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Protected area mostly in South West England
Photo: Mark Boston, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Cotswolds are a range of rolling hills spread over parts of south-west and south central England. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1966, it has unique features derived from the local golden-coloured limestone known as Cotswold stone. The predominantly rural landscape containing stone-built villages, historical towns, and stately homes and gardens, is known worldwide. Many consider the Cotswolds as representative of the archetypal English landscape.
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Great Britain's largest water park, consisting of 133 lakes which were formed by filling old gravel quarries. It is about five miles south of Cirencester and offers many water sports and activities, including dragon boat racing.
For visitors wishing to tour the area in a classic car, the Cotswolds is home to Classic Motoring, a company specialising in the self-drive hire of Jaguar E-Type convertibles.
By train
Some Cotswold cities, towns and villages have excellent railway connections, with regular trains from major destinations throughout Great Britain.
By coach
There are several National Express coach routes into the Cotswolds, including:
By road
The Cotswolds is a large area, so journey planning is essential before you set off. There are several motorways and major routes into the landscape.
By car
As Bill Bryson said, this is the only option to see the Cotswolds. He was probably right. It's great walking country though - gentle hillsides not mountains.
By bus
The bus services in the Cotswolds are very limited, although the first time visitor might have some luck exploring the Fosse Way by bus - a Roman road connecting Moreton in Marsh and various market…
By cycle
The Cotswolds are hilly but there are well-marked cycle routes on quiet roads.
By foot
Perhaps Bill Bryson was wrong - there are lovely walks throughout all the Cotswolds, taking from a couple of hours for a gentle stroll between villages to a week or more on a walking tour.
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Bristol · International · BRS
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