TRAVEL | DEPARTURE INTERNATIONAL
cotswolds uncovered
STORY KERRY HEANEY
SO POSTCARD PERFECT THEY ALMOST SEEM LIKE AN ENORMOUS MOVIE SET, THE COTSWOLDS ARE A KALEIDOSCOPE OF ROLLING GREEN FIELDS AND CAPTIVATING HONEY-COLOURED, STONE-WALLED VILLAGES. settle with a port beside the fire. Break for lunch at Star Bistro on The Cotswold Way in the grounds of Ullenwood Manor, where there’s a simple but delicious menu using sustainable Cotswold and Gloucestershire products. Walk The Cotswold Way from the town of Broadway to Broadway Tower, the second highest point in the Cotswolds, where you can see 13 counties in one glance. Built in 1798 for Lady Coventry, the tower takes you up an additional 17 metres. A café on the grounds provides an enjoyable lunch. It’s easy to see why this area is one of England’s favourite destinations.
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where the titled gentry actually live. Join a tour of the house, marvel at the treasures, and take afternoon tea in the Indian Room like you do it every day. After all that grandeur you’ll be ready to stay somewhere sumptuous so head to the village of Woodstock, which is within walking distance of Blenheim. The Feathers Hotel has more than enough comfort to make a traveller happy but its quirky rooms and convoluted staircases will still keep you guessing. Many Cotswold villages demand to be explored but Bilbury – once described by William Morris as ‘the most beautiful village in England’ – and particularly the cottages in Arlington Row, should definitely be on your list. Lords of the Manor, a former rectory in Upper Slaughter, has been transformed into a luxury country house where you’ll feel as though you are living the good life. Start the evening with an aperitif in the garden, dine like a lord and then
RACQ TRAVEL
JUST 90 MINUTES west of London by rail or car, it’s the sort of place where you expect the BBC’s Father Brown to pop up from behind a hedge, Bridget Jones to run down a hill, or Harry Potter to be hiding in a cathedral. This is rural England at its most beautiful with bustling farmers markets, walking and cycling trails, and a booming café culture. Hire a car in London and hit the road to explore the area at your leisure. Bicester Village, with its ‘luxe for less’ shopping theme, is an interesting stop on the drive from London to the Cotswolds. Walking its wide avenues will make you feel as though you’re mingling with the rich and famous, but put that quickly into perspective with a visit to Blenheim Palace, where Winston Churchill spent much of his childhood visiting his grandparents. Located on the edge of the Cotswolds and dripping with gilt, marble, priceless antiques and life-size portraits, this is
Journey through England, Scotland and Wales on a 9-day guided holiday with Collette Tours, from just $2414pp twin share. For more details, refer to page 43.
DISCLAIMER: THE WRITER TRAVELLED WITH THE SUPPORT OF VISIT BRITAIN. IMAGES (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP): LORDS OF THE MANOR; PLOUGHMAN'S LUNCH; BLENHEIM PALACE; VILLAGE OF BILBURY; LIMESTONE COTTAGE, BROADWAY. 40
THE ROAD AHEAD OCT/NOV 2015
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