A Day of Serenity in the English Cotswolds
In the south-west central part of England lies a region known as the Cotswolds. Bordered by the larger cities of Oxford, Bath, Cheltenham, and Gloucester, the Cotswolds is home to a great many quaint villages and historic sites. This is also an area of picturesque walks and scenic drives.
A couple years ago, I had the pleasure of spending a short summer weekend with friends in the Cotswolds. We mainly focused on the northwestern part of the Cotswolds, including the Cotswold Lavender Farm in Snowshill. This post will therefore focus on this area of the Cotswolds.
A Visit to Cotswold Lavender
One of our main plans on our weekend was to visit the Cotswold Lavender Farm in Snowshill. I had been personally interested in exploring the Cotswold Lavender Farm since I was a little girl. As you can read about in my initial blog post, my grandmother had gifted me a collection of lavender bath and body products—which happened to be from Cotswold Lavender! This gift formed my love of lavender.
When to Visit
As this is a farm, there are growing, harvest, and off-seasons. Visiting outside the growing season is a waste if you want to enjoy lavender—because it won’t be there at that time! In fact, the farm is only open to visitors during the summer months (aka growing/harvest season), which in England tends to stem from June through August depending on the year’s weather. Be sure to check the farm’s website before visiting so you are sure of the timing! There is also a small admission fee to the farm, which will be listed on the website.
Harvesting seems to happen a bit more in August, which means visiting in July is perfect timing! I went to the Cotswolds in early July, with the lavender in full bloom and before the main harvest.
I do recommend visiting in the morning if possible, before the afternoon crowds arrive. This is particularly true for the weekends. Then you will be able to explore the lavender fields to your heart’s content!
How to Get There
I recommend having a car to explore the Cotswolds in general. It’s much easier and to travel between small villages and on your own timetable with a car. If you are not used to driving in England, please be aware that the Cotswold roads can be quite narrow and only allow one way traffic. Be prepared to pull over to the road side to allow another car to pass! And of course, if you are not from a Commonwealth country, you will also be driving on what seems to be the wrong side of the road!
There are road signs giving directions near the farm and there is a parking lot conveniently located at the farm’s entrance.
If you do not have access to a car, the National Rail system in England is, in my experience, reasonably reliable. To get to Cotswold Lavender, you can take a train to a village called Moreton in Marsh and then take a 6 mile taxi ride to the lavender farm.
Things to See
Before I went, I wasn’t quite sure what else there would be beyond lavender fields and a gift shop. As it turns out, the farm had a bit more than that.
There are multiple sections of the farm to explore and informative signs about each section. There is a barn that serves as a distillery example to give you an idea of the lavender oil extraction process. There are also sections beyond the regular lavender fields that show a wildflower field and also a “lavender life cycle” field. I personally found the “life cycle field” informative in showing lavender as a crop. Knowing that it has a life expectancy as a harvestable crop is not something I had previously considered.
Of course, the lavender fields are the highlight of the visit. The farm has an incredible 40 acres of fields to explore, perfect for a serene walk! I personally was amazed by the variety of lavender, in various shades of purple and white and all labelled by name. You can carefully explore these rows of lavender on the dirt paths between rows.
When you need a break from the fields, you can take a rest at the cafe with some lavender treats or a drink. I remember wanting to try everything, but I settled on both the lavender ice cream and the lavender brownie. (I believe I preferred the brownie.)
Before you leave the farm, be sure to check out their shop, selling loads of lavender and wildflower items for the kitchen and home. There is something for everyone, and I have personally used their culinary lavender, bath soaps, and wheat warmers for years. Definitely worth it.
Overall, I think I spent 2-3 hours visiting the farm in total, trying to soak up everything. Generally, I would plan for 1-2 hours, depending on how long you spend in the fields and if you plan on going to the cafe.
What Else To Do Nearby
Hiking
After our morning visit to the farm, we made the decision to take a long hike. Hiking is a great way to explore and get some exercise, all for no financial cost. Although a good idea, it turned into a mistake for us. We followed a trail described in an extremely old guidebook…a trail that ended up being overgrown and not well marked. While the Cotswolds is home to many beautiful hikes, please try to choose one that is currently well-used… and be prepared for potentially walking through sheep pastures, as seems to be typical of all English hikes I have been on. So dress appropriately!
English hiking pro tip: if you have a smart phone, download an offline google map of the hiking area. This way, you can follow the map with your phone’s GPS while not needing to connect to the internet. This kept us from getting completely lost despite our out-of-date guidebook! And it is also helpful if the trail is not well marked or obvious with wear. If you are from the USA, do not expect the English trails to be as well-marked as our typical painted guidelines.
Villages and National Trust Sites
There are, of course, alternative options to hiking. The village of Broadway is only two miles away from Cotswold Lavender and is home to the historic Broadway Tower. There are also a multitude of national trust properties in the area, including Snowshill Manor, for tours of grand old houses and gardens.
If you have a car, you can also visit a few of the Cotswold villages with buildings dating back to medieval times. Every village has a particular historical feature, or several features. It is also a great opportunity to visit some local shops or to grab a meal. I personally love visiting quaint tea rooms in small villages for a tea, sandwich, and scone. We visited the villages of Chipping Camden, with its old market square, and Stow-on-the-Wold, with its many shops.
Sudeley Castle
After our unfortunate hiking attempt, we enjoyed visiting Sudeley Castle, which is home to the remains of the castle and its fabulous gardens. Located 8 miles from Cotswold Lavender, the castle’s historical significance dates back 1000 years. A recognizable historical chapter is its connection to Tudor royal history as the home to King Henry VIII’s last queen, Catherine Parr and her last husband, Thomas Seymour. The castle also therefore served as a temporary home to the future Queen Elizabeth I. In fact, Catherine Parr is actually buried in the chapel at Sudeley Castle. The castle also had a significant brush with the English Civil War, which accounts for its ruins.
The castle is now owned and operated by the Ashcombe family, who also use it as their residence. You can explore the gardens, see portions of the castle ruins, visit the chapel, and tour the intact part of the castle. There is also a pheasantry, with many kinds of birds to see. You can definitely spend a full afternoon at this castle! Please visit the Sudeley Castle website for visiting information.
There is obviously a variety of things to see and do in the Cotswolds, making it ideal for a holiday. If you enjoy lavender fields, Cotswold Lavender is definitely worth a visit, and you can still enjoy other sites nearby on the same day. It is the perfect short trip to pack into your next U.K. itinerary: away from the bustling cities and into the English countryside and history.
For more to do in the UK, check out this post: A Day’s Thorough Walk in London to See Most Sites
