Famed for its rolling hills, honey-coloured stone cottages and rich history, the Cotswolds countryside is a must-see for visitors to the UK. Many tourists flock to the well-known Cotswold villages, but there is a wealth of lesser-known places waiting to be explored. I joined In & Beyond Bath’s day tour of the Hidden Cotswolds, which combined quintessential towns and villages with secret spots and a canter through the region’s history. A great way to see as much as possible in a short space of time.
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Hidden Cotswolds By In & Beyond Bath
The Cotswold Hills are a large, mostly rural, landscape designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). They are characterised by small villages built of the local Cotswold stone, medieval market towns, and large country estates. While most towns have good road or rail links, other places are approached via tiny country lanes, and have the sense of being lost in time.
The city of Bath is at the southern edge of the Cotswolds, making it an ideal base for exploring the area. In & Beyond Bath’s Hidden Cotswolds and Dark Age England offers a mixture of the known and the lesser known. Guests can expect to see an ancient historic town, picture-perfect villages, and a classic English pub, but they will also get off the beaten path to see places they would never have discovered for themselves.
Cotswold Highlights And Hidden Gems
Our guide was Roland, a former history teacher with a never-ending supply of information about the region. He took us to an ancient abbey, where we saw remarkable medieval carvings and the tomb of the first king of all England. Then there was a walk around Castle Combe, the “prettiest village in England” and a favoured location for film makers. It wasn’t all exploring: we also had a coffee stop at the oldest hotel in the country, and lunch in a 17th century inn.
We travelled in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. Roland was happy to drive it down the type of narrow roads that others might hesitate to tackle, meaning that we could also visit some of the quieter villages. We also saw some of the region’s less obvious features: the tombstone of a woman mauled by a tiger, a pub where Prince Harry used to drink, the entrance to an underground town once used to store wartime munitions, and much more…
A Knowledgeable Guide
Roland’s personal knowledge of the region brought the tour to life. His storytelling covered everything from the wool trade’s impact on the Cotswolds to the Norse invasions that shaped England in the early Middle Ages. We stopped to look at thatched cottages and dry stone walls, and observed architectural details in three very different churches.
We even got an admirably succinct summary of the rules of cricket…
Who Would Enjoy The Hidden Cotswolds Tour?
This tour is perfect for visitors who want to make the most of their time and to discover places that only a local would know about. And for those who want the sort of information you wouldn’t find in the guide books. Ideal for anyone who loves history and countryside, it offers a different perspective on the area, past and present.
About In & Beyond Bath
- You can book a private tour or travel as part of a small group (up to 8 people).
- Pickup can be arranged from your accommodation in Bath.
- In & Beyond Bath runs a range of different tours from Bath or London. It is also possible to arrange a bespoke tour.
Disclosure: In & Beyond Bath provided a complimentary tour in return for coverage on this site.
