Category Archives: Places to Visit

Westonbirt Arboretum

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Whatever the time of year an outing to Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, is a delight. We’d heard it was world famous, friends had raved about it, but we hadn’t realised it was just half an hour’s drive from Nightingale House.

Originally started in the mid-19th century by enthusiast Robert Holford, who helped finance worldwide expeditions to collect exotic specimens, Westonbirt has a marvelous array of mature trees and plants. It is set out in two sections: the Old Arboretum with its rare and exotic trees from around the world and Silk Wood which is the traditional working woodland and dates back to the 13th century. A must see in Silk Wood is the 2000 year old yew – it appears to be lots of yews in a copse together but tests have proved that they are all from the same origin: the coppicing has caused it to spread in this way. I loved the Acer Glade which was a mass of reds and oranges and browns on our visit in late September. We enjoyed the peace and serenity of it all and everyone we saw had a smile on their faces.

The information centre provides a leaflet with a different trail for each season to ensure you see the arboretum at its best.

Admission charges in 2012 vary from £5 to £9 for adults (depending on dates and seasons) with reductions for children and seniors. The arboretum is open every day from 9am until 8pm in the summer and until 5pm in the winter. For more information visit the Westonbirt Arboretum website.

 

Getting there from Nightingale House:

Turn left onto the Spine Road at the bottom of Mill Lane. Drive through Oaksey, taking the right fork at the end of the village. Cross the A429 and continue to the A433. Turn left onto the A433 towards Tetbury. Drive through the town, (continuing on the A433) and Westonbirt Arboretum is 3 miles further on the right.

A Circular Lakeside Walk from Nightingale House

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Walk along the Thames Path

A circular walk from Nightingale House beside lakes and along the Thames Path

Time : Allow Circulatr Walk from Nightingale House photo 1two to two and a quarter hours

Restrictions: None

Directions: Turn right out of Nightingale House, after a few metres keep right and continue to the large white (4 storey) house on your right called ‘Sky Deck’. Follow the road as it bears left and continue for 200 metres until it bears left again. TCircular walk from Nightingale house photo 2ake the small path to the right at this point. Turn left to go over a small bridge and then continue straight on past the sales barn (on your left) and past various wooden boat houses to your left and right. Continue straight on when a road comes in from your left. Go over the bridge and past the car park (left) and Lower Mill Shop (left). Turn left out of the estate into Mill Lane.

At the enCircular walk from Nightingale House photo 3d of Mill Lane, cross the busy road with care, turn right and walk along the path beside the road. After 200 metres you will see a footpath signpost (Photo 1) on the other side of the road. Cross the road with care again and follow the footpath along the Thames Path. You soon emerge into a more open space and another ‘Thames Path’ waymarker. (Photo 2) The path soon follows the edge of a lake on your right and soon turns right between this lake and a parCircular Walk from Nightingale House photo 4allel one. Where the path divides turn left up a short slope and then right on another path between lakes (Photo 3). The path bears left and yet another lake appears to your right. At a junction of paths turn right to follow a large green footpath sign (Photo 4). A fence will soon appear to your left. Continue to a path junction by a gate and small bridge over the infant Thames. Cross the bridge to a waymarker (Photo 5) and turn right along the Thames Path. CoCircular Walk from Nightingale House photo 5ntinue with the Thames to your right as far as a gate and path junction. (Photo 6) Turn left here down a wide path with Freeth Meer to your right. Follow the path as it turns right at the end of a field by a Lower Mill Wildlife Information Plaque (Photo 7) and when it bears right after 300 metres leave the path and turn left over a small bridge to another Lower Mill Plaque (Photo 8). Follow the diagonal path across the field with the rugby posts to your left and the hide onCircular Walk from Nightingale House photo 6 Flagham Fenn to your right. Beavers have been introduced to Flagham Fenn and the lake is always teaming with wildlife. You may wish to stop at the hide for a spot of bird- or (at dusk and dawn if you’re very lucky) beaver-watching.

To return to Nightingale House continue to follow the path past the hide as it turns right around Flagham Fenn. YCircular Walk from Nightingale House photo 8ou will soon reCircular Walk from Nightingale House photo 7ach a gate into Lower Mill Estate by the ‘Sky Deck’ house. Turn left and Nightingale House is 50 metres away on your left.

Bibury : a Beautiful Cotswold Village – and Right on the Doorstep!

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If you’ve got only a few hours to spare but you want to see a gorgeous Cotswold village during your stay at Nightingale House, you can’t do better than a trip to Bibury. Only 6 miles (North East) from Cirencester on the B425 (see OS map ‘The Cotswolds’ OL45 on the black bookcase in the second bedroom), it’s less than half an hour’s drive from Lower Mill Estate.

Set on the banks of the River Coln, Bibury and its sister village of Arlington prospered as a weaving centre in the 17th century. Some of the most picturesque cottages in the Cotswolds must be on Arlington Row set back from the river beyond ‘Rack Isle’, now a nature reserve, but formerly used for drying the wool. The cottages were built in the 14th century as a wool store and turned into weavers’ homes in the 17th century

If you have time visit Alington Mill, a 17th century mill with its museum of local rural life and the church at the end of Bibury village which is of Saxon origin.

Next to the mill is the famous trout farm set in beautiful gardens. The entrance fee is quite pricey (£3.80 for adults) but you can fish (and buy) your own trout then barbecue them if you wish. You can also feed the trout (if you spend a further 50p on the special food) and watch them leap over the competition for it! There is a gift shop at the entrance to the farm and a cafe selling homemade ice-cream (£1.80 for two scoops but excellent).

The ‘Swan Hotel’ on the banks of the river, with its own private gardens and license for trout fishing looked interesting and serves afternoon teas as well as other meals.

If you fancy a longer walk along the river from these picturesque villages there are two different 6 mile walks starting in Bibury in our various Cotswold walk books: Walk 14 on page 43 of ‘Cotswold River Walks’ and Walk 35 on page 112 of ‘50 Walks in the Cotswolds’.

 

More than just a Cheese Shop….

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The old part Cirencester is full of fascinating little specialist shops, one of which, Colburn and Grant Cheesemongers is a particular favourite of ours. They always have a good selection of local cheeses as well as some from further afield. The knowledgeable owner will answer all your questions as well as offering you a sample of the ‘cheese of the week’ or others if they particularly interest you. Prices aren’t cheap but you can ask for a small wedge of 100grams or even less if you wish. We have tried several and found some excellent cheeses.

If you’re looking for something different to take home from the Cotswolds for friends and family, the local cheeses – and a choice of chutneys and / or wines to complement them – make good presents and look the part when neatly packaged.

The cheesemongers is also a deli and a coffee shop with pleasant seating beside the windows and on the patio outside. We popped in for a coffee one morning and got interested in the cheeses. We’ve since returned for cakes and snacks (their deli-sandwiches are particularly good!) and more browsing of cheese, chutneys and wines.

Colburn and Grant Cheesemongers

2 Templar Mews

8 Blackjack Street

Cirencester

GL7 2AA

See Nightingale House Map (right hand column on home page) for location.