A weekend in the quaint Cotswolds is a Shire bet for a picture perfect getaway

With rolling hills, lush woods and picture-perfect towns and villages, the Cotswolds are clearly the inspiration for The Shire in JRR Tolkien ’s books.
In his classic novels, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy, he presents the home of Bilbo Baggins as a rural paradise untouched by the outside world. Which couldn’t sum up this area of Outstanding Natural Beauty more perfectly.
It probably isn’t a complete coincidence either. Tolkien based The Shire on his home hamlet of Sarehole which, during his childhood, was in Worcestershire, the northern gateway to the Cotswolds.
The 768 square miles of beautiful greenery spans multiple counties, including Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire. The bulk of it, however, is inside Gloucestershire, which is where we based our weekend trip.
We chose to stay in an Airbnb property because the quirky accommodation on offer seemed to reflect the unique nature of the Cotswolds.

Plants are displayed in the Highgrove shop

You can take your pick from quaint cottages and cosy farmhouses, or go for log cabins in woods or luxurious barn conversions. The list even includes a treehouse and a former chapel.
We chose a former stable in the grounds of Hillesley Hall in the tiny village of Hillesley, 20 miles south of Gloucester.


This tasteful conversion offered every modern amenity without losing any of its character. There are lovely reminders of its past, including the large french windows which fill the void where horses and coaches once entered, and ornate railings which have been retained in some of the rooms. And, of course, there’s the split stable door to the front.
The two bedrooms upstairs were once accommodation for the hall’s staff. The low ceilings hint at their lowly status, but now just add to the cosiness.

 The quirky Airbnb at Hillesley Hall

 The tasteful conversion has lovely reminders of its past

At the front, there’s a private garden where you can sip wine at a cast iron table. To the rear there’s an enchanting view of the rural landscape.
It would be a crime not to explore the area, which received its status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 50 years ago. But it’s difficult to know where to start.

Take your pick from lunching in old pubs, wandering around stately homes or shopping in charming towns. A classic Cotswolds must-see is the village of Bibury, which looks as if it should be on the front of a chocolate box.
Nestling either side of the River Coln, it’s a cluster of beautiful houses made from Cotswold stone. Arlington Row is a long line of tiny cottages which look as if they were built to accommodate hobbits.

Beautiful Bourton-on-the-Water

For more beauty, head further north and visit Bourton-on-the-Water. Known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, it has a beautiful high street with wide greens and multiple stone bridges spanning the River Windrush.
The area is littered with historic houses, but one of the jewels in the crown is near the town of Tetbury.


Highgrove may be the country retreat of Prince Charles and Camilla, but the public can wander around the lush gardens, go on tours and enjoy a champagne tea or supper in the restaurant.
The only flaw with a weekend in the Cotswolds is that once your two days are up, there’s a good chance you’ll wish you’d been there for at least a week. As we did.