Anyone in search of the true English countryside need look no further than the Cotswolds, considered by many to be amongst the most beautiful areas in England. Two things above all give the Cotswolds its special warmth and richness; the soft, natural limestone and the wealth of the wool trade in days gone by which has left a heritage of superb buildings.

The Cotswold Hills rise gently from the green meadows of the Upper Thames and its' tributaries in the east to the great western escarpment where the hills plunge dramatically into the Vales of Severn and Evesham. The river valleys cutting through the plateau form the setting for many of the small towns and villages, which are the great delight of the Cotswolds.

The Golden Age of the Cotswolds came with the growth of the wool trade in medieval times. The native Cotswold sheep known as the Cotswold Lion produced a very long, thick fleece. Cotswold wool provided more than half of England's cloth and was exported to the continent, and the trading, processing and weaving brought great wealth to towns like Cirencester, Tetbury, Fairford, Northleach, Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden. The wool merchants built themselves splendid houses and endowed the magnificent 'wool churches' which dominate so many Cotswold towns and villages.

Today the Cotswolds has a magnetic attraction for artists, naturalists, walkers and everyone with a love for rural peace and tranquillity. The variety of attractions is endless. Exploring the real Cotswolds at any time of year is a rewarding experience, each season throwing a different light on the changing scene.