What The Cotswolds Have To Offer

To the west of middle England is an area called the Cotswolds. this area has gentle hills above its limestone ranges and countryside. The Limestone in the area has a rich honey coloured seem which was used as the main building material, which created the quaint wonderful villages that the world will recognize from pictures of the area the world over. The area is designated as an area of Outstanding Natural beauty, it is the home to three nature reserves and eight areas of scientific interest.

Things to do and places to see in the Cotswolds are not in short supply. Local shows and festivals, historic sites and buildings and a 160 acre wildlife park, to name a few.

With such a long and varied history and resilient limestone architecture, there are many important and interesting historical manors, castles and other buildings open to the public.

Sudeley Castle is the burial place of Queen Catherine Parr, wife number 6 of King Henry VIII. Her ghost, named "The Lady in Green", is said to haunt the castle and its gardens, searching for her newborn daughter Mary whom she never got to know.

Broadway Tower was built in 1799 and stands 55 feet tall. Lady Coventry wanted it constructed so that she could satisfy her curiosity of whether or not a beacon could be seen from her house 22 miles away. It could indeed be seen clearly, as it turned out. Located on the grounds is a memorial to the crew of a bomber plane that crashed there in 1943.

The Calcot Manor, originally built in 1300, was founded by Abbot Henry during the reign of King Edward I. The buildings and surrounding grounds are still something of a mystery, as there exist underground tunnels that have still not been explored. A number of ancient artifacts have been found on the property, including the original datestone and a Roman bas-relief carved into limestone. Some of these can be seen in the Gloucester City Museum.

The Cotswolds are also the birthplace of the famous poet and playwright, William Shakespeare. His place of burial can be visited at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford Upon Avon.

Last but certainly not least, the Cotswolds offer no shortage of ways and places to unwind and have fun.

Have a go at Cheese Rolling, a local sport with more than 200 years of tradition. The objective is to roll a cheese wheel down a steep hill and have participants chase after and try to catch it. Obviously, this sport is not without its dangers.

If Cheese Rolling is a little too crazy for you, then you might try the Cotswold Olimpick Games which date back to the 1600's. It is thought that the reason for starting tis tradition was to encourage physical exercise, which was important to national defense. The Games include activities such as sledgehammer throwing, jumping, running, swordfighting and wrestling.

You can also just unwind at the Beer or Jazz festivals.

When you're tired or hungry, there are no lack of accommodations. There are many restaurants, cozy bed and breakfasts, cottages for rent and luxury hotels in the Cotswolds and even luxury spa hotels.Your stay is sure to be an exciting experience that you'll never forget. Just don't forget your camera!

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