Discovering The Cotswolds

According to Google - it is an area that is filled with honey-coloured stone houses with rolling hills and charming market towns and I can't say I disagree but it is so much more than that. It's somewhere that you feel right at home as soon as you've arrived. A place that we absolutely love going back to when it comes to a stay-cation, and an added bonus is that it's only a couple of hours down the road from Nottingham on a good run.

We’ve been going since 2018 and have been back several times since. You’ll find most of the chocolate box towns are pretty busy when it comes to peak season but some are more so than others - Broadway, Stow and Bourton on the Water and Burford being the go to destinations.

We personally now love staying in Stow as a base as there’s plenty of pubs, cafe’s and a particular restaurant that features in the Michelin guide that we just can’t get enough of. However if you fancy something a bit quieter, Winchcome also ticks a lot of boxes and isn’t as hectic. Our most recent stay however took us to Broadwell which is a little village just outside of Stow and technically walkable but it’s easier to take a car when exploring the area.

So firstly where to stay. We have done Airbnb options as well as Stay Cotswold cottages. The Unicorn apartments in Stow conveniently come with great parking right opposite & have fantastic amenities and really felt like a home away from home. The two airbnb’s we did both had their pro’s and con’s but Gable Cottage really felt like a proper Cotswold experience and had plenty of space for two couples’ to share which is what we did with my Mum and Dad which made it a very affordable getaway too, plus it is dog friendly as are most places.

The bank holiday weekend in May was one we went away for with friends and their two small children as well as our Cavapoo Ruby and this was the Broadwell spot that we found was a great option for families. It's called Rectory Barn and there’s room enough for up to 8 people to stay with 3 bedrooms and additional day beds available. The three bathrooms as well as an additional shower room downstairs meant that you were rarely in each others way. The garden area at the back was brilliant for the kids to play in when the sun was shining and convenient for the dog too. The kitchen area was spacious with plenty of dining seating if you fancy doing a bit of cooking too. The living room had a brilliant log burner that had plenty of wood supplied to keep it going too.

If you’re going as a two then you may want something smaller in which case this Airbnb that we stayed in did the job brilliantly and there’s plenty of options out there so you’ll be able to find something if you book ahead that does the job.

Ultimately we used the places we stayed as a base whilst we went out and about exploring and there’s plenty to explore. We tend to focus on finding the best pubs with good food and decent pints on draught. In Stow some of our favourites include the Oldest Inn - The Porch House which has dog friendly rooms to stay in too as an added bonus - we’ve personally not had the pleasure of a stay here but we have heard very good feedback from people we spoke to that were staying there. They’ve also recently opened up a lovely garden area at the back too which is ideal for those sunny days. And they serve a cracking Aspall too. The Talbot in the square serves a fantastic Guiness and The Sheep has some very comfy armchairs to relax in after a long day of venturing around.

Stow in general is a fantastic little market town and there’s plenty to explore. There’s

adorable little shops to wander around and there’s no shortage of coffee shops. The Hive is buzzing with people for breakfast if you fancy a proper fry up. If you’re after a takeaway option with some decent pastries then The New England Coffee Shop is a great shout and The Coach House has very instagram worthy doughnuts & pastries on display. There’s also Otis & Belle, Huffkins, Lucy’s Tearoom and 42nd East Bakehouse which had some ginormous cookie cups which should probably come with a health warning. All in all you have plenty of options. And if you want to grab a sandwich whilst you’re on the go then your best bet is Cotswold Baguettes which have an amazing selection of freshly made sandwiches to choose from.

Stow also has a lovely cheese shop, a Fairfax & Favour for those with a boot/shoe addiction like I do, a pet shop, a homeware shop, sweet shop and a The Cotswold Furniture company which I just love walking around and have ended up buying some furniture from which I can confirm is as good quality as it looks - bonus point if you’re visiting the store there’s also parking across the road too so you can save the hassle of attempting to park in the always busy town centre, especially on market days.

My favourite spot in Stow though has got to be the Old Butchers which is Michelin

Guide recommended and it doesn’t take much to realise why. They allow small well behaved dogs if you let them know ahead of you arriving and I would say you 100% need to book to avoid being disappointed as they are constantly full. The food is on another level, primarily seafood focused you will have a lot of trouble with deciding on what to order. The dover sole has got to be one of the best I’ve ever had but their lobster mac and cheese is also an indulgent second favourite that was just exceptional. Their tuna tartare is so fresh & light that it is usually my go to starter and as sides go you have to order the aligot (a cheesy, garlic mash) which is honestly the best bit of carbs money can buy. I am yet to try their twice baked souffle but I have heard very good things. The tandoori spiced monkfish & prawn dish with lime yoghurt and a lentil dal is on another level and not something I’ve ever had before and something I would highly recommend. For those that don’t do fish - don’t panic they also have burgers and steaks on offer which I imagine they also do very well. Having got chatting to someone local they were raving about the quality of all the dishes here though so I don’t think you can go wrong no matter what you order.

Other pubs nearby that are worth a visit include the Michelin Guide recommended - The Fox in Oddington - this is near to Daylesford Farmshop which featured on Clarkson’s Far, Diddly Squat (also close by). Just be prepared to spend some serious money if you did want to do a bit of shopping - but personally I enjoy it mainly for the mooching factor and to take in all the fancy cars and posh people that come here on the daily - how the other half live. There’s a spa and a gym too which if you want to enjoy I would enquire and book ahead. And their restaurant

has been awarded a Green Michelin star.

We also stopped by The Horse & Groom in Upper Oddington which was a very popular spot for a Sunday Lunch and I imagine that the grassy area gets pretty busy in the summer months - the kids loved playing by the stream and with it being dog friendly Ruby had a very warm welcome too. There’s also rooms to stay in if you wanted a more BnB experience too.

The Fox in Broadwell is another cracking pub and only a short walk from Rectory Barn which makes it even more ideal. The food and the service is some of the best in the area and we have always had a fantastically good meal here on the three occasions that we’ve now visited. The menu features snacks as well as proper gastropub dishes & kids & dogs are both very much welcome.

We also had a very satisfying Sunday Lunch at Chequers near Chipping Norton - they also do some amazing snacks if you’re popping in just for a quick drink.

If you opt to explore Winchcombe you have a wonderful gem of a place where you can eat, relax & stay with your furry friends called The Lion Inn. There’s board games & an open fire for those rainy days or Sudeley Castle for when you want to take in the local sights. It’s a lovely little village with plenty of little shops to browse in & of course everywhere is very dog friendly too.

Broadway has always been super popular with the crowds, if you pop by here then a

walk to The Broadway tower could be a great way to burn off some of those calories before heading to The Lygon Arms where you will find James Martin’s restaurant - we ate in the bar due to having our dog with us and had a burger which we found did the job!

On our way home back to Nottingham we like to stop off at The Fuzzy Duck in Armscote which is only 20 minutes from Stow - they do a chicken burger here that takes some beating so I have to drop by and get my fix when we’re down this way - it also features in the Michelin Guide so you know you’re in good hands. When the sun is shining it’s hard to beat their pub garden too!

Another pub that we thoroughly enjoyed that’s a bit off the beaten track was The Seven Tun's in Chedworth, was worth a mention and didn’t want to leave it out!

If you fancy doubling up your trip with a diversion to Bicester Village for some bargains then make sure you check out The Nut Tree Inn - this has been awarded a Michelin Star every year since 2008. The bonus is - they have an incredible beer garden and they even allow pups in the bar area where they happily served us the tasting menu too - I am still dreaming about that Orkney Scallop and leek lasagne!

If you are visiting with kids then you’ve got to pay Cotswold Wildlife Park a visit, even as adults we absolutely loved our days out here and again, you’ve guessed it, it’s dog friendly! Ruby particularly enjoyed meeting the penguins.

I feel like I have just touched the surface when it comes to the Cotswolds and there are so many other little lovely villages to go and explore. Or if you fancy some hustle and bustle then Cheltenham is a stones throw away - we enjoyed wandering around there but not sure we’d rush back as the smaller towns are where we feel more at home.

Let me know if there’s anywhere I’ve missed that I should try out next time we’re down there!

Discovering The Cotswolds

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