It is really quiet here and we already feel we have left London behind. It was time to be tourists again so we set off for Stow on the Wold. We have really been so fortunate with the weather here in England. I suppose I had expected lots of rain but most days have been sunny and very pleasant. Certainly more pleasant than Melbourne at this time of year!
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| Stonewalls everywhere...we wondered who built them and when...some very old |
After investigating possible car parking spaces we set out for our day of being tourists! Parking can be a real issue in some of the small towns so we like to know before we go!
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| Stone fountain from 1827 |
We parked near Tescos in the free long term parking and walked into
town. Stow on the Wold is a very pretty town around a market square
with typical Cotswolds honey coloured stone buildings, wonky lintels, pretty flowers and character.
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| Stow on the Wold |
Stow
on the Wold is the highest place in the Cotswolds and boasts England's
oldest inn from 947 AD! As we walked up and down the little streets and
a very narrow lane, I pondered just how many others have walked the
same roads and about those who built the structures which still stand
today, some a bit wobbly!
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| Main street of Stow on the Wold |
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| An English country garden |
“Cotswold” from “cots” referring to sheep enclosures. and
"wold” meaning
gentle hills was known for its wool trade. The Cotswold area still has a
lot of sheep. Stow meant "meeting place", so now I know how Stow on the
Wold got its name!
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| Tempting..... |
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| Marking the civil war from 1647! |
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| Narrow lane, possibly used for taking sheep to the market square |
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| More unusual building, but rather lovely |
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| Loads of posh convertibles out on the roads today. |
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| Picnic -note Tesco plastic bag as tablecloth and port wine Derby cheese |
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| Oldest Inn in England 947 AD |
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| Great chalk drawing outside a pub |
I love the place names: Little and Great Rollright, Upper and Lower
Slaughter and Guiting Power! Don't they sound intriguing! Slohtre,
from old English, meaning Muddy Place sounds a bit more charming than
Slaughter! However, the villages are charming and there is a little
water way, the River Eye, running through Lower Slaughter with several
cute bridges and an old water mill. The kids, along with other
youngsters just HAD to take their shoes off and walk in the water. Then
they spied a sprinkler which in Luke's case soaked him completely and
so he squelched his way to Upper Slaughter in his wet gear.
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| Bit wobbly... |
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| Sheep Street |
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| Friends en route |
We walked from Stow on the Wold to Lower Slaughter and then to Upper
Slaughter along the little country roads. Years ago I cycled these
roads with some friends and camped in this area. Tim was desperate for a
bike today as quite a few rode past. Ideal cycling country. Maybe
he'll return!
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| All signposted in miles not kms |
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| Nice day for a walk |
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| The Old Mill, Lower Slaughter |
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| They couldn't resist the water! |
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| The River Eye |
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| Very pretty |
Back to our car, we did a quick shop and drove home. As I retrieved the clothes from the washing machine the smell of mold was overwhelming - they stank! I suppose a thing like this is one of the downfalls of Airbnb. We usually take a while to settle, get used to the problems and just live life!
Such beautiful surrounds, looks like plenty to explore! :)
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