Glorious Gloucestershire is arguably one of the prettiest, most fertile counties of England. With the immense River Severn flowing through it, pastures are rich and abundant in produce. The swathes of rich woodland, such as the Forest of Dean, are unspoilt havens, filled with wildlife. The Cotswolds, which cover most of Gloucestershire, is home to undulating hills, patchworked with fields and hedgerows. Chocolate-box-pretty villages are filled with golden sandstone cottages, village greens and old-fashioned inns to try out.  The towns are great too; Cheltenham is an imposing Georgian spa town with fantastic shopping, Gloucester’s fascinating with its historic docks, Cirencester has bags of history dating back to Roman times and the other towns and villages dotted in the Cotswolds are worth exploring too.   

You’ll not want for excellent places to eat and drink in this fertile county. From ancient inns tucked away in old villages such as The Lion Inn in Winchcombe to Michelin-starred, critically-acclaimed restaurants such as Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham, the choice is yours. If you’re a keen chef and want to buy your own local produce to cook, there are plenty of farm shops and markets; Stroud has an excellent award-winning Farmer’s Market every Saturday, whilst The Organic Farm Shop in Cirencester is fab – and there are plenty more dotted around the county. A cream tea is a must whilst staying here – check out Huffkins in Stow-on-the-Wold, going since 1890.

Walkers, cyclists and even horse-riding enthusiasts will love the beauty and wild terrain of The Cotswold Way which runs through Gloucestershire or grab an OS Map and explore the multitude of other walks that snake across the land. For a spot of water sports, head to Cotswold Water Park which is home to 150 lakes, whilst there are plenty of open gardens from the majestic Westonburt Arboretum (home to 18,000 trees) to Abbey House Gardens, once home to Benedictine monks. Shoppers will love Cheltenham’s broad selection of shops, whilst Cirencester has a rich history with the museum showcasing its Roman history is well worth a visit. Gloucester is an interesting city – the cathedral is stunning (it featured in the Harry Potter films) and the docks incredible.