The best MTB trails around Ettington

During our short holiday on the edge of the Cotswolds, we stumbled upon Hidcote Manor Garden by chance. And we can say: it was one of the most beautiful garden designs we have ever seen. Every meter opens up a new perspective, new impressions, and new lighting conditions. We walked through the garden rooms in awe and are thrilled. Wikipedia writes: "The Hidcote Manor Garden is an English park in the Arts & Crafts style.[1] It is located in Hidcote Bartrim in the northeast of Chipping Campden in the county of Gloucestershire. The garden was created from 1907 by the American privateer Lawrence Waterbury Johnston and has belonged to the National Trust since 1948. Characteristic of the garden, which covers more than 40,000 square meters, are above all the division into different garden rooms, English Outdoor Rooms, the sightlines, English Vistas, the artfully trimmed shrubs, as well as the red perennial beds, English Red Borders. The Hidcote Manor Garden is located on a 183 m high plateau on the northern edge of the Cotswolds. Belonging to the county of Gloucestershire and located on the border with the county of Warwickshire, Hidcote is approximately two kilometers east of Mickleton, approximately seven kilometers northeast of Chipping Campden, and 16 kilometers south of Stratford-upon-Avon. The garden of Hidcote is listed in the National Heritage List for England in the highest class, Grade I." Our three-hour visit was rounded off with delicious cake and clotted cream in the café. Our conclusion: Anyone in the area should definitely stop by!

Was named the Times Village Pub of the Year. Four cask on and North Cotswold Shagweaver in excellent condition. You would hope so for £5.45 a pint.

The whole village is a 'highlight'. Another hidden gem in the Cotswolds. Highlights within the highlight have been posted separately so I won't repeat them here. Suffice to say that Ebrington is well worth a visit and provides a beautiful and peaceful base camp for exploring the wider areas.

"The Ebrington Arms is an idyllic Cotswold pub dating back to the 1600s. Set in stunning countryside overlooking the village green and thatched cottages, this independent pub has won many accolades over the years for being just a great pub!" Source: https://www.cotswolds.com/listing/the-ebrington-arms/36840301/ I can vouch for all of the above 😁

There are great views of 'Compton Pools' from many vantage points along this route. The pools are really lakes as they were turned into a single expanse of water by Lancelot Capability Brown circa 1769. The hills, the house and the bridges provide a beautiful backdrop to the lakes.

"The church of St Mary & St Margaret at Combrook is an entirely 19th century creation but one of considerable charm and eccentricity. Most of it dates from 1866 to the design of John Gibson, though the chancel remains from a simpler structure of 1831. The church is unusual in both it's shape and detailing, from the wide but low-pitched facade to the multi-gabled aisle walls. The west door and bell turret above are adorned with somewhat over-large demi-figures of angels. The stonework attractively blends white stone with rich golden-brown ironstone details. The interior is dark and largely brick-lined with some small stained glass windows by Willement, Powells and Burlison & Grylls." Source: https://warwickshirechurches.weebly.com/combrook---ss-mary--margaret.html

"The name "Brailes" is thought to originate either from the Old Welsh breg-lis - "hill court" - or the Old English byrgels - "burial place". Castle Hill Motte in the middle of the village is a natural knoll that was made higher in the Norman era to form the motte of a motte-and-bailey castle. Its construction may have been ordered by Roger de Beaumont, who was Earl of Warwick from 1123–53. Earthworks of both the motte and the bailey survive, and the site is a Scheduled Monument. Brailes was the home of William de Brailes, a 13th-century medieval painter of illuminated manuscripts. Of the many artists who painted such manuscripts, William is one of only two whose name has been recorded. It was also the birthplace of Thomas de Brayles (died c.1340), a senior judge and Crown official of the early fourteenth century, whose highest office was Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer. On the other side of Stocks Hill is Brailes House, the former home to the Sheldon family. The Sheldons have held the manor of Brailes since 1547." Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brailes

A must see in the Northern Cotswolds.