The 5 Best Reasons to Visit Chipping Campden

Mar

There are hundreds of reasons why you should come and spend some time in Chipping Campden – whether you have a day, or a weekend or longer, there are so many things to do. The hard part is narrowing them all down, and so we have done it for you.

Just like Desert Island Discs it’s been a real struggle to get to this shortlist, but here are our top 5.

We think these are the top reasons to visit this beautiful town, but the only way to judge whether we have chosen the right ones is to come and see for yourself!

We look forward to welcoming you to the jewel of the Cotswolds very soon.

Reason Number 1; the town itself

Chipping Campden is known as the jewel of the Cotswolds, for good reason. The terraced High St, parts of which date from the 14^th century, arcs through the centre of the town and is considered by many to be the most beautiful in England.

To stroll along this road before dinner in one of the local eateries on a wonderful summer’s evening and see the light catching and reflecting off the honey-coloured Cotswold limestone buildings is something that lives long in the memory.

Elsewhere in the town are many buildings of historical interest – the Market Hall, built in 1627 and looking as good today as it was nearly 400 years ago, the impressive parish church of St James which bears testimony to the riches generated by the local wool trade in the 1600s, and outside the church grounds are a row of alms houses which remain in use after four centuries – everywhere you gaze is an historical and architectural treasure.

Reason Number 2; the countryside

Chipping Campden is located in a charming valley at the northern end of the Cotswolds.

The Cotswolds themselves are often judged to be the quintessential example of the England countryside; with chocolate box villages, welcoming pubs, rolling hills, small farms, dry stone wall enclosed fields….and lots and lots of sheep!

Much of the countryside around Chipping Campden has remained unchanged for years, and it is still possible to take a hike on one of the many footpaths surrounding the town and not see another person for miles.

This is the kind of landscape that re-charges the soul, heals the weary urban dweller and puts everything into perspective. A tonic for the mind and body, before taking a different kind of tonic – perhaps added to some locally distilled gin www.cotswoldsdistillery.com after you’ve spent a day communing with nature.

Reason Number 3; the Cotswold Way

And talking of hiking – the beginning of the Cotswold Way www.nationaltrail.co.uk starts in the centre of Chipping Campden. Winding along the limestone ridge, this long distant walk finishes over 100 miles away in Bath. But you don’t have to tackle the whole thing during your stay in Chipping Campden!

The most spectacular sections of the route are between Chipping Campden and Winchcombe. This whole section, or parts of it, can easily be hiked in a long weekend. Over this 20 odd mile stretch, the hike passes by the famous folly of Broadway Tower, the pretty village of Broadway and the ruins of Hailes Abbey – and all the way along this section are sensational views from high on the top of the Cotswold escarpment.

Come on, get out your boots and blow the cobwebs away.

Reason Number 4; Sleeping and Eating

From the dog-friendly, high-end Cotswold House Hotel & Spa to warm welcoming pubs like the Noel Arms, to holiday cottages like Cotswold Charm, Hook Cottage or Honeypot Cottages there are places to stay in Chipping Campden to suit every occasion and budget.

You might even fancy a bit of glamping, so why not try Campden Yurts. Come and experience the great outdoors in style – and there is no need to rough it as every yurt has a king bed and a woodburning stove. This is camping as it should be!

And you are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating and drinking. How about a cocktail in the bar at the Cotswold House, or if you fancy a good local pint there is the Lygon Arms, and then it could be an evening meal at Michael’s Mediterranean Restaurant which serves the best Cypriot food this side of Nicosia, or anyone of the many fine and fun restaurants in the town.

This really is a little bit of foodie heaven, with cosy fires and comfy beds aahhhh.

Reason Number 5; Shopping

If you think every shopping street in Britain looks the same, with the same brand names and the same chain restaurants, think again. Chipping Campden has, perhaps, the finest collection of independent shops in the country.

As you wander along the High St in Chipping Campden you not only pass buildings of outstanding interest and beauty, but also an infinite array of intriguing shops. You might be persuaded to pop into one of the independent delis selling locally sourced produce or browse in Robert Welch Designs who are world renown for their award winning and unique range of cutlery, kitchen knives, utensils and tableware. Perhaps you might find the Gallery at the Guild interesting. This is the historic base of C. R. Ashbee, one of the leading pioneers of the Arts & Crafts movement, and now is home to local artists, ceramicists, designers, furniture makers, metal workers, photographers, sculptors, textile artists and wood turners. Whatever you want, we are sure that the shops in Chipping Campden will be able to satisfy your needs.

So those are out top 5 reasons for visiting Chipping Campden. Sadly there wasn’t room on the list for; the nearby National Trust properties and gardens, or the wonderful arboretum at Batsford, or the original Daylesford Farm Shop, or the Cotswold Farm Park made famous by Countryfile.

It just goes to show that when we say there are hundreds of reasons for visiting Chipping Campden, we are probably right. So, come along and take a look for yourself. We promise you won’t be disappointed.