North Cotswolds Pub Tour
Bledington
Information on Bledington
Bledington is famed for its ducks which live all around the brook and village green; traffic through the village is warned of "ducks crossing". Bledington is about four miles from Stow-on-the-Wold, and is a frequent winner of the Bledisloe Cup for Best-Kept Village award.
Traditional pubs in Bledington
The King’s Head is a delightful, 16th century stone-built inn overlooking the village green. In 1614, Prince Rupert of the Rhine supposedly lodged here, prior to the Battle of Stow. The pub has original old beams, an inglenook and a convivial atmosphere. It also has a curious logo of a duck dressed in a Henry VIII outfit. The pub was named North Cotswold CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008.
Broad Campden
Traditional pubs in Broad Campden
The Baker’s Arms is a fine old village local and genuine free house, first licensed as a public house in 1724. A photograph of the building (1905) shows it as the village bakery and grain store. It boasts Cotswold stone walls, exposed beams and a fine inglenook. Also displayed - and dated 1969 - is a carpet depicting the pub and the following description: pictorial rug represents 1,000 hours' work by the late Neville Hallam of Wythall, Birmingham in appreciation of the happy times spent in the Bakers Arms.
Broadwell
Traditional pubs in Broadwell
The Fox is an attractive one-bar stone-built pub overlooking the village green. The original flagstone flooring remains in the bar area. The pub has an interesting collection of water jugs, and was named North Cotswold CAMRA Pub of the Year 2007.
Chipping Campden
Information on Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden is a small market town, notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century. A rich wool trading centre in the Middle Ages, Chipping Campden enjoyed the patronage of wealthy wool merchants. Today, it is a popular Cotswold tourist destination with old inns, hotels, specialist shops and restaurants. The High Street is lined with honey-coloured limestone buildings, built from the mellow locally quarried Cotswold stone, and boasts a wealth of fine vernacular architecture. At its centre stands the Market Hall with its splendid arches, built in 1627.
Traditional pubs in Chipping Campden
The Eight Bells is a 13th century inn with a cobbled courtyard with an underground priest passage. The Noel Arms is a two-star Cotswold hotel with assorted horseshoes around the lounge.
Cold Aston
Information on Cold Aston
This attractive village went by the name of Aston Blank as far back as the Doomsday Book.
Traditional pubs in Cold Aston
The Plough is a small stone-flagged country pub high in the Cotswolds. The bar is small, despite having been made by combining what was most of the living accommodation of the original 17th century cottage. There are low oak beams - mind your head as you enter.
Ebrington
Traditional pubs in Ebrington
The Ebrington Arms is a 17th century Cotswold stone-built village pub in a beautiful village. There are two rooms with flag-stoned floors, one is the bar and the other the dining room, which has a lovely open fireplace.
Ford
Information on Ford
The village of Ford is home to Jackdaw's Castle, the racing gallops of trainer Jonjo O'Neill.
Traditional pubs in Ford
The Plough is a 16th-century former courthouse. The cellars were once dungeons holding prisoners, and the remains of the indoor stocks can be found under the rear lounge windows. Four interconnecting rooms are served by a central bar dispensing the highly regarded Donnington ales. With low-beamed ceilings, flagstoned floors, inglenooks with real fires, wooden shuttered windows and settles, it is full of character. The village’s racing connection is evident around the pub, especially after a big winner! This pub is a former North Cotswold CAMRA Pub of the Year.
Guiting Power
Information on Guiting Power
Guiting Power is picturesquely situated on the slopes above a small valley (formed by a tributary of the River Windrush), and its ancient Cotswold stone buildings blend in with the surrounding countryside. There was a late Anglo-Saxon settlement on this site, at which time it was called Gyting Broc. Nearby are the excavated foundations of the original Anglo-Saxon church and a large kerbed round barrow shown as tumulus on ordnance survey mapping. The parish church of St. Michael and All Angels is situated on the South edge of the village. It is of Norman origin, with a later Victorian transept. The North and South doorways were preserved in the renovations at that time.
Traditional pubs in Guiting Power
The Hollow Bottom is an excellent Cotswold free house, popular with locals and tourists alike. The pub is a horse-racing mecca.
Lower Slaughter
Information on The Slaughters
The village of Lower Slaughter is built on both banks of the River Eye. At the west end of the village, there is an old water mill with an undershot waterwheel and a chimney for additional steam power. The Anglican parish church is dedicated to St. Mary.
The village of Upper Slaughter is likewise built on both banks of the River Eye. The Anglican parish church is dedicated to St. Peter.
Lower Swell
Traditional pubs in Lower Swell
The Golden Ball is a typical Cotswold stone-built pub with a separate dining room, located in the centre of the village. As well as the local Donnington ales, a good selection of real cider is also available.
Naunton
Information on Naunton
Naunton is a picture postcard village in the Windrush valley.
Traditional pubs in Naunton
The Black Horse is atraditional Cotswold stone village pub, one of the small but magnificent estate of the nearby Donnington Brewery. Built in the 1870s, it was originally a row of tiny cottages, and retains the proportions of a farm worker's home. The cosy front bar has a flagstone floor, low black beams and built in pews, while the small snug to the rear is now a dining room.
Snowshill
Information on Snowshill
Snowshill is an attractive village, best known for nearby Snowshill Manor, a National Trust property open to the public. The manor house contains an unusual collection of furniture, musical instruments, craft tools, toys, clocks, bicycles and armour, all collected by architect and craftsman Charles Paget Wade between 1900 and 1951. His Arts and Crafts-style gardens are arranged in an eccentric combination of terraces and ponds forming outdoor rooms, with bright colours and delightful scents.
Snowshill is also the home to Snowshill Lavender, a farm with 35 acres (142,000 m²) of lavender fields, which also sells lavender products, plants and local crafts.
Traditional pubs in Snowshill
The Snowshill Arms is a typical Cotswold pub, next door to Snowshill Manor.
Stanton
Information on Stanton
The village of Stanton is situated on the edge of the Cotswold Escarpment, and is completely constructed out of Cotswold stone. The Cotswold Way runs through the village.
Traditional pubs in Stanton
The Mount is a popular pub perched on a hill above the village, with an expansive view. It has a large garden, which is particularly pleasant on summer evenings. Games include French boules (sets available) and woodlice racing!
Stow-on-the-Wold
Information on Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold is situated on top of an 800 ft (244 m) hill, at the convergence of a number of major roads through the Cotswolds, including the Fosse Way. The town is said to have originated as an Iron Age fort on this defensive position on a hill. The town began to grow as a result of trade along the Fosse Way (a Roman Road). Stow's chief claim to history is its role in the English Civil War. A number of fights took place around the area, the local church of St. Edward being damaged in one such skirmish. On 21 March 1646, the Royalists, commanded by Sir Jacob Astley, were defeated at Stow, with hundreds of prisoners being confined for some time in St. Edward’s Church. The square in the middle of town is an interesting, almost Italianate, place. The focus of the town has been and remains in this spot.
Traditional pubs in Stow-on-the-Wold
The Queen’s Head is a 17th-century stone building which has been licensed since at least the 1630s. It stands at the heart of the town square, virtually unchanged as a near perfect example of a small Cotswold town pub, popular with locals and tourists alike. This family run inn has two bars, which are full of character and packed with fascinating pictures, clocks and other artefacts.