The Cotswolds

We spent the weekend in the Cotswolds, an area of Gloucestershire. The region was prosperous in medieval times with its wool industry. The roofs and walls of the houses are made of limestone and green pastures separate the villages. Ramblers flock to the many public footpaths located here as well. Just an FYI: Once a year a "Mass Trespass," of the country's 50,000 miles of public footpaths is organized. As long as the path is used at least once a year, the landlords cannot put up fences. Paths found blocked may be unblocked! The English love their walks.
We visited quite a few of the villages-some full of tourists, and some pleasantly quiet. One of the villages (most touristy but also most fun for the kids) had a stone model of the village and a huge model train. Our B&B was in a quiet village-a 600 year old house at that! Jason and the older kids slept in the attic while Jillian and I were downstairs in room 3. We enjoyed a nice breakfast (Jason went for the English breakfast while I opted for whiskey porridge) with another American couple living in England.
Sunday morning we went to church in an old Church of England church built in the late 1800's and bought by a French Catholic layman in the 1920's. We then enjoyed a picnic in the car, as the wind was gusting around 50 mph. It knocked little Jilly down when we stopped to look at Broadway Tower. After our picnic, Jason went on an hour horseback ride while Griffen and Kaitlyn had a 30 minute lesson followed by a 30 minute ride. Although Jason claims he can ride, this was his first experience on English saddle-quite a bit smaller than western! I took Jillian out for a ramble in the backpack. I found a public footpath and decided to see where it led me...through a field of chickens. The chickens were followed by a field of mud and a gate leading to a field of sheep and their lambs. Just as I was about to open the gate, they all ran towards me. I'm not quite sure of all the rules on public footpaths, and I didn't feel I could open the gate without an escapee, so I turned around. After Jason's ride he informed me his guide told him the room Jillian and I stayed is said to be haunted. Great-maybe thats why she had a night terror in the depths of night. Here are some photos...you can click on them for a larger view.

The family in front of the model village.
A field at sunset
Broadway Tower
The Vine B&B-the attic windows are at the top