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South Gloucestershire & The Cotswolds
Bath is set on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, a series of gently rolling hills and honey-coloured villages that are quintessentially English. This is an area of stone walls, hidden river valleys and distinctive market towns and villages made of the famous Cotswold stone.
Towns such as Winchcombe, Bibury and Painswick have a timeless charm that fascinate visitors from all over the world.
These small towns and villages that lie between Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon are still the focus of activity in the Cotswolds. Many of them have become known throughout the world for their mellow stone buildings, village greens and medieval market places.
Moreton-in-Marsh is a spacious market town, dating back to the 13th century, which still holds an open-air market every week. Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the most popular destinations with its quaint, low bridges over the River Windrush and charming shops and tea rooms.
Cirencester is one of the largest towns in the Cotswolds with a fascinating history that dates back to the Romans when it was a regional capital. Serious shoppers will also be impressed with the Regency splendour of Cheltenham, a 19th-century spa town that boasts beautiful gardens, graceful architecture and good shopping.
For those who want to buy a piece of the past, the Cotswolds is also unrivalled for antiques. Towns such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Tetbury have the largest concentration of antique shops outside of London.
The Cotswolds area also boasts some stunning gardens and outdoor areas. Westonbirt is home to the National Arboretum, an amazing collection of trees that never fail to delight. In South Gloucestershire,just south of the M4, the National Trust's Dyrham House and Park features a 17th century house set in ancient parkland.
Gloucestershire is also home to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge. This boasts the largest collection of wildfowl and wetland birds in the world.
To explore this enchanting area further try walking some of the Cotswold Way, a 100 mile route that threads through valleys and villages and finishes in the heart of Georgian Bath.
How to get here: From Bath take the A46 north. Click on the RAC website for a detailed routeplanner. For information on bus routes and timetables see First Group.
Find out more:
Cotswold Way Handbook & Accommodation list is on sale from Bath Tourist Information Centre (£2.95)
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