Your travel specialist on: The Cotswolds

This is one of the most beautiful parts of the country, and the Cotswolds is home to the largest collection of art and antique dealers outside of London and is the perfect place to seek out some real gems. I would take the train from Paddington Station in London to either Oxford, if you want to see this ancient university town, or one of the small villages in the Cotswolds such as Moreton in Marsh, Chipping Campden, and others. It’s 90 mins on the train, then hire a car from one of the local rental places.

The area is 25 miles wide and 90 miles long, with the famous towns of Bath, Oxford, Stratford on Avon, all close by. The area is spread over six counties, but 64% of it is in Gloucestershire. Cots means sheep and wolds means hills and in medieval times the area was made wealthy by the wool trade, the results of which can be seen in the many fine manor houses and churches known as wool churches because rich merchants endowed them. The breed of sheep is known as the Cotswold Lion.

My sister is a University Professor at Cambridge, and is my partner in crime when I tell her, I am coming to England, meet me for an antique adventure. I’ve been home 150 times since I got married, and when I return to California, my husband says – “what junk do I now own”, since he knows I always buy something I couldn’t live without. Over the years I have bought candle sticks, pieces of china, silver, crystal, and I must have hundreds of items in my home. I am also a nut about buying gardening books. I’ve also bought several paintings. She drives, and I navigate and pay all the expenses. We have such fun browsing, and I have even had furniture shipped home. We are both very knowledgeable about English china and crystal, and I am always on the look out for that special item which has “Los Altos” written all over it. Something we both love looking at is antique jewelry. I need more jewelry like I need a wooden leg but it makes me happy to admire the gorgeous pieces all with a story behind them.

This area is rich in Neolithic remains, with 80 long barrows and 32 iron age hill forts, and there are two Roman roads which are still in use today.

On this trip, we started in Broadway . In ancient times it used to take l7 hours to get from London and at one time, the village boasted 33 pubs. You cant go wrong eating in a pub, and I am in heaven if I can have a ploughman’s lunch, and some sticky toffee pudding. We always stop for afternoon tea no matter where we are and enjoy the homemade scones. If you are a keen walker, this is a wonderful spot to do some easy hiking.

It’s fun to wander around the farmers markets in these little villages, and Moreton in Marsh holds the largest weekly market every Tuesday with some 200 stalls . Stow on the Wold has one of the finest market squares, complete with a huge market cross erected as a symbolic reminder to the traders of medieval times to deal honestly and fairly, a trait which is still valued among modern day traders and dealers. It has the highest concentration of quality antique shops, galleries, and antique buildings which you can’t resist wandering around.

The CADA (Cotswolds Antique & Art Dealers Association) fair is held every April on the grounds of Blenheim Palace. www.thecada.org This is a smashing show to go to and people come from all over the world because you can buy lots of treasures here. One year I bought a spoon, and after polishing it many times found out it was sterling silver.

The honey colored limestone buildings date back to the l4th century , with gorgeous gardens make this a wonderful place for a few days of exploring into the past.

Maureen Jones

Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel at 160 Main Street. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure