If you’ve decided to stay in Broadway for a few days, congratulations! You’ve picked the right place. Broadway is one of the most beautiful of all Cotswold villages and its historic High Street, shops, museums and galleries are a delight. In the evenings it really comes into its own, not least if you spend some time on our bar-terrace, overlooking the village green.

Sooner or later you’ll want to head up into the Cotswold hills to explore a little more.

Cotswold highlights vary by season, and so we have put together this suggested driving Route for Summer. It combines some old favourites with a look at the contemporary Cotswolds.

The Route for Summer covers about 50 miles (80 kilometres). It might be as well to allow for a few distractions along the way! We’ve included a few choices in our route, so that you can customise your day a little.

A Route for Summer

Broadway - Cotswold Farm Park - Stow-on-the-Wold - Lower Slaughter - Daylesford Farm Shop - Kiftsgate Court Gardens - Broadway

1. Hotel to Cotswold Farm Park 8 miles / 15 minutes
Turn left out of the hotel car park, then turn left on to Church Street. Continue onto the Snowshill Road. Take the slight right onto Buckle Street. The Farm Park, (which is well signposted) will be on the right.

The BBC Countryfile presenter, Adam Henson, is Cotswold born and bred. His family have farmed the Cotswold Farm Park here for decades. Adam is well-respected locally and his enthusiasm for farming has made The Cotswold Farm Park a bit of a Cotswolds institution. A visit is the perfect introduction to the area. Did you know that most of the fine buildings, churches and built heritage that you see in the Cotswolds today have their origins in the wealth generated by the wool industry in medieval and Tudor times? That’s why there’s a symbolic woolpack in the House of Lords.

At the Farm Park, you’ll see some very happy rare breed animals. You can get up close with demonstrations, a tractor tour, or the chance to cuddle the odd rabbit or baby chick.

TIP if Farm Parks aren’t your thing, consider a slight diversion to visit Snowshill Manor (National Trust), a charming Cotswold Manor House crammed with the eccentric collections of Charles Wade. Wade collected everything from toys to Samurai armour.

2. Cotswold Farm Park to Stow-on-the-Wold 8 miles / 15 minutes
Turn right out of the Farm Park and continue for about 2.5 miles, at which point turn left on to the B4068, following signs for Stow-on-the-Wold.

Stow-on-the-Wold is a good spot for a coffee and a circuit of the historic town square, complete with village stocks. You’ll see a typical larger Cotswold village with shops, pubs and antique shops dotted around the square.

TIP The doors at the back of St Edward’s church are amongst the most instagrammed in Britain. J.R.R. Tolkien is said to have drawn inspiration for the Doors of Durin, from Lord of the Rings, after a visit.

3. Lower Slaughter (or Bourton on the Water, or Maugersbury!) 3 miles / 5 minutes
From Stow-on-the-Wold, head towards Bourton on the A429 (The Roman Fosse Way - which is, in many ways, the backbone of the Cotswolds).

Bourton on the Water is possibly the most famous village in the Cotswolds - with a reputation built on coach tours and the fact that it’s in every guide book. Bourton is still a place that many coach tours stop at. For that reason, you might want to give it a miss in the summer months when it can get a little crowded. If so, look out for signs to nearby Lower Slaughter.

Lower Slaughter used to be a bit of a backwater, especially compared with busy Bourton on the Water but in recent years people have started to discover ‘Slaughter’. It’s wonderfully photogenic. It, too, can get busy, but you still stand a fair chance of being one of few visitors. There’s a beautiful (allow an hour) circular walk from Lower Slaughter to Upper Slaughter and back.

TIP If you want to really escape the crowds and discover a village that few, if any, visitors seem to know, take a walk through nearby Wyck Rissington. Here there are no shops or hotels, just a group of really fine cottages, a village pond and a 12th century church. The scene is, perhaps, what many people are hoping to see when they come to the Cotswolds.

4. Lower Slaughter to Daylesford Organic 7 miles / 12 minutes
Whichever village you’ve decided to visit, head back to the A429 and Stow-on-the-Wold and then turn right to join the A436. After a few miles turn right, following signs to Daylesford Organic.

The Cotswold has enjoyed a rather chic reputation for some time. In recent years, a new breed of lifestyle businesses has emerged which seem to have supercharged our upmarket reputation. One of the earliest to establish itself was Daylesford Organic, which is always an entertaining place to visit.

Even if you don’t happen to need a £575 ‘Farmhouse’ food hamper or a £26 ball of twine, there’s no denying that few places in the Cotswolds as quite as good for people-watching as Daylesford Organic Farm Shop. Customers over the years have included Liz Hurly and Kate Moss. Alex James, the Blur bassist and cheese enthusiast lives nearby too.

Daylesford now includes a spa, a cookery school, restaurant and cafes, wine shop, home goods shopping, clothing and a farm shop. The quality is high.

TIP: If you’re looking for a quality foodie souvenir from the Cotswolds, you might well save a few pounds at the excellent Broadway Deli!

5. Daylesford Organic to Kiftsgate Court Gardens 16 miles / 35 minutes
Follow the A436, turning left on to Broadwell Road, then right onto the Fosse Way/A429 towards Moreton-in-Marsh. From Moreton, follow the A429, eventually bearing left on the B4479. Follow signs to Hidcote Manor Garden on Hidcote Road. The entrance to Kiftsgate Court Gardens is near the entrance to Hidcote Manor House Garden.

Kiftsgate Court Garden is a joy in the summer, with shady terraces and the mighty Kiftsgate Rose which climbs to a great height. The rose is definitely one of the wonders of the Cotswolds. Kiftsgate Gardens has a special atmosphere and are the product of three generations of women gardeners. Each has made her mark since the gardens were planned in the 1920s and 30s.

TIP: Nearby Hidcote Manor is a flagship National Trust Property equally deserving of a visit. If you want to take a plant home, consider a Kiftsgate rose or some Hidcote lavender.

6. Kiftsgate Court Gardens to Broadway 8 miles / 15 minutes
Follow the A4081 and B4632 direct to Broadway .

If you have time left, you could add a visit to Chipping Campden High Street or Broadway Tower.

www.broadway-hotel.co.uk

Note: please check attraction open times and days before setting off.
Driving times are approximate.
Although we have included basic route instructions, Sat Nav is advised.