By: Blonde One
This time I am not talking about the excellent outdoor shop.
It’s not often that I get out of Devon and Dartmoor during the summer except for with a group of youngsters, so it was a real treat to come to Chipping Sodbury for a quick visit. The Blonde One family have a very special friend who lives here and the occasion was a big birthday party. She very sensibly lives in a beautiful part of the world (not as beautiful as Dartmoor though, you understand) and it was lovely to come and visit. We stayed in the superb Sodbury House Hotel. It was comfy and cosy and staffed by very friendly people. The hotel often caters for walkers who want to explore the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that is the Cotswolds. Unfortunately we didn’t get chance to do any walking but I will try hard to return soon, but in the meantime if you are looking for somewhere great to stay in this area: here it is.
Despite my somewhat cynical critique of the Cotswolds in my “Macmillan Way Summary”, 15th June – conradwalks.blogspot.com, it is an attractive region and I did enjoy my saunter through there a few weeks ago.
For those who are not rushing off to consult my blog here is the relevant extract:
“The Cotswolds were of significant interest and an eye-opener- like a separate country ring-fenced for the wealthy with villages preserved as if in the 16th century except for the inhabitants, but with agriculture as big business, modernised by expensive machinery, large fields and high yielding crops. The sense of being close to semi-concealed seats of power with all their security and the wonder at how such people have managed to accumulate such wealth gave me an eerie feeling – it reminded me of The Prisoner.”
An excellent description Conrad. I have only visited the Cotswolds a couple of times and found it a bit odd, not peculiar and quirky odd like Devon, but contrived odd. I am sure that there are some lovely walks.