AN ENGLISH GEM – THE COTSWOLDS

Monday 5th March 2007

By Aletia Harley

Roughly the shape of a diamond, and stretching through Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Somerset, the Cotswolds is about as picture-postcard perfect as England gets.

You can tell when you've reached it by the gentle, rolling hills (wolds), the distinctive honey-coloured stone on thatched cottages, churches and dry-stone walls, and the welcoming sight of a traditional tea room in every village you pass through.

Most of the countryside is made up of farmland, interspersed with sleepy villages and larger market towns. Time your visit carefully, and you might be able to catch one of the many farmers' markets held throughout the year and offering the best in local produce. Every Tuesday, for instance, the market town of Moreton-in-Marsh holds the largest open-air market in the area, with up to 200 stalls.

The picturesque town of Stow-on-the-Wold also has numerous shopping opportunities. There are fine antique and gift shops, home wares from Scotts of Stow and leather goods from Stow Leather Shop.

Just a few miles south lies the charming village of Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the Venice of the Cotswolds because of its numerous small stone bridges that cross the river Windrush. Attractions include Birdland, a park and gardens with 500 birds, the Dragonfly Maze, where kids can search for the insect that gave the maze its name, and the Cotswold Motoring Museum, where you can learn about the history of the motor car.

If you'd rather take it easy, sit back and enjoy tea and home-made scones at one of the many tea rooms. The Mad Hatter has river views and a cosy fire for chilly days.