, bank holidays, June and July, but is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays at all other times. Please see www.rovesfarm.co.uk for more details and for Christmas Open Days.
Outdoor activities:
Adventure Play Area (including sandpit, slides, swings and climbing ropes), 2 Acre Willow Maze with a quiz sheet, Family Walk with a children’s activity sheet past the animal paddocks, Willow Village Picnic Area and Animal Racing during weekends and school holidays.
Undercover activities:
The Indoor Adventure Play Area (including a ball pond and wavy slide!), Bouncy Castle, Huge Climbing Bale Stack with Tunnels, Under 5’s Soft Play and Indoor Sandpit.
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GLOUCESTER ANTIQUES CENTRE
Gloucester Antiques Centre was founded in 1978 and is one of the largest and longest established antiques centres in the UK.
Located in a Victorian Warehouse originally built for Matthews Furniture, Gloucester Antiques Centre offers one of the widest range of antiques and collectables in the West of England. The Antiques Centre covers three floors on which over 100 individual antiques dealers sell everything from furniture to stamps. It is a present day Aladdin’s cave, containing a treasure trove of antiques, collectables and curios.
The centre is well worth a visit to shop for antique and retro furniture, fine antique
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jewellery, silver, ceramics and porcelain, antique and collectable toys, dolls and teddy bears, vintage clothing and accessories, clocks and watches, glassware, stamps and cards, books and scientific instruments.
Telephone 01452 529716 www.gacl.co.uk
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JOHN MOORE COUNTRYSIDE MUSEUM
Š Rupert Marlow Photography
The John Moore Countryside Museum focuses on rural Gloucestershire and its wildlife and being set on the main street through the town means you can easily uncover a good place to eat.
washed their hands because they can stroke a fox, mole, otter and hedgehog (although they are examples of taxidermy rather than live inhabitants) with further birds and animals to be discovered over the next two floors.
The Bell Hotel does good teas and coffees as well as some unusual bar snacks. After you have eaten head back to the museum in its 15th Century building. Make sure your kids have
Telephone 01684 297174 www.johnmooremuseum.org
You can stop at the nearby 1471 Delicatessen (named after the Battle of Tewkesbury) or walk round the corner to the Abbey, which has a small cafe run by volunteers.
To help families explore there are quizzes for children with Moore the Mole providing you with a score at the end. A trip around the museum should be about an hour.
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COURT BARN MUSEUM
Court Barn Museum, celebrates the skill and imagination of designers and makers who have worked in Chipping Campden and the north Cotswolds since the start of the 20th century.
The story begins in 1902 when C.R Ashbee, the radical Arts & Crafts designer best known for his elegant silverwork, moved his London East End workshops here. It was part of his romanticism to think that craft would be at home in the country, he wanted to give his craftsmen a healthier life.
Based in an old Silk Mill, his Guild of Handicraft included 40 workers skilled in everything from furniture to jewellery, and for a while the enterprise thrived. Ashbee and the Guild had an impact on the town, digging a swimming pool, reviving the brass band, and starting the Campden School of Arts and Crafts.
But his dream did not last long. Deprived of its economic lifeblood the Guild was a commercial failure and disbanded in 1908. The permanent exhibition at the Museum starts with this story but then turns it round, showing how designers
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and makers have since flourished in the Cotswolds.
Objects on display include engravings of Campden by the visionary architect FL Griggs. There are also books bound by Katharine Adams for the London printer Emery Walker, who wanted to see her recognised as the finest artist binder in England.
Also on display is a silver tea set designed in 1964 by Robert Welch and made for Heals, London. Welch set up a studio and workshop in the Silk Mill in 1955. Throughout his career, he liked to move back and forth between industrial production and one-off, hand-made silversmithing. The family company is still based in Campden.
Throughout the year the Museum runs an exciting programme of exhibitions, events, workshops and lectures.
Telephone 01386 841951 www.courtbarn.org.uk
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GLOUCESTER WATERWAYS MUSEUM
Compliment your visit with a 45 minute boat trip with commentary along the Gloucester & Sharpness canal aboard Queen Boadicea II ‘Dunkirk Little Ship’, or book one of our longer themed cruises on board King Arthur. King Arthur is also available for private hire on the canal or river Severn.
The Museum gift shop is a real treasure trove, stocking books, maps, model boats, prints and painted ware plus general giftware. Coots cafe/bar is adjacent to the museum offering a wide selection of refreshments. Telephone 01452 318201 gloucester@thewaterwaystrust.org.uk www.gloucesterwaterwaysmuseum.org.uk Visit Gloucester Waterways Museum and discover the fascinating history of Britain’s most inland port. The Gloucester Waterways Museum is housed in an original Grade II listed Victorian warehouse.
Interactive displays and archive films across extensive galleries illustrate the fascinating stories of our waterways. Discover facts about the ingenious engineering involved in the waterways system, transport and trade, working and living on the canals. Visit the painted ware gallery on level 3.
On the museum quayside visitors can see and climb aboard a range of historic boats, including the impressive steam dredger.
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COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK AND GARDENS
Closer to Wildlife!
Enjoy a relaxing day out in beautiful surrounding at the Cotswold Wildlife Park. With over 260 animal species in 120 acres of spacious Parkland. Stroll up our New Giraffe Walkway and get eyeto-eye with these amazing creatures. Creep into the Tropical house and see if you can spot the sleepy Sloths or leap about with the Lemurs in their walk-through enclosure. Take shelter inside our Reptile House (if you dare) and peak at the snakes and crocodiles or hide away in the dark Bat House.
Ride on the railway around the Park or climb into the tree house in the adventure playground. Picnic on our spacious lawns, whilst watching Rhinos and Zebras grazing. There’s something for the whole family and the Park is wheelchair and pushchair friendly!
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www.countysignpost.co.uk After exploring the Park, there is a gift shop situated next to the main car park, which sells a wide selection of gifts, toys and souvenirs. The Park is open daily from 10am, with the exception of Christmas Day.
Special events for 2012
Scruffs Dog Show 17th March Eggs-stravaganza 6-9th April Cotswold Falconry 6-9th April Alfa Romeo Car Club Rally 29th April Cotswold Falconry 5-7th May MG Car Club Rally 27th May Lemur Week 4-8th June Ford RS Car Club 24th June Barnardo’s Toddle 12th July Cotswold Falconry 28-29th July & every weekend in August Wild Nights 4th & 11th August Fairthorpe Sports Car Specials 12th August Rhino Week 10-15th September Walk amongst our walled garden with acclaimed exotic planting and giant Amazonian water lily. Spring bulbs build to an explosion of colour in mid-summer to early autumn, with Prairie style planting and wild flower meadows. The Park contains many mature trees (one about 130 feet tall!), tree ferns, herbaceous and mixed borders, with beautiful overflowing containers and hanging baskets, that make a beautiful backdrop for the animals.
Burford Oxfordshire OX18 4JP
Telephone 01993 823006 email: feedback@cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk
The Oak Tree Restaurant is situated at the back of the Manor House and serves hot meals, drinks, sandwiches and cakes, as well as a wide selection of alcoholic beverages. Children are well catered for with all adult meals offered in child-sized portions. Lunchbox packs complete with a souvenir toy can also be purchased in the restaurant or as part of a picnic in the Park, where there are many places to picnic (some under cover).
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NATURE IN ART
A good food stop, especially if you or any members of your family have an interest in art, is Nature in Art at Twigworth, north of Gloucester.
The coffee shop area looks out over the garden with plenty of sculptures to see and then visit after you have eaten. Part of the seating area is in a conservatory so you have a light and airy feel for your coffee and cake or meal. Food ranges from Jacket potatoes to quiches and soups, so it is simple but filling and you can be assured a
friendly service - the cookies are definitely worth sampling with a hot drink!
There are books to browse through too if you want to make your visit more leisurely.
After you have eaten you can discover the various rooms in the 1700’s Georgian Mansion, which houses art featuring many different types of animals, birds, insects etc in pictures and sculptures. Some are abstract, others life studies, but plenty to look at and enjoy for children and adults.
As a year round attraction you and the family can enjoy it throughout the year as it only closes between December 24th – 26th and on Mondays. Telephone 01452 731422 www.nature-in-art.org.uk
Images © Rupert Marlow Photography
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CORINIUM MUSEUM The award winning Corinium Museum is the must-see visitor attraction of the Cotswolds.
You can leave the 21st century behind you and discover the treasures of the Cotswolds as you explore its history at this multi award winning Museum.
The museum is home to one of the largest collections of Romano-British antiquities extensively from Corinium, Roman Britain's second largest city. You can admire the work of Prehistoric metal smiths, experience life as a Roman and take a peek through the window of a Roman town house and marvel at the many stunning mosaics.
© Cotswold District Council
You will also come face to face with the Anglo Saxons of Lechlade and see them reunited with their astonishing buried treasures. And you will be amazed by the Medieval sculpture, Civil War coin hoards and experience the elegance of Georgian Cirencester.
The museum is an inspiring and interactive experience for all the family. It features fun computer interactives and hands on activities that bring history to life. The museum caters for visitors of all ages and along side the permanent trails and activities, in the holidays there are special drop in activities and trails with prizes for the young.
The museum also has a fantastic events and exhibitons programme and the temporary exhibition space can be enjoyed as part of your visit or viewed for free seperately
talks by popular local speakers and short lunchtime treasure talks offering an opportunity to look at objects from the Museum’s reserve collections. From art and architecture, to archaeology and local history, there’s something for everybody to enjoy. For more details please look at their website or pick up their exhibition and events leaflet.
On site is also the excellent Cirencester Visitor Information Centre which has information on the area including local attractions, events and travel. It also has a fantastic range of gifts mainly focusing on the Romans and the Cotswolds. There is also a lovely café next door called Jacks which serves morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea. Telephone: 01285 655 611 www.coriniummuseum.cotswold.gov.uk
The museum coordinates a vibrant evening lecture programme delivered by guest speakers who are leaders in their field of study. Day Schools offer an in-depth look at a special subject area. Alternatively there are afternoon
© Cotswold District Council
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COTSWOLD MOTORING MUSEUM
Another museum set in a beautiful setting blessed with many food options is the Cotswold Motoring Museum in Bourton-on the-Water.
This picture perfect village is a popular destination so caters well for tourists, with plenty of shops and eateries nearby. Although the museum doesn’t offer refreshments at the moment they are developing an area next to the stream for light snacks.
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The Museum
The collection in the Museum neatly represents a slice of motoring history from the 20th Century, with over 56 vehicles,including cars, caravans, motorcycles, plus dozens of bicycles and a huge amount of related material. The showcases are packed with motoring paraphernalia, old garage equipment, walls filled with enamel signs, petrol pumps and globes. Around these objects, stories,history, facts and feelings are weaved.
The Cotswold Motoring Museum is also home to Brum, the BBC TV’s superhero car, whose adventures start and end at the Museum can now be found here every day.
Telephone 01451 821255 www.cotswoldmotoringmuseum.co.uk
2012 Exhibition – The History of Motoring
What ten outstanding objects would you choose to illustrate the history of motoring?
Inspired by the 2010 British Museum Exhibition and Radio Four programme which described the history of the world in 100 objects, the Museum have sifted through the many thousands of motor related objects in the Museum to compile a list of nine items for the exhibition. Visitors are invited to select the tenth item to complete the selection - if you visit Museum to see the exhibition, you can pin your choice on a special suggestion board at the end!
The History of Motoring exhibition explores some objects which are quite small, some rather quirky and a few, well, plain intriguing
The Cotswold Motoring Museum is open from 10am-6pm seven days a week from February half term until mid December.
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WESTONBIRT, THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM Trees of the world in one amazing place
Westonbirt - The National Arboretum, in the South Cotswolds, is one of the most magical and important tree gardens in the world. With over 600 acres of picturesque historic landscape, 17 miles of paths to explore, and 16,000 trees some of the oldest, rarest and largest of their kind in the UK.
Spring Blooms…
The rich combination of woodland plants and wildflowers brings a vibrant beauty in spring. Breathe in the fresh air whilst you appreciate magnolias in March, or rhododendrons and bluebells in May and June. See the website for regular updates on 'what's looking good',
The leafy glades of summer… Westonbirt is great for those long summer days. Take a relaxing walk, have a picnic, or set the kids free to find our hidden dens or follow a trail. Flower lovers will find beautiful hydrangeas in bloom and Indian Bean Tree at its most dramatic.
World famous autumn colours… The National Japanese Maple Collection and the array of colourful autumn trees mean that Westonbirt is an amazing place to visit from October to November. See the website for weekly autumn colour updates.
A winter wonderland… Winter is truly magical at Westonbirt. Conifers provide a sculptured backdrop to the deciduous trees and smaller shrubs, whilst unexpected
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colour can be found from flaming red barked dogwood and scarlet willows.
Refreshments available on site
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum has a choice of places to eat on site including: The Maples Restaurant, The Courtyard Cafe and a Picnic Area.
Maples Restaurant The restaurant is situated in a beautiful building next to the main carpark. There are indoor and outdoor eating areas which overlook the beautiful view of the downs. You can enjoy one of the delicious hot lunchtime meals which are made using local ingredients or taste some of the homemade cakes available all day. Drinks and snacks are served all day from 10am-5pm. To contact Maples Restaurant please ring 01666 880558
Courtyard Café The Courtyard cafe is located next to the Forest Shop and sells a selection of tasty snacks and hot and cold drinks. Seating is all outside with some tables and benches being under cover. The cafe is open daily from March to December. 10am5pm.
Picnic Area Enjoy a picnic amongst the trees, using the picnic benches and tables close to the main parking area.
Other food facilities There is a microwave available in Maples Restaurant for heating baby food and milk.
Retail
There are two great shops at Westonbirt, the Plant Centre and The Forest Shop.
The Forest Shop When visiting the Arboretum, why not stop by the Forest Shop where you'll find something for all of the family. With the aim of supporting local suppliers, you'll find everything from regional pickles and preserves, to hand-crafted wooden bowls & boxes. For the kids, there is a whole nature corner full of books, toys and educational items.
Whether you are looking for a gift, or wanting to take a memory home of your visit, you'll always find something unique at the forest shop.
The Plant Centre The Plant Centre at Westonbirt is proud to have a reputation for stocking a wide range of top quality plants, some of which are rare or unusual. The speciality is quite naturally Acers, but there is more to the Plant Centre than these special plants. Inside the Plant Centre shop there is a wide range of Johnsons and Franchi seeds, greetings cards, books, garden essentials and bird products. The friendly staff are always pleased to help customers choose the right plant for their needs.
Opening times
Open every day of the year Open: 9am weekdays, 8am weekends Close: 8pm summer, 5pm winter, or dusk if earlier Group rate available for 10+ people booking in advance. Membership available.
Telephone 01666 880220 www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Walking in Old Arboretum Š Rob Cousins
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THE CHILTERNS
Thames at Whitchurch on Thames
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) stretches from the River Thames in Oxfordshire up through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It is a beautiful area, full of rolling chalk hills, beech woodland, clear chalk streams and a wealth of wildlife. It was designated as an AONB in 1965, in recognition that its landscape is amongst the finest in the country. It is one of 47 AONBs in the UK which, together with National Parks, represent our most scenic countryside.
The Chiltern Hills have been well-known for centuries, though not always for the best reasons. In medieval times the heavily-wooded
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hills and secluded valleys were the hangout of fugitives escaping the law and the area acquired a bad reputation. However, as nearby London grew some of its prosperous citizens began seeking country estates and a number of great houses and parks were created in the Chilterns, gradually improving its respectability. Nowadays you can visit many of these properties plus a wealth of other historic treasures in the area.
There are lots of ways to enjoy the Chilterns, and most will keep you and your wallet healthy! With over 2000km of footpaths criss-crossing the area, plus the Ridgeway and Thames Path National Trails, the opportunities to go for scenic walks are endless. You can do a gentle walk in a valley, visiting attractive villages or strolling through a river meadow. Those who want something more active could tackle a longer walk along the Chilterns ridge, admiring
View of Ewelme Š Chilterns Conservation Board
the stunning views and getting refreshment in one of the many pubs in the area. If you enjoy cycling there is a good network of off road routes and quiet country lanes.
even a section on some of the famous people from the past who have lived in the area.
Lovers of wildlife may already know that the Chilterns is one of the best places in the UK to see the red kite, a stunning bird of prey regularly seen soaring above the hills. Once heavily persecuted, it became extinct in England in the 19th century. Twenty years ago the Chilterns was chosen as the location for a reintroduction project, and since then the kites have thrived here, growing to thousands in number.
There is something to enjoy in every season, from stunning bluebell woods in April and May to hillsides dotted with wildflowers in the summer and vistas of red and gold as the woods turn in autumn. Even winter has its attractions, as the upper reaches of the chalk streams begin to flow and the red kites are out in full force.
For lots of information on where to go and what to see in the Chilterns AONB, visit www.chilternsaonb.org. You can download walking and cycling leaflets and find out about countryside sites, local National Trust properties and many other attractions. There is
Chalk Grassland at Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve
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DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE
Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 7NJ 01235 817200 info@didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
Recreating the golden age of the Great Western Railway with wonderfully restored steam locomotives. Featuring the original 1932 built GWR four road shed, in full working condition. With other original GWR buildings and structures, including the coaling stage with 75,000 gallon water tank atop. (both working) Also a country station, signal box, and transfer shed.
20 former GWR steam locomotives, including a working (on special occasions) replica broad gauge (7 ft) locomotive, dating from 1840. Learn about machines that changed the world, in the interactive Science, Learning and Railways Exhibition Over 40 mostly GWR coaches. Over 50 mostly GWR wagons. Four cranes. Carriage and wagon works. Working turntable, with demonstrations on steam days.
Special events include Day Out With Thomas. Regular steam days during the year. Open every weekend, and daily most school holidays. Telephone or refer to website for details. GWR small relics museum. Café. Shop. Picnic area.
Recreating the golden age of the Great Western Railway Registered Charity No 272616
CHAVENAGE
This charming, lived in, historic Elizabethan (1576) Manor which has been used a a TV location and featured as Candleford Manor in “Lark Rise to Candleford” is set amidst the tranquil Cotswold Hills contains much of interest. Tapestry rooms, furniture and relics of the Cromwellian period. Hear of the Headless Coachman coming to collect the body of a former owner. Open 2-5p.m. on Thus. & Sun. , May to end of Sept. Plus Easter Sun. & Mon. & Bank Holiday Mondays. (Last Admission 4pm) Tours are conducted by the owner or his family. Group visits (20 plus) on any day at any time throughout the year by prior arrangement.
Catering for pre-arranged groups especially teas or light suppers
For further information, please contact: Caroline Lowsley-Williams, Chavenage, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. GL8 8XP Tel: 01666 502329 Email: info@chavenage.com
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