After several drizzly days, we woke to the sun breaking through ( sunrise about 8:02 am- it is long dark days!). Ditch the plan, put on our boots and head out to commune with Nature. Chipping Campden is not only a charming town, it boasts great walking trails along the Cotswolds Way.
The British tradition of the right to roam, leads to paths that respectfully cross farms, fields, etc.
On our walk today, we meet with the pride of the region, free range grazing, and greeting. Who could resist the shy curiosity of these wooly creatures?
The hikes are pastoral and ethereal. J.R.R. Tolkien and his best friend C. S. Lewis were known to have drawn inspiration from these rolling hills as the rambled and conversed. As you reach the plateau of Dove Hill, take in the lush green grasss and now browning bushes with fluffy sheep tramping along, as sky meets earth, it is easy to see the inspiration for
Tolkien’s Middle Earth viewed off in the distance. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings take inspiration from many local features.
In nearby Stow-on -the -Wold, the North entrance to St. Edwards Church framed tightly by a seemingly ancient yew tree, is the muse for the Door of Durin. C.S. Lewis viewed Narnia as he looked out over the landscape in a nearby village.
After enjoy the outdoors we headed to the seat of another writer, the Bard, William Shakespeare.
The Tudor houses and shops of Stratford on Avon are white stucco and dark wood timbered. The Avon River is home to ducks and geese, but more enchantingly graceful pairs of Swans. They are as much of an influence of the city as is its famous son.
The city is decorated for Christmas and is setting up for what promises to be a large Christmas market. But we have to make haste to the theatre, the Swan, home to the Royal Shakespeare company.
Tonight’s performance is not penned by Shakespeare, however it echoes his iambic pentameter in The Fair Maid of the West. Set in a pub in Cornwall it showcased the triple threat talent of the RSC company. Think Shakespeare meets Cheers at a Monty Python convention. It was poignant and bawdy, we laughed, we cried, they sang, they danced, magic!
Our last day in the Cotswolds we made like the locals. We went to the village Christmas tree festival and joined as judges.
The 40 trees competing in three categories, business, local organization, and children’s group named their own theme and decorated in creative ways.
We enjoyed chatting with other locals and ended with a cuppa and some sweets baked by the ladies guild. A taste of the neighborhood!
We couldn’t leave Blockey without a dinner at the Great Western Arms, great pub restaurant in a former blacksmith’s shop. Two of the only tourists at this local spot, Adam, our host took extra pains to treat us well. When the larger party groups finished up, we struck up a conversation with the couple next to us. Turns out they were Adam’s parents! In our getting to know you chat we learned they had lived in the US ((Houston) for a time and have traveled all over the world. It was a relaxed conversation in an English pub, and we found that Adam, trained as an actor, had a small walk on part in Bridgerton, season one, pictured available! It was such fun.
A final walk down Brook Lane and we’re off to London.
Maureen and David’s Travel Blog 