Cotswold Private Tours
Tour the Cotswolds with a Private Guide.
We have partnered with CJP Tours who offer a range of bespoke tours. Their private driver will give you the freedom to discover the beauty and charm of the Cotswolds whilst enjoying the views from the comfort of a 4 or 7 seater vehicle. Leave the planning and driving to them. Their dedicated guide will share facts and other information about places as you pass through them, giving you an insight into historic and daily life in the region.
Having lived in the area for over 45 years, the owners have become very familiar with those ‘off-the-beaten-track’ and easily missed locations. Their tour guides live in the Cotswolds and are knowledgeable about the region and familiar with the best locations to shop, eat, drink and stay. They know the Cotswolds intimately and will work with you to ensure you get what you want from your tour.
The Cotswolds is a region steeped in history and natural beauty, and there are countless intriguing tidbits about it. Here are five lesser-known facts:
1. **Ancient Tracks:** The Cotswolds has paths that have been in use for over 5,000 years. The “Ridgeway”, which runs along the Chiltern Hills to Avebury in Wiltshire, is considered one of the oldest ‘roads’ in Britain, and was once used by prehistoric traders.
2. **The “Wool Church”:** Many of the grand churches in the Cotswold villages, known as “wool churches,” owe their existence to the lucrative medieval wool trade. The wealth amassed by local wool merchants led them to fund the construction of these stunning, elaborate churches as a testament to their prosperity and piety.
3. **Cotswold Lions:** The Cotswolds once had its own breed of sheep known as the Cotswold Lion. These sheep had long, golden fleeces and were a significant reason behind the region’s success in the medieval wool trade. The name “lion” derived from their large, shaggy manes.
4. **Hidden Tunnels:** Beneath the streets of Cirencester, one of the Cotswolds’ most prominent towns, there’s a network of secret tunnels. They date back centuries and were believed to be used for a variety of reasons, from smuggling goods to serving as secret escape routes.
5. **Olympick Games:** Long before the modern Olympic Games, the Cotswolds had its own version known as the “Cotswold Olimpick Games.” Started in the 17th century in Chipping Campden, these games included eccentric events like shin-kicking and tug-of-war. While the original event faded over time, local enthusiasts revived the tradition in the 20th century, and it’s still celebrated today.
The Cotswolds is not just about scenic beauty; it’s a land where every stone, path, and village has a rich story to tell!
