The local landscape
The Cotswolds is the most famous area of Gloucestershire, named for the band of limestone hills covering half of the County. The steep scarp edge to the west runs down the middle of Gloucestershire, sloping eastwards to the valley of the River Thames. The Cotswolds is known and loved for its gentle hillsides (‘wolds’), breathtaking gardens, fine houses, historic churches, known as ‘wool churches’, and picturesque villages of mellow stone cottages, nestling in the valleys.
It has been said that Gloucestershire has the most diverse geology of all the English counties; creating a wide range of landscape, flora and fauna, heritage and attractions. Today, the larger market towns and villages of the Cotswolds are famous for their shops, such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester, Chipping Norton and Tetbury. There are hundreds of villages to discover, not all are well known and still hold their secrets, so explore and enjoy!
Amongst the treasures to be found off the beaten track are Upper and Lower Slaughter, Snowshill, Winchcombe (home to Sudeley Castle) and Bibury, or happen upon an unspoilt historic church, such as at Northleach, often called the “Cathedral of the Cotswolds” – open the church door and you will discover a hidden world of history.
Britain’s largest water park is situated in the south east corner of the County – the Cotswold Water Park is an increasingly important wetland area, offering a greater area of water than the Norfolk Broads. It is a centre for water sports, nature conservation, walking, cycling and angling.
Sources of information about the Cotswolds
Cotswold District Council
Tourist Information Centres in the Cotswolds
Bourton-on-the Water
T: 01451 820211
Email
Cheltenham
T: 01242 522878
Email
Cirencester
T: 01285 654180
Email
Gloucester
T: 01452 396572
Email
Nailsworth
T: 01453 839222
Stroud
T: 01453 760960
Email
Stow-on-the-Wold
T: 01451 831082
Email
Tetbury
T: 01666 503552
Email
Tewkesbury
T: 01684 295027
Email
Winchcombe
T: 01242 602925