There is so much to do in the Cotswolds from archery & shooting experiences to cycling to guided tours and film locations to visit. But arguably one of the biggest pulls to the Cotswolds is to walk through its stunning landscape (and perhaps stop for lunch at a country pub along the way!)

So we have selected some of the best walks and places to eat to wet your appetite. And sprinkled in a few ‘down time’ activities at the end for good measure.

Enjoy!

Walking

You’ll find some of the best walks in the cotswolds including the Gloucestershire Way, the Winchcombe Way, the Wardens Way and of course, the Cotswold Way. Below are a few of the walks that we (and our dogs!) love.

Bourton-on-the-Water: A nice 30 minutes walk from Bourton-on-the-Water is to the delightful Lower Slaughter with its stone cottages and watermill. If you fancy stopping there, we can recommend the Slaughters Country Inn, (01451 822 143) a great place to enjoy a pie and a pint by the fireside (booking is advised). Bourton-on-the-Water is where our delightful cottages - Hideaway Cottage and Little Gem Cottage are located.

Winchcombe: Host to some of the best walks in the Cotswolds and proudly known as the walking capital of the Cotswolds, with "Walkers are Welcome" status. Winchcombe holds an annual walking festival in May and our gorgeous cottage, The Bolt Hole is located here. After an invigorating walk soak your muscles in The Bolt Hole’s roll top bath and fall into the luxury king size bed with Hypnos mattress for a wonderfully restful sleep. This is an ideal place to stay if you fancy going to the Cheltenham Race Festival.

Stow-on-the-Wold: If a guided walk is more your thing they are usually every Sunday morning at 10:30am from the beginning of April through to the end of September. Starting at the stocks in the Square you’ll be taken on a 90-minute guided walk around central Stow. Our lovely Grade II property, The Loft with its delightful private decked terrace, is located here and is the perfect base for a Cotswold break.

Chipping Campden: There are so many lovely walks here you are spoilt for choice! If you go past the playing fields and tennis courts, you can pick up the walking trails including the beginning of the Cotswold Way. Our charming cottage Honey Pot is centred in Chipping Campden and is a perfect place to stay while visiting here.

In each of our cottages, we provide a personalised walking map for you to use during your stay.

Food & Drink

There are some fabulous places to eat out in the Cotswolds - We suggest that you pre-book, especially at weekends or in high season, as it gets very busy. These are our favourites:

In Bourton-on-the-Water The Mousetrap Inn does a range of locally brewed ales and the Inn dates back from the 18th century. It is a couple of minutes’ walk from both Little Gem cottage and Hideaway Cottage towards the centre of the village. The Mousetrap Inn is also dog friendly.

The Rose Tree Restaurant is a family run restaurant in a grade II listed cottage. It is just across the bridge from the motor museum and it provides lovely home cooked meals for lunch or dinner . It is a favourite of our guests. Dogs are welcome in the garden so its great for an outdoor lunch or supper if you are bringing your 4 legged friend..

The Old New Inn - this fabulous old building has been beautifully refurbished and has a lovely ambience. They are a dog friendly restaurant and serve up country inn classics at lunch time. The evening menus reflect the seasonal and local availability of quality ingredients. Well worth a visit.

Lovely Winchcombe near the beautiful Regency town of Cheltenham is home to some fabulous eateries. The Corner Cupboard Inn - a 15th-Century Inn located in Gloucester Street, has charm aplenty with roaring fires, oak beams and all the character that its age suggests. What more could you want? How about a real ale bar and a comprehensive wine list? Consider it done! The ingredients are sought locally and food served daily. Your dog will be welcome in the bar area.

Restaurant 5 North Street - the chef at this small family run restaurant is renowned and has previously been awarded four Michelin stars. The cooking at Number 5 North Street, brings together the elements of traditional British cooking with the more sophisticated ingredients and techniques of classic French cuisine. Ideal if you are planning for a special occasion or a celebration!

If delightful Stow-on-the-Wold is where you want to visit, you won’t be disappointed in the food. The Old Butchers is a busy restaurant offering seafood, a British menu and a European menu for lunch and dinner. They only allow small dogs due to the size of the restaurant, so do please let them know when you book.

The Talbot is a lovely traditional English pub. You’ll find large portions, sofas, original paintings, rickety old tables and chairs, and friendly staff. This is laid back drinking, eating - including coffees, breakfasts and Sunday lunch - in a traditional meeting place for the town slap bang in the Square. Dog friendly too. Fantastic!

The Bell at Stow is a traditional, country pub in an old stone building on the edge of the village. A real favourite with the locals, The Bell is open all day every day offering everything from a pint of well-kept cask ale through to a three-course supper. Friday evenings are legendary for the Champagne Happy Hour at 5pm. The Bell is Dog friendly.

Some Chipping Campden favourites of ours include the Noel Arms which is conveniently located across the road from Honey Pot. This pub has lots of history, including being the place that Charles II rested after his defeat by Cromwell at the battle of Worcester. The food here is great, you’ll find dishes are traditional with a hint of international influences, and all prepared from local produce. Your dog is welcome here too.

Cotswold House Hotel is located in the heart of Chipping Campden. The kitchen team take their inspiration from the finest offerings of dedicated producers - whether it be wholesome crusty breads, locally churned cheeses, home-reared meats, best Cornish fish, vegetables from the lush Vale of Evesham, or jams and preserves from small-scale artisan producers. On warm days, enjoy a drink, coffee, or lunch on the Pavilion Terrace tucked away in the hotel garden. Sit under a shady umbrella and enjoy the peace and quiet from morning coffee to your early evening sun-downer. Wonderful! Well behaved dogs are welcome.

The Ebrington Arms is a real favourite of ours, located in the nearby village of Ebrington. The food here is truly delicious, inventive and classic British cooking. Wines are from independent growers including the Cotswolds’ own Little Oak Vineyard. The Arms is off the beaten track and perfect for exploring the Cotswold hills before refuelling. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Tea rooms are abundant in the Cotswolds and some of our favourites include Lucy's Tearoom, Huffkins, and Cotswold Garden Tearoom for jam and cream scones.

Markets

There is a wealth of local markets around the area. Below is a list of some of them, (these are subject to change).

· The farmers market in Bourton-on-the-Water is on the fourth Sunday in the month - 8:30am to 12:00pm. It is at the British Legion car park.

· Stow-on-the-Wold farmers Market runs once a month in the square on the second Thursday of the month - 9am until 1:30pm

· The Winchcombe farmers market is on the third Saturday in the month – 9am to 2pm

· Stratford-upon-Avon farmers market is the first and 3rd Saturday of each month - 9am-2pm

· Cheltenham farmers market is on the second and last Friday of each month, on the pedestrianised area of the Promenade, outside Cavendish House - 9am to 2pm

· There is a weekly retail market in Moreton-in-Marsh on Tuesdays - 8am-2pm

· There is a weekly boot sale at Cheltenham race course on Sundays

· Cheltenham farmers market is on the second and last Friday of each month, on the pedestrianised area of the Promenade, outside Cavendish House - 9am to 2pm

For further local ideas, we recommend looking at www.bourtoninfo.com

NB. Please do check local times.

Gardens

Of course there are many beautiful gardens in the Cotswolds - including several famous ones. A couple of our favourites include Hidcote Manor in the village of Hidcote Bartrim, near Chipping Campden - an Arts and Crafts-inspired garden with intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’ has become famous for its collection of rare plants and trees from around the world. These ‘rooms’ all reach their peak at different times of the year and each has a different feel. Hidcote is a delight to stroll through at any time of year but particularly May to September when it is in full swing.

Snowshill Manor in the village of Snowshill, just 13 minutes from beautiful Chipping Campden is another arts and crafts style garden. Designed by the eccentric Charles Wade, Snowshill Manor is surrounded by an intriguing terraced hillside garden filled with curious doorways, hidden vistas and unexpected delights.

Castles & Abbeys

We are spoiled for Choice here in the Cotswolds for castles and Abbeys! Some of our favourites include Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe (home of Queen Katherine Parr up to her death in 1548) which offers a really enjoyable day out. There are also lots of events happening throughout the year so it is worth checking their website to see what's on during your Cotswold visit.

A romantic and historical spot is St Edwards Church in Stow-on-the-Wold just round the corner to The Loft. It is famed for its tree-framed doorway; it's a beautiful architectural gem and a great place for those who take an interest in history or stained-glass designs. Rumour has it that the door was the inspiration behind J.R.R. Tolkien's J. R. R. Tolkien's Doors of Durin, the west gate of Moria that appears in a scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. A must for anyone visiting Stow is the annual Christmas Tree Festival which takes place in St Edwards Church in early December where 4o trees - decorated by local schools, businesses and organisations - are displayed in their full glory. All money raised is given to the church to support its everyday running costs.

Spa Days & Treatments

The award winning Cotswold House Hotel in Chipping Campden has a spa with a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, changing rooms, relax room, hair salon, nail bar and 5 further treatment rooms offering a full range of treatments. Set in a Grade II listed Regency townhouse and Nestled in the heart of Chipping Campden - if you don’t want to travel far, good news - Cotswold House is just a two minute walk from lovely Honey Pot. Perfect.

The famous Bamford Spa at Daylesford - with Its own range of natural products - offers a variety of custom facial and body treatments from restorative massages to revitalising facials. Their treatments are centred around healing using organic natural products from the Bamford range. Heaven!

Daylesford itself is a special place to visit with its organic farm shop, cafe, restaurant, gardens and of course the spa itself. All of this just a six minute drive from our gorgeous cottage, T he Loft, in Stow-on-the-Wold. Make a day of it and indulge!

If this has whetted your appetite for a visit to the Cotswolds, we would welcome you to one of our stunning, award-winning cottages, where you can enjoy the delightful amenities they have to offer such as log burners, roll-top baths, rain showers and delightful walks and eateries from the doorstep.