Gloucester Docks, Winchcombe, Broadway, Chipping Campden and Bourton-on-the-Water: 19 May 2020

Today we took a wee tour north of here. First up was Gloucester Docks, followed by Winchcombe, Broadway, Broadway Tower, Chipping Campden, Moreton-on-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and finally Bourton-on-the-Water. We only drove through Moreton and Stow, and didn't feel they were as worthy of photographs as the others.

Gloucester Docks

Sceptre, the British challenger for the America’s Cup in 1958, is believed to be the only UK challenger still sailing in British waters. Sceptre was built for the Royal Yacht Squadron to challenge for the 17th America’s Cup.

If you're interested in reading more, visit www.sceptre1958.co.uk

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Winchcombe

The ancient Anglo Saxon town of Winchcombe is situated in a beautiful Cotswold valley. The name Winchcombe means 'valley with a bend', and today the town still retains street which curve gracefully along the 'combe'.

In the early 1600's the Winchcombe area was known for tobacco growing and was banned in 1619 due to the vested interest of the industry in America and other colonies.

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Broadway

The pretty High Street is lined with horse chestnut trees and includes a mixture of period houses and picturesque honey coloured Cotswold stone cottages.

The street through Broadway was an ancient 'ridgeway' and the main road from Worcester to London. It is a wide street or 'broad way' hence the name.

Often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds', Broadway lies beneath Fish Hill on the western Cotswold escarpment, in the county of Worcestershire.

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Broadway Tower

Broadway Tower stands on Beacon Hill, the second highest point in the Cotswolds. Rising 312 metres above sea level, the hill was a natural place from which to send long-distance signals, and was used for this purpose long before the tower was built.