Northleach Travel

Drive 15 minutes from Cirencester or take Pulhams bus 855 to reach Northleach. Entering Market Place you'll be struck by the Y-shaped layout — designed by Gloucester Abbey around AD 800, unchanged for 800 years. The square is surrounded by half-timbered Tudor buildings, many once coaching inns. First visit St Peter & St Paul Church, called by Alec Clifton-Taylor the "Cathedral of the Cotswolds" — rebuilt in 1458 by wool merchant John Fortey at his own expense, containing England's finest collection of medieval brasses: Fortey stands on a woolpack and sheep, wearing a woolmark pendant; Thomas Fortey and William Scors triple brass where Scors steps on scissors marking his tailor identity; the oldest, around 1400, shows an anonymous wool merchant on a woolpack with his wife and pet dog. The porch is described by David Verey as "one of the finest porches in England". Afternoon visit the Old Prison, a "house of correction" designed by Sir George Onesiphorus Paul in 1792, now housing the keeper's house, women's cells, courtroom and "Escape to the Cotswolds" visitor centre (April-Oct Wed-Sat 11:00-16:00, free). Beside the square, the Lock-up once held minor offenders. On High Street, Walton House has a blue plaque marking RAF No. 87 Squadron Hurricane fighter pilots stationed here (July-November 1940, flying from a temporary runway near Bibury). Evening dinner at The Wheatsheaf Inn with Cotswold lamb, ending your Northleach tour.

If staying overnight, use Northleach as a base to explore the Cotswolds hinterland. Walk 4.5 miles to Hampnett village (step-free "no stiles" route along the ancient Roman Salt Way and Fosse Way), visiting St Peter's Church, Hampnett with its remarkably preserved medieval wall paintings — among England's finest. Continue to Farmington village to see honey-coloured stone cottages. Or drive 10 minutes to Chedworth Roman Villa (National Trust, approx £12), discovering one of Roman Britain's most luxurious villa sites from the 2nd century AD, with exquisite mosaic floors and bath complex. Walking the Salt Way can connect to the Fosse Way Roman road. Afternoon visit the Cotswold Motoring Museum (Bourton-on-the-Water, approx £4.35), 7 galleries displaying vintage cars, caravans and the BBC's original Brum car. Evening return to Northleach for dinner in the Wheatsheaf garden, ending your Cotswolds hinterland tour.