Steve Hopkins is one of our driver guides, who specialises in tours of England’s romantic Cotswolds, famed for its rolling hills, chocolate-box villages and honey-coloured cottages. In a guest blog for us, Steve explains what’s great about the Cotswolds and how he helps to make sure that our clients enjoy an unforgettable experience when they visit.

Picture-postcard Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds

Born and bred a proud Yorkshireman, I’m lucky enough to reside in the beautiful English Cotswolds. I've lived and worked in Witney in Oxfordshire since 1980, so I’ve had plenty of time to learn about the area. Since moving here, my running exploits with a local club have meant I have run practically every mile of country lane there is! This has given me an intimate knowledge of the countryside for miles around... 

Steve Hopkins

Since retiring from regular work in 2013, I have done several jobs, both paid and voluntary. I drove a community bus that serviced all the minor villages of the North Cotswolds where regular bus services didn't go. This service was a vital lifeline for the elderly community (although being a scheduled service it was available to all) who had no other way of reaching the larger towns.

The dynamic of the English country village means that, whilst idyllic, local services like bakers, banks, post offices, butchers etc have dwindled, so that non drivers face a real problem. I loved this job!!! Meeting all these lovely people AND driving to the most beautiful, little known villages and hamlets was a true joy....it also developed my love and curiosity for the Cotswolds.

Arlington Row in Bibury

The Cotswolds is the largest and most visited National Landscape area in the UK, mainly because of its accessibility from all points of the country, including London, just an hour and a half away. It contains the most beautiful aspects of English country living in its vernacular architecture, gentle rolling countryside, access to history in its most visual form...and lovely people!! A day in the Cotswolds is the most rewarding way of spending time by being both educational and spiritually uplifting. There is a massive feelgood factor here...

Chipping Camden

At about 90 miles long and 25 miles across, the Cotswolds is a relatively small area, but it really punches above its weight in terms of things to see and do. From Stratford-upon-Avon in the north (although the town itself is not in the Cotswolds for administrative reasons) to Bath in the south, there is a positive feast of glorious countryside in between.

Donnington Brewery

I could spend two weeks with you and not cover the same roads or villages twice! Highlights that are NOT on the main tourist trails? Where to begin!! Upper and Lower Slaughter (Upper being a Double Thankful or Blessed village, one of only 14 in the whole of the UK); Chipping Campden (site of the world’s first Drive Thru Car Wash... you've got to come and see it to find out!!); Chastleton House with close links to the Gunpowder Plot; Stow-on-the-Wold, site of the last battle of the first English Civil War, and Donnington Brewery with the most gorgeous location you can imagine, complete with their very own very rare Australian black swans.

Stow-on-the-Wold

Of course, the real honeypots of the Cotswolds are Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Burford, Bath and some other places, and they are well worth the effort if you can stand the heaving throngs! However, my speciality is the ability to steer you away from these hotspots and take you to the hidden and secret gems that most people will never see.

I can guarantee that the wow factor of softly attractive golden Cotswold stone, thatched roofs, narrow lanes, unspoilt countryside and little known literary and historical links will make your time spent here an uplifting and rewarding experience that will stay special in your memories for ever.

Stow Church

And just to add to what Steve says, we’d like to mention this lovely feedback from one of our clients: “We thoroughly enjoyed our recent trip to the Cotswolds. Your choice of Steve as our driver made it a time to remember. We hit it off immediately and were blessed by his knowledge of the area and your choice of local history.”

If you or your group would like to enjoy a driver guided tour of the Cotswolds in England in Steve’s extremely capable hands, please do contact our friendly team today!
 
All photos courtesy of Steve Hopkins.