The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the largest of the AONB and covers almost 800 square miles of rustic, yet beautiful and unspoilt country side, with rolling hills, open and tree lined glacial valleys all covered with a sprinkling of historic market towns and abounding with picture perfect Cotswold stone villages.
The natural oolitic Jurassic limestone stone ranges in colour and texture from the hard and whitish Bath and Naunton sourced stones through to the deep golden yellow honey coloured stones from above Chipping Campden that typifies the North Cotswolds.
Historically, wool provided the wealth that built the beautiful churches and historic houses that are there for us all to see today from Bath in the south, Cirencester in the centre to market towns of Northleach and Chipping Campden on the northern extremes.
For those with the energy, you can use your legs to walk the Cotswold Way from Chipping Campden to Bath or to power a bicycle along a myriad of country lanes with stunning views at almost every turn of the pedal. Powered forms of transport will enable you spend more time understanding and enjoying the splendid range of architecture that the Cotswolds offers in plenty.
You can also wallow in the fantastic natural autumnal colours that abound in the coming months at the Westonbirt and Batsford Arboretums along with the estates of many old country houses and castles.
Eating out in the Cotswolds has been enhanced by the rise of the gastro pub utilising a rich variety of local produce to produce exciting and everlasting memories of a fantastic range of tastes.
