About the area of Cotswolds
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold in Cotswolds recently, scroll down to the bottom of this page)

Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Cirencester, Stowe-on-the-Wold, Bagendon, Moreton-in-Marsh, Forest of Dean, Cotswolds and the Vale of Evesham and surrounding areas of Cotswolds.

One of the most sought-after counties in England, Cotswolds is given added appeal by the fact that both the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne have made their homes there.

A very rural county which is split in two by the Severn Vale. To the west is the Forest of Dean and across the other side of the M5 lie the Cotswolds and South Cotswolds. Most of the county to the east is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Cirencester is the centre of this region.

To the north/north-west of Cirencester – out towards Painswick and Birdlip – the countryside is a myriad of deep wooded valleys. Houses here tend to be remote, rural and isolated. The area is popular with the weekend buyer looking to 'get away from it all'. Prices remain sensible as this is beyond reasonable commuting distance from London. However, this area – like many parts of west Cotswolds – is now much more accessible thanks to the opening of the A419 dual carriageway from the M4 to Cirencester which takes 15 minutes off the journey time from Swindon. Cirencester can now be reached from London in 1 hour 45 minutes, trains from Paddington to Kemble (just west of Cirencester) take between 1 and 1 1/2 hours.

Stroud to the west and the surrounding villages of Woodchester, Nailsworth and Amberley have unfortunately developed into an industrial sprawl. Many attractive houses were built by wealthy wool-mill owners but these usually suffer from a lack of land and views can be blighted by factories and other development. Inevitably this development brings with it some degree of road noise. The guide prices usually reflect this.

The land south of Cirencester is flat. As a consequence of the topography, it is dominated by a large RAF base at Fairford and the flight path of RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. This, together with the ongoing gravel extraction around the Cotswold Water Parks and the new dual carriageway between Cirencester and Swindon, rather blights the area for the country house buyer.

North-east of Cirencester lies the high Cotswolds with pretty market towns, villages and attractive rolling countryside. Unfortunately, these villages do pay a price for their beauty and can be swarming with tourists in the summer. Stow, Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water and Burford are particularly popular. Transport links to London are focused on Kingham station, south of Stow, with journeys to Paddington taking about 1 1/2 hours. This is prime Cotswolds. The houses are predominately Cotswold stone and, as the county is so rural, there is always a shortage of good-quality country houses.

This lack of supply coupled with the best transport links to London within the county means that buyers will often have to pay a premium here.

South Cotswolds, sandwiched between Stroud and Bristol, is the least attractive part of the county and is largely residential and industrial. Many of the Government's target of new homes to be built by 2016 will be accommodated in this area.

In medieval times, Cotswolds grew rich on wool, and handsome churches were built in almost every village. Its fortunes fluctuated, however, and during the 18th century, the county was seen as a bleak and poor outpost.

Nothing could be further from the truth today; Cotswolds is one of the most sought-after counties in England, and is given added appeal by the fact that both the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne have made their homes there.

Communications to London are good, and as planning controls are strict, much of the countryside remains unspoilt. Essentially, there are two parts to Cotswolds, which has now reclaimed the northern section of the former modern county of Avon. To the east are the Cotswolds, where the stone houses and pretty villages are popular among locals and tourists alike. To the west is a rich landscape of orchards and dairies, bordering the Forest of Dean, once described as 'the most beautiful assembly of trees in England'.

In the Cotswolds, houses are typically built of mellow stone with stone slate roofs; to the west, brick is more common. Prices reflect the county's desirability and popularity with both commuters and weekenders.

Major towns

Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Burford, Stow on the Wold, Moreton in Marsh, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Dursley, Wootton-under-Edge.

Transport links

Train: Paddington Cheltenham, 2hr 10min, £38.70 for a Saver return; Paddington to Bristol, 1hr 30min, £41.50 for a Saver return.
Car: Cirencester is 92 miles from central London via the M4 and A419; Cheltenham 120 miles, via the M40 and A40); Bristol 119 miles, via the M4.

Public schools in Cotswolds

Cheltenham College (01242 513540). Co- educational, age range 13-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.cheltcolls.sch.uk

Cheltenham Ladies' College +44 (0)1242 513540. Girls only, age range 11-18, day and boarding. www.cheltladiescollege.org

Dean Close School, Cheltenham +44 (0)1242 522640. Co-educational, age range 12-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.deanclose.co.uk

St Edward's School, Cheltenham +44(0)1242 526697. Co-educational, age range 2 1/2-18, day. www.stedwards.co.uk

Rendcomb College, Cirencester +44 (0)1285 831213. Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding. www.rendcombecollege.co.uk

The King's School, Gloucester +44 (0)1452 337337. Co-educational, age range 4-18, day and boarding. www.thekingsschool.co.uk

Wycliffe College, Stonehouse +44 (0)1453 822432. Co-educational, age range 12-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.wycliffe.co.uk

Westonbirt School, Tetbury +44 (0)1666 880333. Girls only, age range 11-18, day and boarding. www.westonbirt.gloucs.sch.uk

Bredon School, Tewkesbury +44 (0)1684 293156. Co-educational, age range 5-18, day and boarding.

Leisure

Golfcourses: Cirencester (01285 653939); Cotswold Hills, Cheltenham (01242 522421); Minchinhampton (01453 832642); Painswick, (01452 812180).

Hunts: the Beaufort,the Berkeley, the Cotswold, the VWH, and the North Cotswold.

Yacht clubs : rivers Severn, Windrush, Coln and Churn.

THE BEST COTSWOLDS COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)

Paulton Fields Farm, Cirencester (737 acre estate, 8 bed manor, farmhouse, 5 cottages, stabling): £6m

The Manor, Clifford Chambers, Sapperton (classic manor, formal gardens, stabling, 57 acres): £6m

Foxhill, Hawling, Stow-on-the-Wold (5 bed house, coach house, stabling, 52.9 acres): £3m

Quarwood, Stow-on-the-Wold (classic Cotswold country house, 5 cottages, 42 acres): £3m

The Garden House, Westonbirt (polo pitch, stabling): £4m

Kemble House, Kemble (8 bed edge of village Manor, stabling, 7 acres): £2.75m

Parsonage House, Chedworth (18th century Cotswold House, garden, 5 acres): £2.25m

Fairford House, Fairford (Georgian 7 bed house, 3 acres, fishing on River Coln): £2.4m

Country Life

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