Let me tell you about my first visit to the Cotswolds. I can’t believe I’ve lived in the UK for four decades (on and off) and have never been to this part of the world. Heads up though, we’re headed here for one night only to see friends not places.
Our dear friend Adam is over from Oz and we’re catching up with him and his mum, Jane for one night only. That said, I have to insist we stop at Diddly Squat, the Clarkson’s Farm. We have grand plans to eat lunch here – as does everyone else it seems – but it’s way too windy to be outside as you can see from my hair!
Although the Big View Cafe is dog friendly, the farm shop is not so David and Teddy wait outside while I go in for a browse. Even though we arrive midday and midweek, the queue to get into the shop is lengthy and once inside, the queue continues around the store so you can’t really browse at your leisure. You need deep pockets and a lot of patience to shop here so I hastily purchase some condiments and head off.
Our friend Adam suggests we stop off in Shipton under Whychwood which is a great pick. This village is classic Cotswolds with it’s chocolate box cottages, village green and cosy country pubs – one of which we head to for lunch.
The Crown is a medieval hostelry dating back to the 14th century. The inn is full of charm and character and we all enjoy a very warm welcome. Even though lunch is not served on Wednesdays, our hosts kindly open up the kitchen so we can enjoy some sustinence.
Then we head off to Chipping Norton. This lively market town is busy with shoppers and visitors and aswell as being our home for the night, it’s also home to Jeremy Clarkson and David Beckham, both have enormo-houses just outside of town.
Our Airbnb is not an enormo-house by any stretch of the imagination but it’s as cosy as it is compact. We all make ourselves right at home and Teddy is very happy to be reunited with his Australian ‘uncle’!
We send the boys into town to sample the Chipping Norton hostelries and Jane, Teddy and I relax over a cuppa in our cosy cottage.
Our Airbnb hosts tell us that the finest food can be found in the villages outside of Chipping Norton but we want a venue that is dog friendly and within walking distance of our quarters. With that in mind, we dine at the Blue Boar where a very merry time is had by all.
We all have an early start the next morning and before we know it we’re saying goodbye to our friends and passing through stunning Cotswolds villages. We take a detour on the way home to the market town of Marlborough where the wizard Merlin is allegedly buried.
We’re not here to see Merlin’s grave though, we’re here to see our dear friends Geoff and Linda, in probably the most dog friendly coffee shop I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, CoffiLab. The coffee shop is housed in a former bank building and it’s hard to say what I love more – the coffee or the doggy photo wall. The Coffilab dog biscuits are of course, compawlimentary!
After a quick catch up with our pals, we’re back on the road and heading home to Stamford. Fun fact – Stamford is known as the ‘Notswolds’ because of it’s stunning Georgian architecture, independent shops and the fabulous selection of bars and restaurants – it’s like middle England’s version of the Cotswolds. I know I’m biased but there really is no place like home.
Have you ever been to the Cotswolds? Are you a fan of Clarksons Farm too?
