A Cotswolds Caper
If you’ve watched the show All Creatures Great and Small, you’ve likely been captured by the beauty of the Cotswolds and the Yorkshire Dales in the UK. Joe and I recently returned from ten days in the Cotswolds with some dear friends, and it was a wonderful trip!
Here are some glimpses . . .
We stayed in Burford and took day trips into the surrounding countryside…
Joe and I traveled with Jerry and Beth Trescott and had the best time. Lots of laughter and wonderful discussions about history (they’re both historians—Jerry from Belmont Mansion and Beth from Carnton). Talk about a “power couple!” We patroned numerous antique shops and country homes. I was in history heaven!
You may remember how I love door and path pics, as so many of you do. I promise you, everywhere you turn in the Cotswolds, there is beauty! I could have walked and strolled the villages and countrysides for weeks. In fact, I came home with an idea for a story that’s already brewing and taking shape. Perhaps another dual timeline story. 🙂
The bed and breakfast where we stayed—the Greyhounds in Burford—was originally built for a wool merchant in the 15th century (history lovers dream!), and later became an inn, then a Temperance Hotel. In 1908 it was restored as a home and was acquired by the present owners in 1999. The Countryman magazine was published at the Greyhounds from 1949 until 2003 and was the creation of J.W. Robertson Scott.
Below is a pic of the historic building from the 1800s, and now current day.
A definite highlight of the trip was visiting Highclere Castle, “home” to Downton Abbey. And also Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill’s birthplace. We spent some time in Oxford, which of course meant running by The Eagle and Child where C.S. Lewis and the Inklings routinely met. The city of Oxford is great (lots of fun bookstores), but I much prefer the Cotswolds and the gorgeous countryside.
I’m so grateful we got to make this trip, even though it came at a very busy time as we were moving into a different house here in Nashville. We got home on a Saturday night then literally started moving the next day. We’re not nearly settled, but we’re getting there—in between unpacking and loving on our precious grandkids (Leo and Ari), and writing toward my September deadline!
Speaking of grands… : ) Oh I adore these kids.
If you’ve stayed with me through all the pictures this far, thank you! Visiting the Cotswolds was a long held desire and I’m grateful we got to experience its rich history and beauty.
Is there a place you’ve long wanted to visit (or have visited)? Please share where and what about that place draws (or drew) you to it. I’d love to know. I may need to add it to my TBT (to be traveled) list!
Hugs from my corner of Nashville,
Tammy
Enjoy this NEW #romance by my friend @NancyNaigle. THE LAW OF ATTRACTION is an absolutely perfect, feel-good summer read! ☀️
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I’ve always wanted to tour Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia— especially at a time when they have all of the artisans out with demonstrations and in costume. I’d also like to visit Biltmore Estate at Christmas. Oh how beautiful that would be!
Keep putting out those wonderful books, Tamera!
Morning, Chrystal! Williamsburg is on my list too. Never been but would love to see it. The Biltmore Estate is really something, though I’m betting far more so at Christmas! Thanks for sharing today—and I’m hoping this December finds you in Asheville. 😉
Looks like you had a great trip! We toured the Cotswolds back in 2005, but I’d love to return one day. Our dream trip was Scotland, which we did in 2022, but we didn’t get to see everything so we’d love to go back! Honestly, if we could spend a few months in the UK seeing all we want to see, we would be happy. But that’s a pipe dream, so we’ll settle for what we can get when we can get it!
Oh D’Ann, Scotland is still on our list. That’s a dream for me. Great that y’all got to go. Hopefully I’ll get there this side of heaven, but if not, I’m heading there on the New Earth! ; )
Such wonderful photos, Tammy! I adore All Creatures Great & Small, and loved that you got to enjoy the beauty of the countryside in addition to the fun other highlights. I love how green everything is! Here in the 100+ Texas heat, things are browning quickly.
Thanks, Karen. Yes, everything is so green. Just lovely. But I get you on the local browning. We are VERY dry here in TN right now, too.
Hi Tammy, that sounds like a wonderful trip! We visited some of those same places a few years ago and have great memories of Highclere, Oxford, and Blenheim. The Cotswolds is a lovely area! I’m so glad you were able to see it all!
I was following in your footsteps, Carrie! Love that. And yes, so lovely an area.
Thank you for the lovely pictures. I was only able to spend an afternoon and night in London on our way home from an overseas tour of duty when my husband was in the Marine Corps. Always wanted to go back to England, but never did.
Living in Virginia Beach, I am an hour from Williamsburg, which was mentioned above. We always took our 5th graders to Colonial Williamsburg in the spring because their social studies curriculum was American history through Reconstruction. It is an amazing place to visit.
I would love to visit Williamsburg some day, Betty. If I ever get there, I’ll let you know we’re coming. : ) Thanks for all you did for so many students through the years.
Please do. I would love to meet you! I may get to Tennessee some time in the future. I love Gatlinburg.
I love All Creatures Great and Small and have been absolutely smitten by the countryside they feature in the show. I loved seeing these photos of your FABULOUS trip!
Smitten by the countryside is a good way to put it, Becky! It truly casts a spell on you. We’re hoping to go to the Lake District in 2026. I’m a bit in love with that part of the world.
Thank you for sharing those lovely pics! I am glad you had such a great trip! England is also my happy place. My parents & I have been twice. We stayed in London but also made excursions to the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Oxford. All amazing.
I would love to go back of course, but another trip I would to love to make would be to New England in the fall, maybe Vermont?
Hey Amy! I’ve always wanted to visit New England in the fall too, and Vermont. So we’re kindred spirits in that way. The UK is one of my happy places too. I hope you’re able to get North for the fall! ; )
I loved your pics of the Cotswold, especially the door pics. Old doors are so neat & you wonder who all walked through those doors over the years. One thing struck me as funny in the first big, wooden door pic. The modern keypads beside the door. They just didn’t match! 😀
One place I’d wanted to visit as long as I can remember is Mt. Rushmore. We were able to take a big family vacation West in 2015 that included a LOT of cool places & Mt. Rushmore was one of them! A few other awesome places we went to on that trip were Devils Tower, the Redwoods, Sequoia National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park, & Grand Canyon.
Someday I hope to visit Maine in the Fall. My dream vacation has always been a roadtrip through all 48 land-locked states & DC — (I’m not a fan of flying or water!!) — so if my husband & I can take in Maine & seven of those little NE states, the only state I’ll have left to go will be North Dakota. I have no desire to see Hawaii, but I’d love to see Alaska if I could manage a cruise — at least I could still see land on an Alaskan cruise, so maaayyybe I could do that! 😀 haha!
I’ll probably never travel overseas, so I do enjoy all the pics that others share! 🙂
Yes, LOL, for sure, on that first door. History meets modern! 😉 You’ve named some wonderful places! LOL on still seeing the land from the Alaska cruise. So funny. I’ve never seen the Redwoods up close and personal, so would love do that. Mount Rushmore, Devil’s Tower, etc… were all spectacular. God’s creation is so amazing! #majorunderstatement
Hi! I very much enjoyed this post!
I LOVE England.
And the Cotswolds are such an enchanting part of England. While there, I loved spotting the swans.
I am researching for a holiday across the pond next May.
I have always wanted to attend the Chelsea Flower Show and also a huge bucket list ..hike Hadrian’s Wall.
So we are planning both!
I LOVED touring Highclere Castle. Our tour guide played the theme song as we were driving up. So fun!
Happy moving.
Nashville is a beautiful part of the country. We were there not long ago visiting friends.
Again…thank you for the post. It was lovely to reminisce.
LOL on your tour guide playing the theme song. We were all singing it—in various keys, though, so it wasn’t pretty. But it was fun! : ) I love that we share a love for England. Yes to the swans! And so glad you enjoyed your time here in Nashville.
I enjoyed visiting Burford as part of a Cotswolds day excursion from London in May 2019. Like yours, it was a lovely day when I went! I’ve been to the UK three times and love it.
I’m also a fan of “All Creatures Great & Small” and look forward to 5th season. I read they’re doing principal filming for the Christmas special!
For fans of “Grantchester,” there’s a new vicar in town.
LOL on the Grantchester update. I saw that too! Interesting. Fun that you’ve visited Burford as well, Elisa. It is a beautiful village. I’m eager for season five of All Creatures, and hadn’t heard that yet. Thanks for the insider tip! ; )
Love all of these photos, friend, and so glad you were able to make this trip! We visited a corner of the Cotswolds in September but it’s on my bucket list as a place to go back and explore!
Hi Tammy, we’re in the UK now. Took a day trip out of London yesterday that went to Oxford, Warwick Cadtke and Stratford-On-Avon and drove through the Cotswalds but didn’t stop. I was disappointed that we didn’t spend time there. However, our destination is York, so we’ll see the Yorkshires and tour Harrogate and Grassington, the town used for the show “All Creatures Great and Small.” I’m really looking forward to that because I love the show!