BREATHTAKING COTSWOLD LANDSCAPES

Around 80% of the Cotswolds is farmland. The area stretches from Bath in the south to Stratford upon Avon in the North. They are approximately 120 miles in length and 50 miles wide. There is a pronounced escarpment which runs up most of the western edge. Cotswold stone is made up of layer upon layer of sand and shell fragments bound together. It was formed during the Jurassic period about 200 million years ago. The Cotswolds were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966 and cover about 790 square miles.

COALEY POINT

With breathtaking views of the Severn Valley, Coaley Peak provides fantastic views across the Severn Valley and onto Wales. Below lies the unimproved limestone grassland belonging to the National Trust. Coaley Peak was for many years a seasonal home to New Age travellers who were evicted around 2002 to make way for more grassland. This 12-acre site is ideal for picnics, kite flying and even hang-gliding. Closeby Woodchester Mansion is a fascinating place to visit.

BROADWAY TOUR

Broadway Tower, a folly at the top of Fish Hill above Broadway is the second highest poit in the Cotswolds. At just over 1000ft above sea level, and 65 ft high 13 counties can be seen on a clear day. The “Saxon” style Tower was the brainchild of Capability Brown and was designed and built fo Lady Coventry in 1794. Near the tower is am memorial to the crew of a Whitley bomber that crashed during a training mission. In the late 1950’s a nuclear fallout shelter was built 50 yards from the tower. This was manned continuously from 1961 until it was decommissioned in 1991. Tours are available during certain weeknds during the summer months.

THE DRAIN PIPE

With far reaching views across the Windrush Valley, a panoramic view of Stow on the Wold in the north, The Slaughters and beyond in the south to Clapton on the Hill in the west. This 180-degree breathtaking view must not be missed. The 1:7 steep climb upto Wyck Beacon from the small village of Wyck Rissington is known locally as the Drain Pipe, the width of which is for only one car. Nestling in the bottom of the valley is the tranquil village of Bourton on the Water.

DOVERS HILL, CHIPPING CAMPDEN

Dovers Hill, on the edge of Chipping Campden, and owned by the National Trust is a very famous landmark in the area. At thye top are incredible views over the Vale of Evesham from which the is the start of the Cotswold Way a footpath that leads all the way to Bath. In 1612 the first Cotswold Olimpicks were held – a festival of sport and pageantry. While competitive shin-kicking and jumping on bags might not be quite the same as the modern day Olympics, the games attracted upto 30,000 people in their heyday. Today this is still an annual event.

WINCHCOMBE AND SPOONLEY WOOD

The King of Mercia, King Kenulf had his palace at Winchcombe in Saxon times. The town is steeped in history, and today is a very popular walking destination. Winchcombe is the intersection of the Cotswold Way, the Gloucestershire Way, the Wardens Way, the Wychavon Way and the Saint Kenelms Way. Beyond you can explore the Neolithic burial sire known as Belas Knapp. Situated in Spoonley Wood an original Roman Mosaic can be found under some sacking, a copy of which can be seen in Sudeley Castle.

STANTON AND STANWAY

Stanton is a village “frozen in time”. Sir Philip Stott purchased much of the village before the Great War and moved into Stanton Court. He ensured by covenants that unsightly features of the 20thC could never disfigure the village. At the far end of the village is Shenberrow Hill well known for its Iron Age earthworks and magnificent views. Nearby in the village of Stanway, can be found the Jacobean Mansion of Stanway House. J.M Barrie fell in love with the house and donated the cricket pavilion where he entertained such well-known people as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and HG Wells.

BEST COTSWOLD VIEWS AND LANDSCAPES

NORTH COTSWOLDS TOURS

Whiteshoots Hill
Wyck Beacon (the drain pipe)
Dovers Hill

BATH AND COTSWOLDS TOURS

Quarry Hill
Kilkenny
Radford Hill

OXFORD AND BLENHEIM TOURS

Boars Hill
Oxford Spires
Wittenham Clump

SOUTH COTSWOLDS TOURS

Coaley Point
Slad Valley
Sheepscombe

Timothy M

1 October 2023

A Picture Perfect Day in the Cotswold with fantastic Mark Ransom My wife and I spent an absolutely fabulous sunny day touring the Cotswolds with Mark Ransom as our outstanding guide. He picked us up in his immaculately clean and comfortable van from Heathrow airport and told about the area as he drove to our hotel in Stow-on-the-Wold. The following morning he met us at the hotel at 9:30am as planned for our private tour. He drove us to the many fairytale villages we wished to see (and many more we didn’t know about!) at a relaxed and unhurried pace. As a retired farmer who grew up in the Cotswolds, his knowledge was vast and his explanations were fascinating. He took us to some special gardens, unique shops, an ancient church, and pristine ponds. The views were breathtaking, and Mark allowed plenty of time for photographs and wandering in the various villages which were as charming as he was! Mark’s own expertise in photography was an added benefit. He arranged for lunch at a lovely cafe in the country. We did not want the day to end, but had to get back to London. Mark took us to the train station in Kingham, helping us with our luggage, for an evening train to Paddington Station. Thank you, Mark, for a delightful and memorable day! We will highly recommend you to everyone we know!

bobbiehpvb

23 September 2023

Great way to see the area Our day with Mark was a wonderful way to see the Cotswolds. Even though the weather didn't cooperate, we were able to cover a lot of ground and see a lot of the sites. Having a knowledgeable guide take us around and give us the backstory and history of a lot of the places was an added bonus. Given the weather, Mark was very flexible and was able to help us make good choices to see as much as possible. Mark himself is very personable and we enjoyed the time we spent with him. We highly recommend this excursion.

kids04

17 September 2023

Great day! Mark did an amazing job of taking us around for the day. My sister coordinated everything ahead of time and he showed us everything we wanted to see, and a few extra stops as well. He picked us up on time in his new air conditioned van which was large and comfortable for the four of us. Not only did Mark show us around all the towns, but he also provided us with a lot of history and answered all the questions we had. His personality is friendly, and we really enjoyed spending the day with him. He even made lunch reservations for us! Highly recommend using Mark to show you around the beautiful Cotswold villages.

palady1

15 September 2023

Outstanding & Comprehensive Cotswolds Private Tour Our day with Best Cotswold Tours was wonderful! Mark put together an outstanding itinerary based on our requests and by including additional sights that he felt best matched our interests. It was a completely customized tour for us that went at the pace that we chose. Having lived in the Cotswolds his entire life, he is full of enthusiasm and interesting information about the area. It was such a gift to be able to experience so much of what the Cotswolds have to offer through his first hand knowledge. Thank you so much, Mark, for making our Cotswolds visit so comprehensive, enjoyable, and unforgettable!

Patricia C

15 September 2023

Day in Cotswolds with Mark Ransom Mark was amazing. On time, clean car. He was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic and entertaining we loved our entire day with him. He accommodated our very ambitious itinerary and had so much input into all we saw. I would recommend him unreservedly Patricia Calvelo

Marilyn K

7 September 2023

Hidden Gems of the Cotswolds We visited on a warm, sunny day and saw the Cotswolds at its best. Mark was super interesting and took the time to show us some hidden gems we otherwise may not have visited. Very professional, super comfortable vehicle and would highly recommend.

Andrea F

1 September 2023

Amazing Cotswolds Tour Mark from Cotswolds Tours was the most informative and knowledgeable guide. He was so easy to communicate with, tailored our tour to our individual interests and was able to share his knowledge and passion for the beautiful villages of the Cotswolds with us. We had the most wonderful day and can highly recommend Mark.

Taavi A

28 August 2023

Private and customized high end experience This was a great tour! Very customizable, and the customer service was wonderful. Our train got cancelled and Mark went out of his way to get us home after a long day. We asked for a tour with less tourist-y places, and our guide did just that, finding some hidden gems for us. We still had a wonderful time and learned a lot. We highly recommend Mark!

Nancy G

20 August 2023

Fun Guide and Fabulous Tour! Mark was a wonderful tour guide. He organized a trip that perfectly fit into our tight schedule. We traveled through the gorgeous landscape stopping for photos when requested. We had a morning coffee in a lovely village and afternoon lunch in another beautiful place. We visit a small private brewery where we sat by a picturesque pond with swans performing perfectly! Mark was so knowledgeable about everything Cotswold! He was fun and funny and knows how to handle a group of young to elderly women with all different needs! My best day in England for sure!

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Porters Farm, Wyck Rissington, Bourton on the Water Glos GL54 2PN