Cotswolds food, drink and must-see views recommendations

[NicJ5]

I'm staying in Minchinhampton for a weekend in Sept with my girlfriend. Thought it would be worth asking the PH locals for some recommendations on your favourite places to eat, drink, walk and drive in the Cotswolds.

Whilst I appreciate the Cotswolds is a sizable area, I've got an old 1990 XJR for the trip so I'm more than happy to travel - just hope the car will be!

Thanks

[oblio]

I live in Cirencester.

One of the nicest drives around here (imho) is to take the B4425 from Ciren to Burford (Google Map it)

That way you get to see Cirencester (lovely parish church; Corinium Museum; Roman Amphitheatre; Abbey Grounds); Bibury (quintessential Cotswold Village; trout river; Arlington Row); and Burford (lovely High Street)...as well as a great drive through the countryside on a road where you can...err..stretch your legs (so to speak)

Tetbury is nice (Police Museum; antique shops; chance to see Prince Charles et al)

Broadway is nice - lovely, popular village - loads of quaint shops...and Zig Zag Hill too!

Bourton on the Water: Car Museum; model railway; model village; very nice river running through it!

Stow on the Wold: antique shops; nice little town

Moreton in Marsh: ditto...good market too apparently!

Bourton, Stow and Moreton all have the advantage of being on the Fosse Way too (A429) which can be a great driving road too but does get busy

Food-wise: what do you like?

[NicJ5]

This is great, thanks! Sorry for the delay, forgot to turn on post notifications.

Food wise, we're not fussy! Both at home fine dining but we do love (and probably prefer) a good pub meal!

[Mammasaid]

The Bear at Rodborough and the Amberly Inn aren't too shabby. I've eaten at both in the last couple of years and come away satisfied.

And don't forget to go to Hetty Pegler's Tump and Coaley Peak for fantastic views over the Severn.

Edited by Mammasaid on Thursday 26th July 17:32

[miniman]

Old Lodge at Minchinhampton (on the common) is nice, you might even bump into PetrolTed.

The Gumstool at Calcot Manor is 15 mins away and very nice.

[NicJ5]

Thanks a lot guys. Compiling a nice list here!

[anonymous-user]

B4077 from Toddington to Stow is an excellent drive when quiet. The first few miles are a hill climb with a long chain of sweeping corners followed by some interesting straights and gradient changes. Plenty of opportunity to make progress - within limits of course.

The girlfriend will likely love Daylesford, 5 mins outside of Stow.

Turn right to Northleach and a good meal can always be had in the Wheatsheaf.

Burford is lovely, if you can avoid the tourist coaches.

[blueg33]

Russells in Broadway is a nice restaurant, they also have a fish and chip restaurant next door which does good fish and chips.

Dormy house hotel near Broadway again has a nice Brasseries and a very good but expensive restaurant.

For Breakfast the AV8 cafe at Cotswold airport is nice.

Depending when you are going its worth looking at the Bugatti Owners club website to see if there are any hillclimb events on at Prescott (the hill is owned by BOC)

The Slaughters are pretty, Bourton on th ewater is pretty but over run with tourists.

If you like a walk, there is a roman mosaic hidden in a wood near Winchcombe, if you google it you will find directions.

[jet_noise]

Echoing oblio & miniman.
I'm in Bisley.

To the south, if you like trees: Westonbirt Aboretum. Might be colouring by then. Nice walks anyway.

One thing to avoid is the A417 Air Balloon junction at anything approaching rush hours, always solid.
Otherwise enjoy your stay

Edited by jet_noise on Friday 27th July 17:43

[anonymous-user]

On the food front, Casa in Tetbury is a gem of an Italian restaurant. For regular pub grub we tend to go to the Tipputs Inn, in Nailsworth. Fantastic food and lovely people running the place.

There's some nice views available at both Westonbirt, and Dyrham Park

[PetrolTed]

miniman said:

Old Lodge at Minchinhampton (on the common) is nice, you might even bump into PetrolTed.

[PetrolTed]

The best bacon sandwiches, in the middle of Minch...

https://www.facebook.com/HenrysCoffeeDairy/

[Mammasaid]

PetrolTed said:

The best bacon sandwiches, in the middle of Minch...

https://www.facebook.com/HenrysCoffeeDairy/

If you can ever get my parents out of their seat....

[miniman]

PetrolTed said:

miniman said:

Old Lodge at Minchinhampton (on the common) is nice, you might even bump into PetrolTed.

[NicJ5]

Thank you all so much. Really looking forward to trying a few of these. Need more than the 2 and half days that we have I think!

[jonobigblind]

Can’t believe no one has mentioned Winstone’s Ice Cream parlour on Rodborough Common yet! It’s about a 5 min drive from Minch town centre and in my eyes, the best ice cream around. All above recommendations are good but you shouldn’t ignore a little treat like this when you’re on the doorstep

Edited by jonobigblind on Monday 6th August 22:07

[Smitters]

The Olive Tree in Nailsworth is a lovely spot for a coffee or a meal and Nailsworth is a nice little town to potter about in. The W, the wiggly hill from Minchinhampton Common down to Nailsworth is a hoot (assuming your brakes work). Wild Garlic and Wilder are both nice restaurants for a nice or fancy meal. Freebs https://www.yell.com/biz/freebs-taxis-stroud-80514... are the well respected local taxi service if you're both having a drink, though in nice weather, strolling back up the hill (with suitable footwear) wouldn't be out of the question.

If you're at Coaley Peak/Hetty Pegler's Tump, a walk in Woodchester Park is a decent tip - a gothic mansion now owned by the NT and a quiet valley to walk in. The Cotswold Way runs through the area, and most sections of that are enjoyable. Something around Painswick would be nice.

In terms of views over the Severn Vale, the Tindale Monument, Uley Hill Fort, Selsley Common, Rodborough Fort (close to Winstone's Ice-cream), Haresfield Beacon, Painswick Beacon, Crickley Hill Country Park and Broadway Tower are all lovely. You have Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetland Trust if bird-spotting is your thing, Gloucester Cathedral if old buildings or Harry Potter is appealing, GCHQ is spying is your thing. With all the villagey places that are pretty and typical of the Cotswolds, you are unlikely to be the only tourists there.

The Classic Motor Hub near Bibury hosts a Sunday morning Coffee and Classics once a month. If you coincide with that, it's worth a visit and free, though you do have to "buy" a ticket for £0 from their online shop as space is limited. Let's put it this way - the cars in prime spots were so good, they were shoving the likes of a 355, RS4, Elise S1 and V8 Vantage round the back out of the way...