From the pages of Victorian England came the declaration that Bibury is the most beautiful village in England. It was the observation of artist and craftsman William Morris who lived in a manor nearby and loved his saunters through the village. Walk into Bibury and you know why.
Most probably you will be walking along the River Coln with hordes of Asian tourists, especially the Japanese, because they have tenuous links with Bibury. Some say that a Japanese artist was inspired by the village during the ’70s and others maintain that Emperor Hirohito, the leader of their country during WWII who had led them into the Sino-Japanese War, had fallen in love with the idyllic environs of Bibury. Maybe he had, because in the year 1921 as crown prince he had left Japan in a battleship for Britain on a state visit (thus also creating ripples as the first person from the imperial family to step off Japanese soil). I can well imagine that a man who had as turbulent a life as he had – dealing with military coups and trying not to get assassinated require significant work and then getting around charges of being tried as a war criminal even more so – would have looked upon this time of travel through Britain surreal. His legacy is strong. There is such a steady influx of Japanese tourists that the village store owners have picked up tidbits of the language. It certainly makes you smile. The power of travel, eh?
We reached this picture-perfect village in the Cotswolds one summer with my husband’s sister and her kids. It was out of the books. Stone bridges and ivy-slathered country manor inns gave way to a sedate scene of drowsy willow trees by the banks of the Coln. The lush meadows along the tributary of the Thames were dotted with Holstein cows who looked suspiciously like they had been airdropped to charm the traveller with their black and white patched indolence while right opposite stood a straggle of limestone cottages trussed up in a row. The picturesque Arlington Row houses date back to the mid-1300s when they served as a monastic wool store but in the 17th century were converted to house weavers.
There is a tale of a Grey Lady too. Nothing like a bit of ’em wandering ladies to spice up your English travels. She, it is said, was a young girl who had married a miller older to her and then unfortunately fallen in love with his son. On a horridly cold night, the miller left his wife outside to die. Which she did and now is said to wander the paths around the river. If you see her, you know what to do. Take her home with you?
How to Get There:
Bibury is a stone’s throw away from Cirencester. The best way to get there is by car. If you are driving, take the B4425. Buses start from Market Place in Cirencester for Bibury. By train, you will be working a fair bit by reaching Kemble, the same station for Cirencester, and then taking a cab worth 20-25 odd quid for Bibury because Kemble is about 14 miles away from it. Drive drive baby…but arrive at off-peak hours because parking can be a bit of a bummer. The easiest parking spot is on the river bridge barring which there is extra parking along the river on the B4425.
Where to Stay:
Bibury is a convenient day trip from Cirencester. But if you want to stay in the village, there are options such as The Catherine Wheel (www.catherinewheel-bibury.co.uk), a 15th-century stone building. Standard double rooms are priced at roughly £90 per night.
Bed & breakfast double rooms at Cotteswold House (www.cotteswoldhouse.org.uk) are pegged at £90 per night.
Where to Eat:
Make Bibury your clotted-cream-and-jam-with-scone stop because it is an English holiday after all and also because the village has some twee tea rooms –William Morris Tea Room (www.thewilliammorris.com) and Catherine Wheel (www.catherinewheel-bibury.co.uk) – that will not leave your eyes bulging with the bill.
What to do:
After you have seen the Arlington Mill, the Bibury Trout Farm, Arlington Row, you can opt for an 18-mile Bibury-Aldsworth-Bibury fairly easy walking trail. The views during the walk are of the wolds, the lower Coln and the Leach valley.
Or, you can go on a shorter 4-mile circular walking route that lasts about two hours. It takes you past the row of cottages and the church into the Bibury Court Estate and onwards ho into pastures where the sheep roam and wait for a little natter with you.
Sounds lovely!❤
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Thank you 🙂 It is every inch of lovely.
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I like the contrasting pic of youth and beauty against a backdrop of the ancient and decrepit. Well done!
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Thank you 🙂 Here’s a shower of cupcakes for you.
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Beautiful place and beautiful pictures! x
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Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
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Looks beautiful, gorgeous pictures xo
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Thank you, Angela 🙂 x
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[…] Source: Higgledy-Piggledy Bibury […]
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lol 🙂
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Thanks for introducing meto Bibury, had never heard of it before. It’s on our list of places to visit here in the UK now. Great photos ? x
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I am so happy to hear that. There will be more pretty ones from the Cotswolds area coming up your way then 🙂 Cheers.
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Great, some more inspiration, I’ll be looking forward to reading them.
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Great shots! 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Wow.. so green green.. awesome pics ?
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Thank you Malini 🙂
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Such a beautiful place with an interesting story. The Japanese tourist connection is pretty intriguing and funny. We would love to visit one day.
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It is. You are bound to fall in love with it. Far removed from the cares of the world 🙂 Beware of all grey ladies though.
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Hey! I think you get a lot, but I nominated your for a blog award. You can read about it here https://jenstewie.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/one-lovely-blog-award/
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Another beautiful destination! How much do you charge for room and board in one of your suitcases??
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Better then a room? 😀 Just some humongous bags of chocolates and goodies for cramp-free weekend saunters x
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I’m in! Just reserve me a spot next to the chocolates!! ?
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Deal (sealed with spit – optional) 😀
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Haha! Yes! ?
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Bibury is beautiful and I love how well you describe it that you almost have me there ?. I love you my dearest sister and hope and pray that you continue to enjoy adventures ?. Have a blessed day or night?… Different time zones confuse me.
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Hah, it is a bright sunny day, Susan 🙂 Thank you for reading and commenting. I love ‘the dearest sister’ bit and of course the fact that you were there with me virtually 😉
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I must have secretly adopted you somewhere along the way ?. You are a wonderful narrator in the way you write and describe places. For a lady who is horrible with directions as well??…..I am always paying full attention to your directions? ?.
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You are so lovely to say that. I am quite basking in the glow of it 🙂 Psst: When I am travelling alone, I get lost All the time!
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Beautiful! And best of all, your photos surely do justice to the beauty of this place! I would love to visit one day!
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Thank you for the lovely words 🙂 And amen to the last thought. You will fall for it just like I did. Guaranteed and sealed.
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Your posts have me absolutely dying for a trip to England
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Then I pat myself on the back. England is a jewel 🙂
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[…] you are in Bibury, you have to find your way to the delightful duo of Burford and Bourton-on-the-Water. I had […]
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Fascinating piece about a place I’d never even heard of! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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You are welcome 🙂 This entire area is up for you to discover then x
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Beautiful pictures, a writing that teases the mind as well as it pleases and some advice as well.. Might be I ought the come here more often! I love your writing!
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Hullo there, well why not? I shall not charge you 🙂 You are welcome to drop by as many times as you wish. In fact I would love it if you did. Thank you too for the generous compliments. Cheers.
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Well if m’lady don’t mind and the charge is none, then I will definitely 😉
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Benevolence being the key word here, Danny boy 😉
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Thank you for another word added to my knowledge of the English language!
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Ha ha ha thou art a scamp.
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Did you just call me a scamp?? That had me chuckling hahaha
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Who me?! I have been hacked.
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?? Oi… I think I really should come here more often
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🙂
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Beautiful presentation. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
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I loved Bibury! Such a stunning place.
https://theworldincolour.com xx
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Thank you Lara. I miss it! Driving into the Cotswolds and just whiling away time xx
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Soory, Dippy-Dotty, I asked for the link to your post about the Cotswold on another comment, now I have found you 🙂 by searching for Cotswolds on WP. 🙂 Great reading with awesome photos!
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Well thank you K. I loved yours too on Bibury. It is a place straight out of one’s dreams.
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It really is!
Happy weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
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