Themed Holidays
The natural beauty of the Cotswolds obviously lends itself to outdoor activities, but there are other options to consider when booking a holiday. Immerse yourself in the Arts and Crafts Movement, paint the beautiful landscape, learn some cookery skills or relax at a spa. For those who like the outdoors but prefer something more sedate, a relaxing canal or riverboat holiday could be the answer, while for those who really want to get down to hard work and help preserve the Cotswolds, a conservation volunteering holiday could be rewarding.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Be inspired by the movement that brought such illustrious figures as William Morris to the region, learn a new artistic skill or take a course to bring the Cotswold landscape to life through art.
Colour in the Cotswolds
The Coach House, Fraziers Folly, Siddington, nr Cirencester; tel: 01285-651 790; www.colourinthecotswolds.com. With 32 acres (13 hectares) of stunning landscape on your doorstep this is the place to come for budding artists of the natural world.
Farncombe Estate
Broadway; tel: 03333-456 8580; www.farncombecourses.co.uk. There are day courses and weekend leisure breaks in a raft of arts and crafts subjects from photography to painting and drawing, as well as cake decorating and music.
Stanton Guildhouse
Stanton; tel: 01386-584 357; www.stantonguildhouse.org.uk. The Guildhouse runs summer schools for budding artists and craftspeople. Themes can include stained glass, pottery, woodturning or watercolours.
CHILDREN
What better place to stay with children than on a working farm? Cotswold Farmstay (www.cotswoldfarmstay.co.uk) is made up of farmers from commercial arable or dairy to smallholders with a variety of rare breed animals, who offer holiday accommodation. Another good option for children is the Cotswolds Water Park (for more information, click here).
COOKING
The Cotswolds is home to several celebrated chefs and outstanding cooks who have left the city for a more idyllic way of life. Take a course and learn from their experience, and by using some of the best local produce on offer in the country, the results should reach high standards.
The Cotswold Chef
Royal Agricultural College, nr. Ciren-cester; tel: 01285-656 813; www.thecotswoldchef.com. Rob Rees has over 25 years’ experience of cooking around the world. His Food Tours or Food Experience packages include visits to local markets and producers. Accommodation can be arranged in the surrounding area.
The Foodworks Cookery School
Colesbourne Park, near Cheltenham; tel: 01242-870 538; www.foodworkscookeryschool.co.uk. This fabulous cookery school is located on the Colesbourne Park estate and offers a wide range of courses for both beginners and experienced cooks.
The Gables School of Cookery
Pipers Lodge, Bristol Road, Falfield; tel: 01454-260 444; www.thegablesschoolofcookery.co.uk. From a four-week residential cookery course to day courses in subjects such as Thai cuisine, bread making or dinner party cooking you are spoilt for choice at The Gables.
SPAS, YOGA AND WELLBEING
The Cotswolds are well endowed with gorgeous country house hotels offering a range of relaxing therapies and beauty treatments. It’s also the perfect location for some yoga and meditation retreats.
Spas
Calcot Manor
Nr Tetbury; tel: 01666-890 232; www.calcotmanor.co.uk. Calcot’s spa complex has a 16-metre pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor spa pool, exercise room and seven treatment rooms.
Cowley Manor
Cowley, nr Cheltenham; tel: 01242-870 900; www.cowleymanor.com. The C.Side Spa at chic Cowley Manor has two pools, gym, steam room and sauna plus four treatment rooms, and a pedicure and manicure area.
The spa pool at Calcot Manor.
Courtesy Calcot Manor
Yoga and Wellbeing
Holycombe
Whichford, Shipston-on-Stour; tel: 01608-684 239; www.holycombe.com. A place to unwind and recharge, Holycombe is an eco-friendly retreat housed in a delightful Cotswold house offering yoga, pilates and various holistic treatments.
BOATING HOLIDAYS
If you enjoy messing about on the river or canals there are countless companies that offer packages. Check out Cotswold Boat Hire (www.cotswoldboat.co.uk) and English Holiday Cruises (www.englishholidaycruises.co.uk).
CONSERVATION
There are several opportunities to use your holiday to help preserve the Cotswold countryside (for more information, click here). Check out the Cotswold Conservation Board (www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk); National Trust Working Holidays (www.nationaltrust.org.uk); Cotswold Canals Trust (www.cotswoldcanals.com); learn the art of dry stone walling (www.dswa.org.uk); or help preserve a Victorian mansion (www.woodchestermansion.co.uk).