Painswick, Stroud, Gloucestershire
Just 4 miles from Stroud in Gloucestershire, Painswick is a quiet market town, which has the moniker of ‘The Queen of the Cotswolds’ because it’s so awfully pretty, if you ignore the gaudy local shop signage, and it’s the best preserved of all the Cotswold towns. Quaint little cottages with windows askew stand side by side with grand town houses, all made of that gorgeous honey coloured Cotswold stone.
It’s a lovely place to take a stroll around, especially at certain times of the day when the sun falls on that mellow stone. Points of interest are the oldest bowling green in England, the oldest building to be used as a post office, and a churchyard with a staggering 99 neatly clipped yew trees.
Like most of the towns and villages in The Cotswolds National Landscape, Painswick has a backdrop of utterly beautiful countryside and there are excellent walks starting here. Puff your way up to the top of Painswick Beacon and if it’s a clear day you’ll be rewarded with staggering views across to the Brecon Beacons on one direction and the Malvern Hills in the other. Walk on through the fields and over the hills to timeless villages – Sheepscombe, Edge and Slad, lovely old Slad where Laurie Lee grew up and took inspiration for his most famous work – ‘Cider with Rosie’.
When you get back to Painswick go to The Falcon or The Oak for traditional pubby feels and homecooked food. If you want something more fancy, The Painswick serves excellent lunches at weekends, afternoon teas and A La Carte dining in the evenings.
Half a mile are Painswick Rococo Gardens, well worth seeing if you’re in this neck of the woods.
All information correct at the time of writing