bus service in the Cotswolds

There is ... some. Have a look at the 21 and 22 on the page at http://www.worcestershirebus.info/category/7-other-counties/#.UitmNdK9tQY Also have a look at traveline at http://www.travelinesw.com/swe/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&timeOffset=15 and fill in the boxes. People get around the Cotswolds all the time by bus, but expect plenty of gaps and irregular times, virtually none at night, and little to none on Sundays. You can reach Stow on the Wold (where the wind blows cold according to the doggeral, Moreton in Marsh, Broadway, Cheltenham, Winchcombe and Stratford upon Avon among others. Don't confuse Bourton on the Hill, on the route to Moreton in Marsh with Bourton on the Water which is near Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter - all gorgeous villages - which are beyond Stow in the Wold to the south.

Mary, If you're planning on just staying in Chipping Campden, travel by Bus is certainly one option. AFAIK, only Moreton-in-Marsh has a rail station. If you're planning to explore some of the other towns in the area, renting a car is really the best idea, as travel by Bus will be painfully slow and will limit the number of places you can get to. Regarding "renting a cottage/apartment", that's not something I'd ever do so can't offer any suggestions. You might find that a small B&B is a good choice, and there are some listed in the Guidebooks. Happy travels!

We took the train from Paddington Station in London to Moreton-In-Marsh and the local city bus to our rental in Bourton-o-t-Water. It took less than 30 minutes and it was a comfortable modern conveyance. There is a bus stop yards from the train station. How the drivers navigate those buses around the villages is a feat. Here's a handy bus schedule we used. http://www.travelinesw.com/swe/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&timeOffset=15 Bon voyage

Mary, here is the site I used to rent a cottage in the Cotswolds last May. www.campdencottages.co.uk. They were very easy to work with and our cottage was wonderful. I know it is possible to use only public transportation, but as others have said, it is sketchy at best. We rented a car and despite fears and trepidations about doing so, it turned out to be easier than we thought and gave us so much more flexibility. Good luck and have a wonderful time, the area is beautiful.

I generally dont recommend relying on the limited bus services in Cotswolds. The only practical way is by car. However, we were in Stow on the Wold in early sept 2013, with ahotel on the Squre. While there i did notice a bus stopping at the Square a couple of times a day (Company name starts with a P). Some other folks in the hotel came by bus and spent a few days just walking in and around Stow. However, thats not for me.

Pulhams

Nigel- Yes, thats the name. My feeling was they seemed frequent enough to check into their timetables