A BRITISH ADVENTURE-THE COTSWOLDS

We left the Lake District in the rail, which is fitting because it’s England and all, and headed south to the Cotswolds.  Designated as an “Area of Outstanding Beauty” it was one of those places that we visited in 2013 and promised ourselves that we would return.  One of it’s attributes is the stone use for building houses and walls.  A golden hue, it glows when the sun hits it.  There are several towns and villages on the route that most tourists take, but there are also hidden gems hidden down narrow roads left to be discovered.  Also, like many other regions, walking the many pathways that cris-cross the rolling hills and farms in another attraction to the area.

We booked 5 nights at   Lowerfield Farm, which is a farm in name only.  It used to be a working farm dating back to the early 1800’s, but now all that is left are a few fruit trees and the chickens.  They have eight rooms and can house 18 people.  Thats’s a lot of breakfast to prepare, so our hosts Gareth and Sue stagger the breakfast at 15 minute intervals.  The night before you place your order on-line and Gareth , who is the chef, prepares your food as you like it, and Sue delivers it to your table.  They are one busy couple, but run a very nice B&B.

Lowerfield Farm

So with a big breakfast, we’re usually good till dinner time.  Most of our evening meals have been in pubs.  On our previous trip here, while on a walk,  we discovered a local pub in small village called the Black Horse.  We just had to go back.  After a pretty good meal, a couple sitting nearby asked us where we were from.  They too were visitors, only from New Zealand.  We stood besides their table speaking for a few minutes, and before long we were sitting down exchanging our travel experiences.  Grant and Elaine suggested that we meet back on Sunday afternoon for the traditional English Roast Beef Dinner.  We had a nice Sunday afternoon dinner and exchanged invitations to each other for future visits at our respective homes.  Grant and Elaine have a special way of traveling.  They are professional pet sitters.  They are staying in this small village for 10 days or so taking care of someone’s two dogs.  Free lodging in exchange for pet sitting.  They have be doing it for years and have traveled all over the world doing so.  How cool is that!

Pubs, by the way are a great choice for reasonably priced meals.  Even the smallest of villages will usually have at least one pub that many times doubles as the local inn.  Most are open for lunch till around 3 then close till the dinner hour.  Most also serve a Sunday afternoon dinner then close till Tuesday.  Anyway we ate in a lot of pubs and many times got in to conversations with the locals.  Isn’t that what travel is supposed to be about?

In the nearby village of Upper Slaughter, as opposed to Lower Slaughter, we stopped in the village hall after seeing a sign that they were serving tea and cakes.  The ladies of the town were holding a fund raiser for upkeep of the hall.  Of course we had to buy the scones from one of the ladies present and this led to a conversation about the town. One of the gals showed us pictures on the walls of the town folk at different celebrations involving the Queen.  She pointed out that she was in all the photos from the Queens Coronation in 1953, to her recent Diamond Jubilee.  She then showed two wooden plaques with names listed.  She explained that her village was called a Doubly Blessed Village as the men on one woman who served it the world wars all returned home without a scratch.  Remember, alway talk to the locals, you just might meet someone interesting.

As I said, there are walking trails everywhere and we took full advantage of them.  Because they cross farm land, with some field home to sheep and cows, and the farmers want to keep them in, there a various kinds of gates that let you pass but keep the pasture secure. Some are pretty engenous.   Cathie played nice and provided some demonstrations.

BIG ENOUGH FOR YOU BUT NOT THE COWS

THE UP AND OVER

FOR THE DOGS

STONE STEPS AND THROUGH THE WALL

UP AND OVER

SELF CLOSING GATE

If you’re a follower of mine on Facebook you probably have already head most of what’s written here.  You also will know that I have a penchant for photos of stone walls.  I think many of the stone walls here in England, and the rest of Europe, are beautiful in their design and construction.  I don’t want the rest of my readers left out so here you are, enjoy.