Adventures with Rupert :
Next time, venture off the beaten track and discover some of the Cotswolds’ most stunning villages.
Start your day in Guiting Power, a beautiful little village surrounded by glorious countryside. Begin with breakfast at The Old Post Office, run by the wonderful Ting. Everything is made using ingredients sourced from local producers, and the French toast and scrambled eggs are genuinely exceptional.
After breakfast, take a stroll through the village and soak up the charm of the working farms, historic buildings and surrounding country estate. It’s the kind of place where you can slow down, wander without an agenda and really appreciate the beauty of the Cotswolds.
If you’re staying for lunch or fancy a traditional pub supper, head to The Hollow Bottom, also in Guiting Power. It’s a brilliant country pub with a strong connection to the world of horse racing and is famously one of the places to be seen during Cheltenham Race Week.
From there, work off lunch with a roughly 30-minute walk through more beautiful countryside to Zonda at The Halfway in Kineton. Stop for a few drinks and, if you’re hungry, order a pizza — honestly, it may well be the best pizza you’ll ever try.
Another village well worth exploring is Blockley, one of the prettiest and most atmospheric villages in the area. Pop into Blockley Village Shop, a gorgeous independent coffee shop and a lovely place to stop for a drink and something to eat.
While you’re there, make time for Black Lion Vodka Distillery, a charming rural stop tucked away in the village. It’s the sort of place that feels like a little discovery of its own.
Then continue on to Moreton-in-Marsh, just around ten minutes down the road. Make sure you stop at Grouch Coffee for a proper coffee fix, before discovering the incredible little Thai restaurant in town.
This is the Cotswolds at its best: beautiful villages, independent businesses, brilliant food and drink, working countryside and plenty of places that feel a world away from the usual tourist trail.
2026-08-29 19:51:52