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#CotswoldHotspot: Accommodation in Stroud

Nestled in and around the small market town of Stroud is a number of wonderful accommodation providers who are waiting to welcome you to the Cotswolds.

If you are looking for small, cosy accommodation, The Clothiers is the perfect place to stay. The B&B also has a bar with pool table areas, comfy seating areas and even a wood burner. Delicious pub food is also available along with traditional beer and ales.

If you are looking to stay in a more luxurious hotel, then Stonehouse Court located in Stroud is a real treat. Stonehouse Court boasts 26 bedrooms in a 17^th century manor house. The hotel has a stunning six acres of grounds and overlooks the Stroud Water Canal.

If you are planning your vacation along the Cotswold Way and are looking for reliable luggage transfers, Carryabag offer collection and delivery in the small village of Stroud. For more information on our services please visit our website.

#CotswoldHotspot: Cheltenham

Cheltenham is a large town situated along the Cotswold Way and although it has a town centre bustling with culture you can be out in the unspoilt, rolling countryside within minutes.

Cheltenham was specifically designed to be a pleasure health resort in the 18^th & 19^th century and is still often referred to as Cheltenham Spa. The elegant town has a wealth of regency architecture as well as new modern developments. Visitors to Cheltenham can enjoy unique shopping and dining experiences and frequent festivals.

#CotswoldHotspot: Shopping near to Cleeve Hill

Cleeve Hill is not a large area and so shopping opportunities are scarce. However, Cheltenham has great variety of shops, some high street brands and some individual selling lovely gifts.

On the main high streets there are the branded shops such as, Boots and M&S. There are also lovely little coffee shops on that high street. In the regent arcade there are more unusual shops. There are also some unique little sweet shops for those who have a sweet tooth!

#CotswoldHotspot: Places to eat near Cleeve Hill

There are many fantastic restaurants and pubs to eat in the area, most of them being in Cheltenham. Jamie’s Italian gives an excellent variety of Italian with dishes of delicious foods designed by Jamie Oliver himself. The professional cook had an interest in the Italian food business and so created this restaurant to allow others to appreciate the enjoyment that he gets out of his cooking.

Café Rouge is a beautifully designed French restaurant situated on the Cheltenham Promenade. With a great range of excellent food, it is a wonderful place to spend lunch times or evenings with friends and family.  It has an outside seating area on the promenade which is in a community area, surrounded by other restaurants and shops. It is a very welcoming restaurant with superb staff and chefs.

Eat and drink to your heart’s content knowing your luggage is safely being transported to your next Cotswold Way destination with Carryabag. Contact us on 01242 250 642 for more information and to book.

Tour of Britain to go through part of Cotswold Way

The Tour of Britain is now fully underway and will be passing through Gloucestershire along parts of the Cotswold Way!

The premier road cycling event started in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Sunday 4^th September 2016 and will end in London, on Sunday 11^th September 2016.

The event will consist of eight stages in Scotland, the Lake District, the South West and London.

• Stage One- Sunday 4 September - Glasgow to Castle Douglas
• Stage Two- Monday 5 September - Carlisle to Kendal
• Stage Three- Tuesday 6 September - Congleton to Tatton Park, Knutsford
• Stage Four- Wednesday 7 September - Denbigh to Builth Wells
• Stage Five- Thursday 8 September - Aberdare to Bath
• Stage Six- Friday 9 September - Sidmouth to Haytor, Dartmoor
• Stage Seven a- Saturday 10 September - Bristol Stage Individual Time Trial
• Stage Seven b- Saturday 10 September - Bristol Stage Circuit Race
• Stage Eight- Sunday 11 September - London Stage presented by TfL

Stage Five of the event will take the cyclists through the city of Gloucestershire on Thursday 8^th September. As well as many iconic places along the Cotswold Way including Stroud, King’s Stanley, Nympsfield, Dursley, Wotton under Edge, Chipping Sodbury and finally stopping in the city of Bath. We do hope that the people carrying the cyclists luggage don’t get too tired, we will of course, always be available should they need a hand!

For more information on the Tour of Britain visit their website.

#CotswoldHotspot: Things to do in Winchcombe

Sudely castle is a popular attraction in the area and draws many in for a visit. Situated in a breathtaking 1,200 acre estate, Sudeley Castle is a must see. With Katherine Parr buried within its grounds, Sudeley Castle is the only Castle in England to have a queen buried in it. The castle is open daily from 10am to 5pm so take a trip to see the castle, or simply relax on the grounds.

A short visit from Winchcombe is the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Take a trip on the GWR on a 25-mile route between Laverton and Cheltenham racecourse, showcasing some of the best views of the Cotswolds. For full details on prices and the best time to visit, click here.

The Cotswolds is not only known for its country villages and ancient history but also for it’s outdoor activities such as the countryside hiking walks and the Cotswold Way walk. These routes will allow you to enjoy nature’s wildlife and witness scenery that will definitely please. Cycle routes are also available along these paths permitting you to dive deeper into the exclusive villages of the Cotswolds.

Carryabag can transfer your baggage to save you from taking them along. Why not speak to a friendly member of our team on 01242 250642 or alternatively visit our website www.carryabag.co.uk to find out more details on prices and availability.

#CotswoldHotspot: Accommodation in Winchcombe

Accommodation in Winchcombe can vary from hotels to inns, B&Bs to quirky holiday cottages located in the countryside with views that attract the eye.

Sudley Hill Farm is a delightful house set back on a sheep farm, dating back to the 15^th century. It has a charming feel to it along with an inglenook fireplace in its hearting lounge. You are able to overlook the delicately laid garden which is accompanied by a long drive way leading to the main building of accommodation. En-suite rooms are well equipped and a family room will have a double, twin and large twin with a third bed. A panoramic view of the Sudely valley is also available from the bedrooms. The White Hart is also another accommodation provider which has been recommended in Winchcombe. With it’s individual en-suite bedrooms and fantastic food that is served all day, it has great appeal to all visitors. All bedrooms have tea and coffee making facilities, complimentary bottled water, a TV and free wifi.

Postlip Hall Farm is also a lovely place to stay. This magnificent Cotswolds Farmhouse, just south of Winchcombe offers cosy, comfortable and spacious en suite accommodation with peace and quiet guaranteed – just the place to unwind in after a walk or cycle.

Have you arranged luggage transfers along the Cotswold Way yet? Carryabag can arrange for your baggage to be easily transferred along the Cotswold Way, just give us a call on 01242 250642 or visit our website www.carryabag.co.uk to find out more details on prices and availability

#CotswoldHotspot: Winchcombe

Winchcombe is located in the picturesque valley of the Cotswolds. With it’s ancient Anglo Saxon town and a variety of restaurants, tea rooms and unique shops set among the three streets, what is not to like?

 It is an area of outstanding natural beauty along with great amounts of historical features and local attractions to visitors in the area.

During your holiday along the Cotswold Way, Carryabag can transfer your baggage to save you from taking them along. Speak to a friendly member of our team on 01242 250642 or alternatively you can visit our website www.carryabag.co.uk to find out more details on prices and availability.

#CotswoldHotspot: Things to do and see in Hailes

Hailes Abbey

The National Trust owned abbey was built some time between 1245 & 1246 by Richard, Earl of Cornwall. Richard was the younger brother of King Henry III of England and known as 'King of the Romans' by his peers. 

The abbey became a place of pilgrimage after a phial of 'Holy Blood' was brought to the Abbey in 1270. The proceeds from the popular pilgrimage gave the monks sizeable funds to make considerable changes to the scale of the Abbey. 

The Abbey was one of the last to be surrendered by the Monks following the Dissolution Act of 1536. The Abbey was finally handed over on Christmas Eve 1539 to Henry VIII's men. 

Later in its history the Abbey became the home of a family in the 17th century before being almost completely demolished. All that remains are a number of arches and the nearby Hailes Church.

Hailes Church

Built almost a century before the Abbey, Hailes Church later came under its control after its construction in 1246 until the Dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII. The remarkable nature of the Church's interior is in stark contrast to its humble exterior. The walls are adorned with marvellous paintings from the Medieval era. The North wall contains a mural to St Christopher and to the south a hunting scene with a wounded hare. The vivid and vibrancy of the paintings are a tribute to the era and one of the finest examples of maintained Medieval artistry in the South West. 

 

#CotswoldHotspot: Things to do and see in Stanway

Stanway House and Fountain

Stanway is a beautiful Jacobean manor house featuring a pyramid, 8 ponds and Britain’s highest fountain at 300 feet.  The fountain can be seen in full action at arranged times throughout the day so be sure to check the website in advance of your visit – you wouldn’t want to miss it!

Stanway Cricket Pitch

Like many English villages Stanway possesses a traditional cricket pitch. It may be unassuming to the naked eye or the casual visitor but it is said to have been deliberately constructed with an undulating surface that was deliberately made uneven to ensure a difficult landing for German gliders during the Second World War. The Pavilion was the gift of Scottish author J.M. Barrie (famous as the creator of Peter Pan) who stayed at Stanway House in the 1920s.

Stanway Brewery

In recent years Stanway House has reopened its Brewery. It is famous as being one of only two coal-fired brewing houses in the country. Unfortunately private tours cannot be taken around the brewery but information about where its beer can be drunk is located here!