The location of the Cotswolds is a fantastic one for many reasons. It is probably best known for its rolling countryside, which offers different views around every corner.

But the Cotswolds is about far more than just the countryside. When you visit on a UK holiday or weekend break you will find there are surprises awaiting you around every corner. And among those surprises there are some majestic castles standing firm on the landscape.

Here are just three of the ones you could visit while you are staying in weekend hotels or holiday cottages.
Berkeley Castle

Berkeley Castle is to the south west of Cheltenham, so it is really on the outskirts of the main part of the Cotswolds. However don’t let this put you off paying a visit. It is well worth the journey, no matter where in the Cotswolds you might be staying.

This castle is huge and it is over nine hundred years old, so it has seen a lot of changes and visitors over the centuries. It is a Norman fortress and if you see a picture of it from the air you will get a better idea of just how big it is.

It sits in an estate of six thousand acres, so it has impressive grounds as well. Any visit should really have a day dedicated to it, so make sure you do just that.
Broughton Castle

This castle is in Banbury, which is a short distance to the north east of Chipping Norton, another famous location in the Cotswolds.

Broughton Castle is arguably one of the most attractive castles in England. It has the benefit of a huge moat as well, which was formed from three separate streams. This was in fact why the site was originally selected for Broughton Castle way back in 1300.

You can visit many areas of the castle, including the attractive gardens, the chapel and the Great Hall. Be sure to allocate enough time to enjoy everything that Broughton Castle has to offer.
Sudeley Castle and Gardens

Sudeley Castle is located to the north east of Cheltenham, so you aren’t too far from it, no matter where your Cotswold cottage is situated. It should form part of every UK holiday to the area, as it has links which stretch back hundreds of years into history.

If you love hearing about Henry VIII and his wives, then you will certainly want to pay a visit. The last of his six wives, Catherine Parr, is actually buried here. But Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII himself also visited the castle centuries ago, so you can see there is a lot of Royal history tied up here.

These are perhaps the three most important and most stunning of the castles you can visit in this general area. The Cotswolds has definite and distinct roots way back into history – and these castles are the ideal way of finding out how far back those roots go.

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There is something about farm shops that many people find very attractive. For starters no two are the same. Most rural areas have plenty of them for you to explore, but you’ll find countless different delights in each and every one.

If you are visiting the Cotswolds on a weekend break or a UK holiday, you should definitely take the time to visit one or two farm shops while you are here. As well as being a good way to sample produce that has been created locally, it is also a wonderful way to plan for self catered meals during your stay. What better meal could there be than one that is served with locally reared meat, freshly grown vegetables and locally dug potatoes?

Here are some treats you might want to look in on while you are here.

1. The Cockleford Trout Farm. Not all farm produce is grown in a field! And if you fancy smoked trout for dinner one night, you won’t be disappointed at what you can buy at this trout farm. The shop has plenty to keep you happy, and you’ll find it in Cowley, near Cheltenham.

2. The Cotswold Farm Fayre. This is really a lot more than just a farm shop. There is a coffee shop and a butcher’s here as well, so you’ll be able to stock up your holiday cottage for the whole time you are away. They make some of the cheeses themselves, and the others are locally made as well.

3. The Simple Suppers Farm Shop. You’ll find this one in Moreton in Marsh, and it specialises in freshly made sausages, pies and much more besides. You can buy all your meat here and then visit another farm shop for the vegetables!

4. The Organic Farm Shop. If organic produce is important to you, you’ll be pleased to know this shop has it all. You’ll find it located in Burford Road, Cirencester. And it has a lot more than simply organic farm produce on offer as well. You will also find a wide range of gift items, so if you need some items to take back home with you it might be worth a look.

This is just a sample of the many farm shops that are available in the Cotswolds. Wherever you happen to be staying when you visit for your short break UK holiday, make sure you ask locally where the nearest – and best – farm shop happens to be. You can then pay a visit early on in your holiday and buy whatever supplies you need from local producers.

Being able to make the most of local produce and dishes while you are here is one of the most delightful ways to enjoy any Cotswolds based holiday. Why bring food with you or go straight to the nearest supermarket when you can taste homemade flavours and dishes every day of the week? It certainly makes for a more exciting dinner – and one that everyone will love.

Technorati Tags: Cotswolds, Farm, Great, Shops, visit

The location of the Cotswolds is a fantastic one for many reasons. It is probably best known for its rolling countryside, which offers different views around every corner.

But the Cotswolds is about far more than just the countryside. When you visit on a UK holiday or weekend break you will find there are surprises awaiting you around every corner. And among those surprises there are some majestic castles standing firm on the landscape.

Here are just three of the ones you could visit while you are staying in weekend hotels or holiday cottages.
Berkeley Castle

Berkeley Castle is to the south west of Cheltenham, so it is really on the outskirts of the main part of the Cotswolds. However don’t let this put you off paying a visit. It is well worth the journey, no matter where in the Cotswolds you might be staying.

This castle is huge and it is over nine hundred years old, so it has seen a lot of changes and visitors over the centuries. It is a Norman fortress and if you see a picture of it from the air you will get a better idea of just how big it is.

It sits in an estate of six thousand acres, so it has impressive grounds as well. Any visit should really have a day dedicated to it, so make sure you do just that.
Broughton Castle

This castle is in Banbury, which is a short distance to the north east of Chipping Norton, another famous location in the Cotswolds.

Broughton Castle is arguably one of the most attractive castles in England. It has the benefit of a huge moat as well, which was formed from three separate streams. This was in fact why the site was originally selected for Broughton Castle way back in 1300.

You can visit many areas of the castle, including the attractive gardens, the chapel and the Great Hall. Be sure to allocate enough time to enjoy everything that Broughton Castle has to offer.
Sudeley Castle and Gardens

Sudeley Castle is located to the north east of Cheltenham, so you aren’t too far from it, no matter where your Cotswold cottage is situated. It should form part of every UK holiday to the area, as it has links which stretch back hundreds of years into history.

If you love hearing about Henry VIII and his wives, then you will certainly want to pay a visit. The last of his six wives, Catherine Parr, is actually buried here. But Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII himself also visited the castle centuries ago, so you can see there is a lot of Royal history tied up here.

These are perhaps the three most important and most stunning of the castles you can visit in this general area. The Cotswolds has definite and distinct roots way back into history – and these castles are the ideal way of finding out how far back those roots go.

Technorati Tags: Area, Castles, Cotswolds, Stunning, visit

Exploring the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is a beautiful corner of England that’s at the top of the list of places you must visit in the UK. Stretching from Ilmington in Warwickshire for over 100 miles to the historic city of Bath, it’s officially an area of outstanding natural beauty.  ‘Wold’ is an old English word meaning ‘open rolling countryside in the uplands’.

When ‘Wool’ was King
Historically many of the Cotswolds towns and villages owe their initial prosperity to the wool industry. This trade lasted several centuries, with over half a million sheep grazing the land at one stage, and a highly significant volume of trade with Europe. Flemish weavers were brought to England to cope with demand, and many of the wool merchants grew wealthier than the King!  As a result, numerous fine homes and churches were built over the centuries from the wealth of this trade. Fast-forward to present day life and the booming wool industry has long gone – however you still find sheep and arable farming on the open rolling hills. The local breed ‘the Cotswold’ can produce an impressive fleece in excess of 10 Kilos.

English Castles and Market Towns
Amongst the contours of the countryside you’ll find a whole host of interesting places to visit including English castles, ancient churches, glorious gardens, stately homes and many historic houses.  Head out towards the picturesque market towns and you’ll find some of the oldest chartered weekly markets in the country! You can literally spend days out exploring the picturesque Cotswold countryside and many visitors take time out for a leisurely ramble – stopping for refreshments in a traditional Cotswolds pub.

Beautiful Cotswolds Scenery
Magnificent parkland and lakes, spectacular walks and breathtaking scenery awaits you with a wide range of wildlife such as badgers, beavers, butterflies, wild deer, kingfishers, nightingales, otters, egrets, owls and precious wild orchids. A ‘top of the list destination’ if: you’re exploring the UK for the first time; seeking a traditional Cotswolds Cottage holiday for a family break, or looking for a romantic weekend away. You’ll find plenty to do and see with pretty towns and villages scattered everywhere, providing a picture-perfect backdrop, easily identified as ‘The Cotswolds’ by the mellow coloured stone buildings. Alternatively, visit Cotswolds Water Park – there’s award winning modernist architecture and spectacular lakeside accommodation available for those looking for all of the modern-day luxuries in a traditional Cotswolds countryside setting.

Cotswolds Towns and Villages
Places in the Cotswolds where you may wish to research before your visit are: Adlestrop, Amberley, Bath, Bibury, Blockley, Bourton on the Water, Broadway, Burford, Castle Combe, Charlbury, Cheltenham Spa, Chippenham, Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton, Chipping Sodbury, Cirencester, Cotswold Water Park, Fairford, Gloucester, Guiting Power, Ilmington, Lacock, Lechlade, The Slaughters, Malmesbury, Mickleton, Minster Lovell, Moreton in Marsh, Nailsworth, Northleach, Painswick, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, Snowshill, Stanton, Stow on the Wold, Stroud, Tetbury, Willersey, Winchcombe, Woodstock, and Wotton under Edge.

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If you’ve been searching for the true English countryside, then this is it – The Cotswolds. This most traditional region of Britain is famous for the beauty of its towns and villages. Everything about the Cotswolds, from lofty manor houses to beautiful old churches is steeped in a unique heritage and history.

Cotswolds, from lofty manor houses to beautiful old churches is steeped in a unique heritage and history. There’s a uniformity about it all which offers instant appeal; it’s that mellow golden limestone which soaks up the sun. Here you’ll find excellent accommodation, too, from friendly country guest houses and B&Bs to superb cosmopolitan hotels with a true international flavour.

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