A quick getaway to the Cotswolds this past weekend did us wonders. While the drive was not always so relaxing (think two lane roads about as wide a a bicycle path), the strikingly green rolling hills and cozy inns were the perfect way to unwind after our first few weeks in the new office.
Scouring websites for the perfect English inn proved to be an unending search. There are countless small villages and towns, so I sorted low to high, closed my eyes and picked one (of the top three…). The Colesbourn Inn was just as warm and welcoming in person as it appeared on the website, and a great deal for a last minute getaway!
Heading in the general direction of the inn, I did a bit of research and found that the “Queen of the Cotswolds,” Painswick, had a great lunch spot and was nearly on the way. As we wove our way through the tiniest streets I’ve ever seen, I prayed that we’d make it there and hopefully searched for a different road out! Lunch at the Cotswolds88 hotel was delicious, and the hotel looked like a fabulous place to stay for a celebratory weekend. After enjoying an assortment of local cheeses and a melted brie with grape sandwich, we wandered around the royally esteemed village, nodding and smiling at the friendly residents walking their dogs.
Mark successfully maneuvered out of town; we took in the breathtaking countryside views on the way to our hotel and I scribbled down a handful of names of spectacular looking manor houses converted to inns, B&B’s and farm resorts. After checking in, we drove over to Cheltenham, and we either didn’t find the “cute part” or weren’t impressed. It was enormous compared to the pint sized town we had come from, so we headed north for Winchombe. Most shops had closed for the evening, but we browsed through a few antique stores before settling back in at the Colesbourne Inn for a leisurely long dinner.
Sun crept through the fog on Sunday morning as we savored our brunch and planned a quick stop at one more town.
As advertised, the food was great!
Cirencester, known as the “Capital of the Cotswolds,” was on our way home and recommended by the innkeeper. It did not disappoint! The big, little town was jam packed with quaint shops, inviting cafes and charming inns. After a bit of a shopping spree at my new favorite store, French Grey, we vowed to come back to really enjoy the town’s alluring atmosphere.
On our way home, feeling refreshed and relaxed, I booked our next trip to the Cotswolds in March for my parents’ visit. In the meantime, I’ll be hunting for the hidden gems that make the Cotswolds such a wonderful place to explore!
We're Not In Canton Anymore 
Love the English cuteness of some Cotswold treasures – my personal favourites are: watching and tasting chocolate being made at the Cotswold Chocolate Shop Stow-on-the-Wold; the walk by the stream to the Old Mill at Lower Slaughter and nibbles at the Slaughters Country Inn; glass of wine at the end of the day at the Grapevine Hotel Stow-on-the Wold; Cotswold Lavender; Cotswold Cheese Company shop