Cruising around the Cotswolds

Up for an early start, looked out the window and saw more fog. We were in Worcester staying in a hotel directly across the street from the cathedral, but overnight it had disappeared from view. I had not written our blog entry for yesterday so it was decided to compose that and get a later start. By nine the fog was lifting and by nine thirty it was a clear and sunny morning. When making plans we were disappointed that we would be in Worcester on a Sunday when there are no cathedral tours but we were rewarded by being the only early morning visitors. We listened to the organist warming up and explored to the sounds of the bells ringing for a half hour.

 

 

 

For the remainder of the day we wandered through some of the small towns in the Cotswolds. Breakfast was in Broadway and lunch in Burford. In between we walked through Chipping Norton and Moreton-in-Marsh. All of the villages have strong similarities and each has its own character. The High Streets are lined with centuries old stone buildings now filled with shops geared to please visitors. The warm ochre color of the stones, the bowing of the old walls, the chimneys, the roofs all create an interesting sidewalk view. Shops are divided between restaurants, tea rooms, clothing, books, antiques, and galleries. Window shopping is engaging with such a wide variety of quality goods without a single souvenir tourist t-shirt to be seen.

The gorgeous weather drew us up the hill to the Broadway Tower. It is not known exactly why the owner suddenly chose to build it at the ripe old age of 78, but suggestions are that it was simply a whimsical folly, as was fashionable with many stately homes, or alternatively that he built it so that he was able to signal to staff at one of his other homes that he was en route and therefore they should get the place warmed up and ready for his subsequent arrival. Over the years it has served as a farmhouse, vacation retreat, and signal point during the Second World War. The view from the top is spectacular as we looked out over several counties with farms and towns dotting the landscape.

 

As we approached Chipping Norton we made a second surprise detour to Bliss Mill, a huge elaborate decorated stone building with an enormous chimney sprouting skywards from its centre. Formerly a tweed mill, this has now been converted into luxury apartments surrounded by landscaped gardens with a stream through the middle; the building is a more stately home than a factory. We ignored the Private Road signs and drove the winding approaches and crunching gravel for a closer look and a few discreetly snapped photos.

 

 

 

 

What could possibly surpass a sunny afternoon amongst a wonderfully scenic area of England? Why, of course, that would be trying to find the entrance for our substantially downmarket hotel for the night in a seedier suburb of Reading. Despite the fact we could see it from the road, it took two u-turns and a drive through an adjacent pub car park to reach. Not one of the better choices we have made for our trip.

 

 

To complete our day we joined Lucy and Adam for dinner and conversation at a converted boathouse alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal. An enjoyable evening, and a great shame that such get togethers only happen once per year.

 

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