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South Cotswolds - Wotton-under-Edge
Wotton-under-Edge, in the south-western corner of the Cotswolds, is too far away from the center of the Cotswolds to be a tourist destination, so it has retained a "real town" feel. This is a nice corner of the Cotswolds, with interesting villages and some good walking areas.
Wotton-under-Edge, High Street
Of all the market towns described on these pages, this is the one town that we do not know well, so I have asked a friend who lives in the area to send me her recommendations. I will post them soon.
About the Town
Walk the High Street: An interesting High Street lined with shops and some historic buildings.
Church: St Mary the Virgin, wool church (13th century) with Perpendicular tower (14th century) and 14th century brasses of Lord and Lady Berkeley (copies nearby are for doing "rubbings"). South porch has restored 13th century doorway, sundial and priest's chambers above. Read more
Historic Buildings: The Perry and Dawes Almhouses in Church Street (17th and 18th century), Ann Bearpacker Almshouses in opposite the church (19th century). Tolsey House on the corner of the High Street and Market Street with a Victoria Jubilee clock (originally 16th century). Some parts of the town center have historic buildings, some parts were rebuilt recently. The Swan Hotel, a 17th century coaching inn, has some good historic photos on their website. The 19th century police station on the High Street had been converted to apartments.
Food & Drink
The Swan Hotel (restaurant), 16 Market St. 17th century coaching inn, now a hotel with restaurant and two pubs. website
The Royal Oak (pub), 3-5 Haw St. Meals available. website
Food & Drink in Nearby Villages
Chipping Sodbury and Dursley are good sized nearby towns which have tea rooms, pubs and restaurants.
Shops
Food Shops
There are several specialty food shops on the High Street.
The nearest supermarkets are in Stroud (see our list of supermarkets in the Cotswolds).
Wotton Farm Shop, Bradley Road. Locally grown fruits and vegetables (some grown on their farm), organic dairy products, local meats, Hobbs House bread, teas and coffees. The Farm Kitchen sells prepared fresh-cooked meals (vegetarian options available). website
Chipping Sodbury - Hobbs House Bakery, 39 High St. Artisanal, and some organic, breads and pastries. Small eating area. The main bakery is in Chipping Sodbury in the southern Cotswolds, with shops in Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Nailsworth. They also sell at the Saturday Stroud Farmers' Market. website
Other Shops
Cookability, 35 Long Street. Cooking shop. website
Nearby Villages & Sites
Villlages
Boxwell: Down a farm track you find this village with a small 13th century church. Boxwell Court, beside the church, was built in the 15th century.
Dursley: Market town with an 18th century Market House in the center (Town Hall is on top of the Market House). The church has a Perpendicular porch and a Gothic-style tower.
Uley: Small village in the southern Cotswolds, near Owlpen Manor (not open every day). Beautiful countryside and good walking in this area. Not very touristed.
Historic Buildings
Berkeley Castle: Large medieval manor built in the 12th century. The Slimbridge Wetlands are part of the Berkeley estate. website
Chipping Sodbury - Horton Court (National Trust): Remains of a 12th century rectory. Closed in 2008 for renovations. website
Dyrham Park (National Trust): 17th century mansion, garden and deer park. website
Newark Park, Ozleworth (National Trust): Former Tudor hunting lodge, converted to a Georgian home. The property is lived in but you can tour the house and gardens. website
Owlpen Manor: Beautiful manor on a large estate. The manor was built in the 15th century and added onto in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. You can tour the manor (not always open - check website). There is a tea room on the estate. The owners live in the manor. We toured it in 2004 and loved the manor and surrounding area. There are wonderful painted wall hangings in the bedrooms. website
Outdoor Activites
Slimbridge Wetland Centre: website
Walks in the Area
Walking in the Cotswolds: Recommended guidebooks and maps for walking in the Cotswolds. We use these guides: Cotswold Classic Walks (Goldeneye), Jarrold Short Walks Cotswolds (Jarrold), Cotswolds and More Cotswolds Pathfinder Guides (Jarrold). Using those books, I listed our favorite hikes in this area below. All are circular walks - begin and end at the same spot.
Wotton-under-Edge Town Council has documented six circular walks in this area.
Ozleworth (Goldeneye - 2.5hrs with a shorter version around Ozleworth Park): I think this would be a beautiful hike, but we lost the trail an hour into the hike (at the end of Ozleworth Bottom) and had to turn around. Ozleworth Bottom is a beautiful valley full of spring flowers.
Wotton-under-Edge, the Tyndale Monument and Coombe Hill (Pathfinder - 3.5hrs): Walk out through forests, but back along a road (books says this is a small lane, not used much). We have not done this hike.
Uley Bury - Cam Long Down (Goldeneye 2.5hrs): Wonderful hike starting outside of Uley at the Uley Bury Iron Age Fort (you cannot get inside). We did this hike on a beautiful spring day. Start on a hilltop, then hike down into the valley, across the valley, up another hill, then along the Cam Long Down (hilltop). The day we were there, paragliders were waiting for the wind to change so they could jump. Down to the valley and walking through farms, then back up to Uley Bury. Delightful! For a shorter walk with less downhill/uphill, walk around Uley Bury.
Resources
Wotton-under-Edge Town Council: Detailed Town Guide. Several local area walks documented.
Wotton-under-Edge Community: Lists of local businesses.
Wotton-under-Edge Heritage Centre
The Cotswolds - Stroud District: Stroud District Tourism. Information for Stroud, Nailsworth, Dursley, Painswick, and Wotton-under-Edge.
