TOURING : CLUB SITES Bourton-on-the-Water –one Come rain of ’s prettiest villages FOR THE FAMILY or

ShineAndrew Ditton says a break in the is something special – whatever the weather Farm fun Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Parkoffers one of the most popular family days out in the area. There are lots of cuddly animals to pet and an adventure playground to burn off excess excitement. The kids might like it, too. Feeling chuffed? Enjoy a steam-hauled trip on the T01451 850307 Wcotswoldfarmpark.co.uk Warwickshire Nearest sites Bourton-on-the- Railwayto – maybe Water/Moreton-in-Marsh walk back to the site over Cleve Hill, the highest point in the Cotswolds.

T01242 621405 Wgwsr.com Nearest siteCheltenham Racecourse HIGH TIMES

DON’T FORGET You can book a pitch online at caravanclub.co.uk/ searchandbook, by calling our Advance Booking Service Animal magic on 01342 327490 or, for Zebras, lions and meerkats AS sites, calling them live at the Cotswold Wildlife direct. Park & Gardens. An elevated walkway helps visitors get eye-to-eye with the giraffes. T01993 823006 he Cotswolds say ‘England’ opportunity to while away lazy summer THIS MONTH’S FEATURED SITES Wcotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk Nearest sites Bourton-on-the- more clearly than perhaps days or indulgent winter evenings. Water/ Park any other area of the My Cotswold tour started at Bourton-on- BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER Racecourse Club site country. Honey-coloured the-Water (formerly Notgrove) Club site, See p129 of the Sites Directory & Handbook Car stars 2011/12 homes gently glow as approximately four miles from its namesake The Cotswold Motoring traditional,T fragrant flowers tumble across village. This tranquil, intimate, facility-free MORETON-IN-MARSH Museum & Toy Collection isn’t just for the boys. As their gardens. Soon, patterns of frost- summer site lies where Notgrove railway Directory See p132 of the well as plenty of elegant tipped furrows will sparkle in the blinding station once stood. A fascinating folder CIRENCESTER PARK cars, there is also a terrific winter sunshine. This is a region even the documenting the pictorial history of the collection of vintage Directory weather can’t spoil as cosy pubs and station and its later conversion to a Club site See p131 of the motoring memorabilia. YOU ARE HERE tearooms await in vibrant villages, offering awaits in the information room. CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE local brews and cream teas aplenty. Oh Bourton-on-the-Water is a tourist hotspot T01451 821255 See p130 of the Directory Wcotswoldmotormuseum.co.uk yes, the Cotswolds offer the perfect and it’s easy to see why. Catch it during the >> Nearest site Bourton-on-the-Water

20 www.caravanclub.co.uk November 2012 The Caravan Club Magazine 21 TOURING : CLUB SITES

How very British – FAMILY FAVOURITE afternoon tea in Closer to its home village, and far OUTDOOR FUN Stow-on-the-Wold FOOD + DRINK busier as a result, is Moreton-in- Marsh Club site. “Members come GET ACTIVE back year after year to this site as Yard bird everything is on our doorstep: a Seek out the Swan Yard Café lovely Cotswold village, loads of in Cirencester for some of the attractions and a comprehensive best-value and best-quality public transport system,” explains simple food in the Cotswolds. This dog-friendly institution is the friendly warden. popular with locals. Indeed, you will find many Cirencester Park Club site motorhomes parked up on the mainly T01285 641300 hardstanding pitches at this beautifully Nearest site Cirencester Park landscaped, all-year site. Buses leaving worried. The of Cirencester the site entrance serve Cheltenham, is an absolute tonic for those seeking the Stratford-upon-Avon, Stow-on-the-Wold, charm of the Cotswolds without the Bourton-on-the-Water and . abundance of tourists. Park life GOOD TASTE A mere 10-minute walk away is the local To start with, it’s a mere 15-minute walk Cycling National Cycle Network You don’t need to get wet to railway station where , Worcester, through the park into the gorgeous town (NCN) Route 41, part of the enjoy a day at the Cotswold Hereford, Birmingham and London are all itself, where you can while away an Severn and Thames route, Water Park. Water-based easily reached by train. afternoon. Look out for the Abbey connects Cheltenham with activities such as sailing and Families love this site. In addition to Grounds a little further away that boast the before heading angling complement the likes of cycling, walking and horse riding. the family-friendly days out available remains of a Roman wall to explore. south-east towards . within an easy drive, it boasts its own Those feeling more energetic could NCN 45connects Cirencester T01793 752413 and with Gloucester brilliant adventure playground and crazy head to the , Wwaterpark.org along quiet roads with some Nearest site Cirencester Park golf course. Great fun! 15 minutes’ drive south of the town, traffic-free sections. Sweet treats Moreton-in-Marsh village is a delight, where the likes of windsurfing and Kids and grown-ups love to tailor-made to suit the needs of the wakeboarding are on offer. This enormous Wsustrans.org.uk browse and buy at Henleys holidaying caravanner. Although the area, comprising more than 150 lakes over Traditional Sweet Shop in Cosy pubs and tearooms offer Prey tell Cirencester. The friendly main road slicing it in two makes the 40 square miles, also caters admirably for About 150 birds of prey live at servers are mines of local ambience a little less chilled than that anglers – day tickets are available for carp the Cotswold Falconry Centre, information, too. local brews and cream teas aplenty down the road at Bourton-on-the-Water, and coarse fishing. Birdwatching is also including vultures and eagles. There are up to four displays Whenleysweets.com “ the fantastic diversity of independent and extremely popular here as there are Nearest siteCirencester Park school holidays and children play happily Birdland nearby, another attraction highly” interesting shops, restaurants, pubs and various hides dotted about. a day, allowing you to come face-to-beak with some in the as it babbles its way recommended by members on site. cafés more than compensates. impressive creatures. through the village, while contented Evenings out from Bourton-on-the- Walking is also popular here. Circular RACE ACE parents look out from the terraces of Water Club site all involve a drive. trails from the site take in sweet little Concluding my Cotswold quartet was T01386 701043 Wcotswold-falconry.co.uk numerous tearooms and pubs. Visit during However, you are treated to a wealth of villages, each offering a pub or tearoom so the Club site at Cheltenham Racecourse. Nearest site Moreton-in-Marsh Ale be back quieter times, though, and it’s altogether a charming country pubs in the area, many you can stop en route. Handy guides are There’s a small, grassed area at the top Enjoy a pint from the more relaxed and mellow place. of which serve at least one ale (for the on sale at site reception. of the site for those who choose to erect Donnington Brewery and Browsing the shops looking at interior passengers) from a local brewery such Next stop on my tour was another an awning on arrival; on most of the some good honest food at Way to go the Black Horse Innin accessories and gifts is very much the as Stroud or Donnington. year-round site – Cirencester Park. It was other (tarmac) pitches adjacent to the done thing in Bourton. If that sounds like Walkers may buy a map featuring going to be hard to live up to the appeal of grandstand you will need levelling blocks Although there are plenty of Naunton –you’ll want to walks from all the sites return again and again. your idea of hell, worry not. The motor local footpaths at site reception – the Moreton-in-Marsh but I needn’t have when you set up. >> mentioned, why not take in a museum, model village and model railway welcoming warden warns that any stroll section of the 102-mile T01451 850565 exhibition provide welcome crèches for from the site requires following the main Wtheblackhorsenaunton.co.uk National Nearest siteBourton-on-the-Water bored spouses and children. You’ll also road for a mile or so. Trail? You could hike as far as find the penguins and flamingos of you feel comfortable, then return to the site by public transport or steam train. DID YOU KNOW? T01451 862000 Wnationaltrail.co.uk/cotswold Some say the word Nearest site Cheltenham Racecourse One for all ‘Cotswold’enclosurehillsides’ means in rolling ‘sheep Every Tuesday over 200 stalls selling everything you could possibly want make up Moreton-in-Marsh Market. Very popular.

T01608 650881 (local TIC) Wcotswold.gov.uk Nearest site Moreton-in-Marsh Bourton-on-the-Water Club site Cirencester is a charming old town

22 www.caravanclub.co.uk November 2012 The Caravan Club Magazine 23 TOURING : CLUB SITES Walkers will enjoy the three-mile trail around the racecourse perimeter. However, the weak-willed (like me) will CULTURE be led astray from this path about 10 minutes from the site and be lured into the adjacent village of Prestbury, where two delightful country pubs serve good food and welcome four-legged friends. Elegant Cheltenham Spa is well worthy Moreton-in-Marsh Club site of a wander. Getting into town couldn’t be easier – it’s about a 20-minute stroll into raise funds to repair the line. One day it’s the town centre, and most of this takes even hoped the route can be extended to place away from the road through Broadway, which will mean two Club sites Roman around parkland. You could visit the Old Pump are linked by a steam railway! Cirencester (then known as Corinium) was the second House en route, and grab refreshments at Summer or winter, rain or shine, whether largest city in . The Corinium Museum brings the café in the park. Should the weather be you’re a couple or a family seeking an action- history to life through exhibits documenting the town from Roman times right up to the end of the 19th century. less than clement, or mobility is an issue, packed or relaxing break, the Cotswolds the park-and-ride bus service is based offer the opportunity for a brilliant break on T01285 655611 about 100 yards from the site entrance. a Club site. Just please don’t all book at Wcoriniummuseum.cotswold.gov.uk Nearest site Cirencester Park Also within the racecourse complex is once. Save a pitch for me. ■ the terminus of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Fingers crossed that by the 2013 season the entire line will be open again. At the moment, trains are Above Parr running either side of a landslip, so the was railway needs passengers more than ever to once the home of Tudor Queen Katherine Parr. Nowadays it’s a magnet for culture buffs as well as those who appreciate MEMBERS’ VIEW its magnificent gardens. Jackie and Terry Maloney from Newport say Cheltenham Racecourse T01242 604244 site is one of their favourites. “We love Wsudeleycastle.co.uk Nearest siteCheltenham Racecourse it,” enthuses Terry. “I like to go mountain biking at Cleve Hill, enjoying the many traffic-free lanes. We also like the lovely pubs in nearby villages, the brilliant shops in town and the fact that we’re only just over a mile away Andrew, Nicola and eight-month-old Ciaran from the Cotswold Way for some McShanewere enjoying a holiday at terrific walks.” Moreton-in-Marsh next door to Nicola’s parents Rita and Steve Ludden. “We just love the fact that you don’t need the car while you’re here,” said Steve. The family’s favourite day out had been to the Falconry Centre, House visit and another recommendation was the Chastleton House has enormous market and boot fair at remained virtually unchanged Wellesbourne on the Saturday. for 400 years. Eager to maintain “The area’s ideal for everyone, Automagic its authenticity, there is no tea young and old,” they say. room or shop. Fascinating A visit to Keith Harding’s house, fabulous gardens. World of Mechanical Music To read even more member views, see our fantastic online forum at has been an enjoyable T01608 674981 caravanclub.co.uk/together experience for many Wnationaltrust.org.uk/ members. A living museum chastleton-house where the instruments are Nearest siteMoreton-in-Marsh allowed to play. T 01451 860181 Wmechanicalmusic.co.uk Nearest site Bourton-on-the-Water

24 www.caravanclub.co.uk