Local Cotswold Events and Attractions | ||||||||||||||||
|
One of the delights of the Cotswolds is to meander around the villages with
little fixed purpose, | ||||||||||||||||
|
Regular Market Days Northleach Charter Market: Wednesdays 8.30am-3.30pm weekly Cirencester Charter Market: Mondays and Fridays 8.30am-3.00pm weekly Moreton-in-Marsh Charter Market: Tuesdays 8.00am-2.00pm weekly Bourton-on-the-Water Farmers' Market: 4th Sunday monthly, 9:30am-1:00pm Stow-on-the-Wold Farmers' Market: 2nd Thursday monthly, 9:30am-1:00pm Antiques Markets Cirencester Corn Hall: Fridays 9.00am-3.00pm weekly. | ||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
 Click here to review the National Trust's Gloucestershire properties - although most will now be closed until the first week of March. Our local favourites include: Chedworth Roman Villa - the remains of one of the largest Romano-British villas in the country. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 10.00am-5.00pm from 2nd March. Entrance charge £6.30, but free for NT members. The drive up the Yanworth valley and around Stowell's perimeter is almost more magical than the Roman Villa. Sherborne Lodge Park – Lodge Park was built in 1634 as a deer coursing grandstand for the Duttons, but after a series of alterations and simplifications over the years was of no architectural interest until NT renovation in the 1990s. The grandstand sits within the 4,000 acre Sherborne Estate of rolling Cotswold countryside with views down to the River Windrush. Sherborne Park itself, however, was converted into apartments after the estate was given to the Trust in 1982. The grandstand should be open 11.00am-4.00pm Friday-Sunday only until 2nd November, but sometimes is unaccountably closed. £5.00 entrance charge for the grandstand is not great value, but walks in the Estate are always accessible and free. Hidcote Manor Garden - one of England’s greatest gardens, an ‘Arts & Crafts’ masterpiece created by Major Lawrence Johnston. Open from 19th March Monday-Wednesday and Saturday-Sunday 10.00am-6.00pm until 1st October (but also Thursdays and Fridays in July) and then 10.00am-5.00pm until 2nd November, but note that weekends and Bank Holidays can be very busy, so a visit after 3pm may be more enjoyable! Entrance worth every penny of £8.50, but free for NT members. Snowshill Manor – the former home of eccentric Victorian compulsive collector Charles Paget Wade. A small but appropriately eclectic house, recently renovated in "NT Classic" style. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 12noon-5.00pm until 2nd November. Not a bargain at £7.30, but as always free for NT members. Chastleton House (actually in neighbouring Oxfordshire) - one of England’s finest Jacobean houses in continuous family ownership for 400 years until its acquisition by the Trust in 1991. Open Wednesday-Saturday 1.00pm-5.00pm only until 30th September and then 1.00pm-4.00pm until 2nd November. Entrance charge £7.00, or free for NT members. Entry by advance booked timed ticket only (01608 674981) but worth the hassle. | ||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
|
English Heritage maintains a range of local ruins and remains. We find the oldest and closest the most rewarding!
| ||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
Other historic houses, gardens and local sites
| ||||||||||||||||
Theatre
| ||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
|
We are about the same distance from Oxford as from Stratford-upon-Avon and the Oxford Playhouse has become a regular stopping point for touring productions in recent years. | ||||||||||||||||
 Founded as the New Theatre & Opera House in 1891, Cheltenham's re-christened Everyman Theatre returned to its roots as a touring theatre in 1995. | ||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
|
There are also some non-racing events held at Cheltenham Racecourse that are worth visiting. | ||||||||||||||||
|
Polo | ||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
|
Cycling If you fancy a spin we have a couple of bicycles that you're welcome to use. Not Tour de Cotswold standard, but fine for a leisurely afternoon meandering around the lanes - but remember the hills are longer on two wheels than four! | ||||||||||||||||
|
Walking The Cotswolds are excellent walking territory. Two long-distance paths pass through Turkdean: Macmillan Way The Chedworth-Bourton section of this 290-mile path runs directly past the cottage as part of its long course from Boston on the Lincolnshire coast to Abbotsbury in Dorset. Peter Titchmarsh's eponymously-entitled walking guide 'The Macmillan Way' and the supplemental 48-page 'Cross-Cotswold Pathway' and 12-page Cotswold Link' pamphlets are all available (for £9.00, £3.50 and £1.65 respectively) from the Macmillan Way Association. North Cotswold Diamond Way  This beautiful circular 60-mile route created by the North Cotswold Ramblers Association in 1995 also passes through Turkdean on its Notgrove-Hazleton-Turkdean-Hampnett section. Elizabeth Bell's excellent Ramblers Association handbook 'North Cotswold Diamond Way - 30 Sparkling Short Walks' maps the course of this path in 30 shorter walks. Two of these beautiful 2-3 hour walks run right through Turkdean. Available from amazon.co.uk for £6.99 plus postage and a rather strange £1.99 "sourcing fee" (although we have a copy of this at the cottage too!) In addition, four further long-distance paths pass close to Turkdean - close enough to make a walking detour, or of course, you may prefer to have us come and pick you up in the car! Gloucestershire Way  This 100-mile long walk from Chepstow to Stow-on-the-Wold and then on up and
back to Tewkesbury passes through Notgrove, just 2 miles North of us in
Turkdean. In addition there is a really special detour that can take you
via a secret valley all the way to Turkdean if you turn South on to a footpath
at Farhill Farm between Salperton and Notgrove. Alternatively, as the
Gloucestershire Way crosses the road at Notgrove, turn South to Turkdean, or
give us a call!Gerry Stewart's detailed walking guide 'The Gloucestershire Way' is available for £5.95 with free postage direct from its publishers Countryside Matters. Monarch's Way  This path follows the course of Charles II's 1651 escape from England after
the Battle of Worcester. Some 80-odd miles of its 610 miles total are in
Gloucestershire. Having stepped alongside the Macmillan Way from
Chedworth to Hampnett, the Monarch's Way heads East to Northleach, but
instead, why not continue along the route of the Macmillan Way for a further
three miles North from Hampnett until you come to Turkdean?The second part of Trevor Antill's walking guide to the Monarch's Way, covering the 210-mile section from Stratford-upon-Avon to Charmouth, is available from amazon.co.uk for £5.56 plus postage. Windrush Way The shorter 14-mile Windrush Way from Bourton-on-the-Water to Winchcombe can be extended by 4-5 miles rather nicely either by turning South on to the North Cotswold Diamond Way at Aylworth and then heading down past Notgrove to Turkdean itself, or by turning South on to the Gloucestershire Way at Aston Farm to pass through Cold Aston and Notgrove en route to Turkdean as above. Heart of England Way This 100-mile route runs from Milford, near Stafford to Bourton-on-the-Water, where we can pick you up and whisk you back to Turkdean by car for restorative care. Alternatively, just short of Bourton you can turn South on to the Macmillan Way at Lower Slaughter and head from there to Turkdean. If on the other hand you fancy a shorter circular route from Turkdean we have a range of beautiful routes linking us with Hazleton, Salperton, Notgrove and Cold Aston on hidden paths and beautiful tracks. Maps, sandwiches and pub directions all available! | ||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
|
Daylesford We are only about 12 miles from Daylesford, where Carole Bamford has created (and now re-created!) a little slice of retail heaven, combining the organic delights of the most upmarket deli imaginable, a glorious cafe, a splendid garden shop with truly epic topiary and 'The Haybarn' - a full-blow spa that would not disgrace the most luxurious of hotels. Currently being refurbished and, it seems, extended, some shop areas are out of action until Spring 2010, but still worth a visit and service excellent and unchanged. Tel +44 (0)1608 731 700 for the shop, or +44 (0)1608 731703 for the spa. | ||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
ArtsCheltenham is also the venue for a range of arts festivals. Check out Cheltenham Festivals.
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Air Shows | ||||||||||||||||
Antique Shops
| ||||||||||||||||
|
If this all sounds rather tiring go back
to our homepage | ||||||||||||||||
|
Yew Tree Cottage | Turkdean | Northleach | CHELTENHAM | Gloucestershire | GL54 3NT |
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
