Wandering through the Cotswolds - Day 2

Wandering through the Cotswolds - Day 2

 

When I woke up this morning - the sun was out again, and this was my view from the front door.

Golf course at Heythrop Park

And in my mind I thought I might go to Warwick, to the Castle and maybe to Stratford on Avon.
But I thought I would just check the opening times and prices for Warwick Castle, and when I read the reviews online I changed my mind straight away! It was 28 pounds to get in, plus 10 pounds just to park your car, then it seems they have turned it into a theme park and there are queues everywhere...Not my idea of a good day out. Pity though, because I actually went there about 10 years ago and really liked it.

So, Plan B ...

Thanks to those people who  know about the Cotswolds and have been sending me emails with suggestions. So, I got out the map and found a few websites - such as 10 Good Things to do in the Cotswolds! - and replanned my day.

Basically I just chose to  wander around a few different villages and see where it took me.

I started at the village of Lower Oddington (don't you love the names!) where there was a Church called St Nicholas.

Church of St Nicholas

 Side entrance

St Nicholas Churchyard

From the website it says...
St Nicholas Church in Oddington was founded in the 11th century and originally built in the Norman style.
The main wall painting in Oddington Church, the "Doom," was added to the north wall of new nave in about 1340. The painting to the right of the Doom, recently identified as a "Magnificence," dates from 1520. This is believed to be a satire on Cardinal Wolsey, who was Lord of the Manor of Oddington between 1514 and 1529.

The website continues with lots of info about how it was covered with white wash but was eventually restored etc etc...

Painting mural

Painting mural

It was  beautiful Church and was soooooo old... it even smelled old and musty! But it had an amazing atmosphere. It was about 1/2 a mile out of town and so was really quiet and peaceful and it just felt like a place of prayer. No candles here, but lots of prayers were said.


Here's a few pics of Lower Oddington.... there is also an Upper Oddington too!

Lower Oddington

Lower Oddington

Then I had a look at the map, and the next place on my radar was Stow-on-the-Wold. Tried to get a park there but no luck, so just kept going. Realistically I'm not sure if it was worth a stop anyway!

Next place was lovely : Moreton- in - Marsh. It had a long main street and I was able to get a park here and it was time for morning tea. So did a lap of the town first then found myself a nice coffee shop with free wifi.

Moreton-in-Marsh

They had a craft fair there in the local Hall and had some lovely stuff... pity my case is already full!

But the gem in the crown was my final town for the day -  Bourton-on-the-Water. It has been described as "Little Venice of the Cotswolds" and it was picture postcard perfect!

Here's a few views...

Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water and me!

Bourton-on-the-Water

I found another Church, and one again I was surprised by how "high" Anglican it was. There were statues of Mary and Joseph, and they actually showed the crucified Jesus on the Cross, which contrasts with the very bland interiors of the "low" Churches. Perhaps some of my theologically educated friends could add to this conversation..???

St Lawrence Church Bourton-on-the-Water. Notice the statues in the arch.

It also had an interesting ceiling with links to various coats of arms

Ceiling of St Lawrence Church Bourton-on-the-Water

Explanation of Coats of Arms

Ad here's one for my Good Shepherd friends..

Stained glass window of the Good Shepherd

So here's a few more pics of the town to finish off... bewdiful...!!!

Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water Motor Museum. Have a  look at the Mini !

Bourton-on-the-Water... lovely little stream in town

This is where I had lunch!

View of the main street of Bourton-on-the-Water

So that was my lovely day just roaming around the Cotswolds. After I left Bourton-on-the-Water, I just pushed Take me Home on Gaby Garmin and she took by the back roads and the scenery was just beautiful...rolling hills and hedgerows everywhere.

It's funny, but the verse that was flowing through my head all day was that of Dorothea Mackellar..

The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded lanes.
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins,
Strong love of grey-blue distance
Brown streams and soft dim skies
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!


Have to admit, I'm loving England and really enjoying the contrast of the country side, but the wide brown land will do me any day!!!