The Cotswolds is world famous for the beauty of its towns and villages. In scale this varies from modest cottages to imposing manor houses and impressive churches both large and small. It is the uniformity which so appeals - a mellow golden limestone, which as you get to know it you will see varies across the region from a creamy white through subtleties of grey to a golden hue, all within the space of a few miles ! Here in an area bounded by Bath, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon is a warm and appealing countryside, with some of the finest landscape in England. Gently undulating hills and tree-lined valleys rise gently from the green meadows of the upper reaches of the Thames to the dramatic limestone escarpment which is (quite literally) the high point of the Cotswolds. From here the hills slope down dramatically into Evesham Vale and the Vale of Severn. Cotswold towns and villages such as Burford, Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water are famous all over the world and epitomise the English rural scene. Each stands on a famous Cotswold river, the Windrush and the Coln, typical of so many Cotswold communities which have grown up over centuries in these attractive river valleys running down through the hills. There is a wide range of attractions to suit all these tastes and more. Exploring the real Cotswolds at any time of year is a rewarding experience, each season throwing a different light on the ever-changing scene. Bibury - Arlington Row.

Mayfield House Hotel. Crudwell, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9EW Tel: 01666 577409 / Email: reception@mayfieldhousehotel.co.uk