Cotswolder

In the heart of England is a rural idyll of peaceful rolling hills where life is unhurried and traditions abound. Historic villages contain stone cottages so perfect they're called "chocolate boxes". Footpaths cross scenic fields and valleys leading to rivers, canals, woods, and civilized pubs. This is the Cotswolds, an area of limestone hills in the English countryside west of London, between Bath and Stratford-on-Avon.

The area has been known as the Cotswolds since at least Shakespeare's time (he mentioned it in Richard II). Its designating name is well-recognized though it is not an official county. Its boundaries are clearly demarked and spill over six counties, though the majority of the Cotswolds lie in Gloucestershire. In 1966 the British government recognized the special nature of this area by designating the Cotswolds as an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). These hills occupy a roughly diamond-shaped swath between Gloucester, Bath, Oxford and Stratford.

The Cotswolds draws an abundance of English and foreign visitors alike. It is the perfect area for a relaxed, outdoor-oriented vacation as activities abound to satisfy everyone. Here you can:

• Explore the idyllic golden-hued villages built from the local Cotswold limestone
• See the distinctive "wool churches", built in the late 14th to early 16th centuries when the wool trade brought great wealth to this area
• Enjoy delicious, locally-produced food (much of it organic) in atmospheric pubs, pleasant tea rooms, and fine restaurants
• Visit magnificent, historic manor houses and their perfectly-tended gardens
• Take a hike on the famous Cotswold Way (over 100 miles), or an shorter walk along the miles of easily-accessible public footpaths
• Visit ancient ruins from the Romans' occupation of this area more than 2000 years ago
• Find the fascinating and mysterious stone circles built by the prehistoric peoples who lived here 4000 years ago
• Take a lovely drive through some of the most beautiful countryside in England

This website is your personal guide to this wonderful part of rural England.

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Cotswolds [kots-wohldz, -wuhldz] – noun. A range of hills in SW England. Also called Cotswold Hills.

Cotswolder [kots-wohlder, -wuhlder] – noun. A traveler who is devoted to the Cotswolds. They are recognized by their sturdy walking shoes and Ordnance Survey maps.

Church, Eastleach Martin

This website is under construction and will be launched in April 2008.

We are Pauline Kenny and Steve Cohen and we are "Cotswolders"! We hope you will come to love this countryside area of England as much as we do.
About Cotswolder

* Pauline and Steve are looking for a house to rent/trade in the Cotswolds. Read more

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