The Cotswolds: A Photo Journal
With its honey-hued stone houses and cozy pubs, the Cotswolds fully encompasses the idyllic nature of the English countryside. Beyond the villages, sheep sprinkle the hillsides like confetti and the woods are tinged with the savory sharp scent of wild garlic. Like I said, idyllic.
The English countryside is like a gentle nudge to slow down. I would love to wax poetic about the stillness I experienced while meandering its cobblestone streets lined with little bakeries and spring flowers, but to do so would be a touch dishonest. Sure, there were plenty of cobblestone streets and even a good amount of bakeries. I also visited in springtime, so there were most definitely flowers. But stillness? No, there was none of that.
My trip to the the Cotswolds was an absolute whirlwind, and I honestly hadn’t a clue where I was at any given moment. This is not to say that I did not enjoy my time, because I most certainly did. However, I was visiting for work, and work it was—fun work, to be sure, but work all the same. For the curious among us, I work for a wee tour company that specializes in small group travel focused on nature, culture and conservation. The regions I work in are South America and Europe, including the United Kingdom—ergo, the Cotswolds.
The goal of this trip was to scout our itinerary in order to better understand what we offer and ensure we are running the best trips we can. This involves quality-checking of hotels, experiencing activities and walks, building partnerships, and a fair amount of pints along the way for… morale. To scout a trip is to basically to travel on steroids; for about 12-15 hours a day you listen and absorb, take in the scenery, try to get photos, jot down notes, and chat with partners, all while trying to remember where you are just before moving on to the next place. As such, I was happily whisked about the Cotswolds to witness its beauty for myself—just at quicker clip than your average leisurely travel pace. Even so, it’s charm seeps through no matter your speed.
And charming, it is.
Sidewalks curve with the creek and stone houses with sage-colored doors invite you to imagine living in such a quaint setting. Bakeries are so cute you can’t help but think, “why yes, I could live here and stroll to get my loaf of homemade bread each evening” and the pubs are so cozy that you think, “ah, an evening pint with my village friends, I could do that, too.” The pubs are something special; I love their short ceilings with exposed beams, the hearths that are always ready for a fire, and the hardy stone walls that hold it all together. Oftentimes, you can see the ceiling dip in places, a natural effect of having stood for hundreds of years. But no matter, the photos and trinkets on the walls flow with the dip creating a cozy, effortless cottage atmosphere that feels perfectly lived-in.
Beyond the villages are open fields interspersed with pleasant wooded areas for a walkabout. These trails are lined with flowers and wild garlic that I can still smell when I see a picture of it, it’s flavorful pungency lilting along the breeze. There is also no shortage of sheep and we even had the privilege to visit a sheep farm to witness its proud border collie workers in action. To call their work impressive is an understatement, both the farmer and the dogs (less so on the sheep’s part, they are excellent at just standing there). Even from a mile away, the dogs can corral a flock based on a variety of whistles given by the farmer. They are also guided by their own canine intelligence and intuition which allows them to do their job both efficiently and accurately. Border collies really like their jobs and take it very seriously, but when they are off duty they are as playful and cute as can be and it was a joy to play with some of the pups-in-training.
Just before leaving the Cotswolds, I also had the chance to stop at a pottery “shop” housed in an old carrier pigeon roost whose business model is built purely on the honesty policy. After admiring the artist’s work, I put cash in a jar and snagged a mug with sage green glaze and a raw-textured, honey-colored exterior. It reminded me of the stone houses that are so quintessential to the place I was reluctant to soon leave.
While my trip was brief and work-oriented, it was delightful all the same. When I return one day, maybe I’ll give the whole “idyllic stillness” thing a go. Until then, I want to share pictures (including a smattering of film photos!) that encompass my experience. I hope you enjoy.
