Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds, England Pear Tree Cottage Clapton Row Bourton-on-the-Water Cheltenham, Glos. GL54 2DN 011 44 (0)145 182 0544

Bourton-on-the-Water Recently rated one of the prettiest villages in England, Bourton-on-the-Water has more than its share of Cotswold houses and cottages, many of them three hundred years old, some dating back to Elizabethan times four hundred years ago. Bourton-on the-Water is the quintessential Cotswold village - picturesque with its series of bridges crossing the Windrush river, inhabited by friendly villagers who welcome visitors, and filled with lots to see and do. So just what is there to do? Well..... there are shops selling everything from tourist trinkets to dollhouse miniatures to woolens to china. In Bourton-on-the-Water itself, the day can fly by! First stop of the morning (often before breakfast) is the newsagents to get a paper, the bakery for first pick of the day's offerings and the butcher for bacon and sausages. Bourton has lots of shops, most open seven days a week and several visitor venues. One of the interesting shops that should always be checked out is the Sue Ryder charity shop across from North's Bakery. With its magpie assortment of bits and bobs, it is rare not to find a little treasure to bring home for a few pounds (or even pence!) The Edinburgh Woolen Mill and the Discount China Shop are also worth looking in for bargains and the all time best experience is Hartwells - the old fashioned Hardware store. There is The Motor Museum with classic cars, Birdland and the Model Village - a miniature replica of Bourton that you can walk through! For dinner or even just a drink, The Old Manse has a cozy bar and excellent dining room, or if you want something a bit more formal, The Dial House is excellent. There are pubs, restaurants and teashops to sample. There are loads of footpaths by which to explore the countryside. There are buses to nearby towns such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford with their marvelous antique shops. Bath, Oxford, Stratford and Cheltenham are just a short drive away. And flowers everywhere from the daffodils and crocus in February to the roses and clematis in June! You will see why this is not just the perfect English village, but the perfect base to see all the delights the Cotswolds has to offer. Fun Days in the Cotswold There is so much to see and do in the Bourton-on-the-Water area! Within an hour's drive there are Oxford/Woodstock, Bath, Cheltenham, Stratford-upon-Avon/Warwick and about a hundred charming villages and fabulous stately homes and gardens. Bath is definitely worth a full day - between the Romans and Jane Austin (not to mention the Abby and all the shops) you will want to get there early and stay late! In Oxford a visit to the Ashmolean Museum is fascinating for Americans as it houses an important Colonial Virginia/Jamestown artifact collection in the world - including chief Powatan's cape! Nearby in Woodstock is Blenheim Palace, one of the most famous stately homes in England where Winston Churchill was born (to an American mother and grandmother). A favorite day out is to Warwick Castle. Open year round, it is "one stop shopping" with everything from William the Conqueror to the War of The Roses to the Queen Elizabeth I to an Edwardian House Party. It has dungeons and gardens and is one of the few places visitors can go up the towers and all around on the walls. There is an excellent café as well as restaurant in the castle grounds so lunch is easy. The town of Warwick is also delightful - lots of picturesque Elizabethan half-timbered architecture and interesting shops in which to poke around. Nearby is Stratford-upon-Avon, though be warned that a great deal of the Shakespearean sites are either reproductions or buried in Tourist Traps. The Cotswold villages are famous and featured on just about every calendar made for Britain. Burford is just 20 minutes away and is an antiquer's delight with a charming Antiques Faire most weekends. Bibury has a fun trout farm, the Slaughters are and easy walk through the fields on the Public Footpaths and Stow-on-the-Wold is a bustling market town. Just driving along the little roads through the countless little villages on a pretty day is a treat. If you are a gardener, from Easter to October some of the most famous British gardens are at your doorstep - Hidcote, Kiftsgate, Snowshill, Barnsley House, and Stowe. For stately homes, visit Blenheim Palace, Sudley Castle, Stanway House, Broughton Castle, and Kelmscott Manor. And don't forget the cathedrals -Gloucester and Worcester are both within easy reach. Finally, there are dozens of walks in the countryside around Bourton . The cottage has several books and maps on the public footpath network and there are wellington boots under the stairway for guests to use. Pack a picnic (there is a backpack under the stairs as well) and enjoy the countryside! The local tourist information office has loads of information on the area, so check it out on the web before visiting Pear Tree Cottage, and in person once you get there - it is just around the corner. Directions From London, take the M40 to Oxford where you will pick up the A40 to Northleach. At Northleach go right on the A429 towards Bourton-On-The-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. At the bottom of a big hill, you will see the first turning into Bourton-on-the-Water - Lansdowne. Turn right and follow that road into the village. When you come to the center of the village, there will be a green on the right - go to the other end and take a right on Victoria Street and go over the little bridge. Take a left on Clapton Row - Pear Tree Cottage is on the left just after the driveway into the Cotswold Pottery. For a overview of Bourton-on-the-Water streets and location of Pear Tree Cottage, check the town map.

Let's check out the Town!

Pear Tree Cottage Ellen LeCompte 906 Westover Road   •   Richmond   •   VA   •   23220   •   USA Tel: 804-353-0075   •   Fax: 804-353-7128 Send e-mail message: info@cottageinapeartree.com