Cotswold for 4 nights

We were there last week! Hidcote Manor Gardens are a delight, if you love gardens (we do). The International Bird Of Prey Centre outside of Ross-on-Wye was fascinating (a bit hard to find, keep going on the road, it is worth it!) and would be of interest to all ages. The Forest of Dean, too, is lovely. We loved just driving around, discovering the beautiful villages to be found in the area. A GPS is very helpful!

As Leslie said , just driving about is great , but find places to ditch the car and go on foot . Walking in the Cotswolds is the best !! . Also consider an Ordinance Survey map of the area . They are better than any app you can find , and we used them in Cornwall , The Cotswolds , and The Scottish Highlands to great advantage .

Spent a couple of nights in Stow about a year ago and it's great. I recommend just exploring - we found some great places just wandering. Upper and Lower Slaughter are tiny and picturesque (despite the names) and are a great easy walk. Agree about Hidecote - it's just north of Chipping Camden which is really worth a tour. I found Bourton on Water too touristy - we were there in the rain which helped keep the crowds under control but was still too much. Have a great trip,
=Tod

Agree that Bourton on Water is too touristy. There is a large Tesco in Stow for supplies that you may need. Westonbirt Arboretum is near Tetbury and is worth a visit. Just outside of Stow in the tiny hamlet of Ford is a great pub, The Plough-more restaurant than pub-we had great meals there on several trips. Not sure when you will be in Stow but the Stanway House (near Stanton) is open for visitors at certain times. Hiking parts of the Cotswold Way should be convenient for you if you enjoy hiking-could stop by Buckland manor for tea.

Ordinance Survey maps are available online, including the ability to print using 'GetaMap' and download zoomable map 'tiles' to iOS devices - app is free and currently map tiles in 100km(2) segments are available at reduced prices. Map tiles are updated for free, and updates are unlimited for the lifetime of the app. http://www.magazine.ordnancesurveyleisure.co.uk/magazine/tscontent/editorials/getamap/os-getamap-home.html The FAQ suggests also carrying a paper map as a backup, in case your device runs out of power. The app has cool features, like offline use, trip duration estimates, ability to add photos to the route, record the route and share the map with friends, etc. The Zoom is what I really need because reading tiny print on a paper map is hard.

My wife and I just walked from Dover Hill above Chipping Campden to the Broadway Tower the day of the bank holiday in May.Great views, beautiful and serene. This is on the Cotswold Way. Our reward was tea and scones that the Badger Tea Room at Chipping Campden afterward.

We just came back from a stay in Oddington, two miles east of Stow. I can very highly recommend the Horse and Groom pub for dinner. Best food I've had in the UK. It's in Oddington. We also discovered Daylesford Farm, an all-organic food market, cafe, and kitchen/garden shop in a beautiful setting. Try a coal-fired pizza on the patio. We walked there, but don't ask me the route! It's a bit "posh" and pricey, but fun if you like food. And the setting is beautiful. Their website is Daylesford.com. Chastleton House in the village of Chastleton is a beautiful estate you can visit, and it won't take all day. If you have to park in Stow, park in the Tesco lot, where it's free all day. Have fun!!

Yes, Bourton-on-the-Waters gets a lot of tourists, it's still worth a short visit, it's beautiful. Especially the model village is well worth a visit....The Model Village is a one-ninth scale replica of the heart of the beautiful C village, containing all the buildings, it's behind the Old New Inn.