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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why the bloody hell people go on holiday to the Cotswolds?

162 replies

GatOwfMarLaaaandInnitBabe · 02/05/2011 19:26

Or dream of moving there from London.

There is nothing special about it.

I can think of loads of places of the top of my head which have far more stunning scenery - vast majority of nothern Devon, the Quantocks, Peak district, north wales, yorkshire dales, dorset coast.

What's so good about the Cotswolds? Yes the houses are a lovely golden stone colour, and look at the lovely walls Hmm, but the towns are nondescript and TWEE and it costs a fortune for not very much.

It's just really mediocre imo. And I live here. Was driving round the Cotswolds today feeling like Victor Meldrew in my muttering complaints.

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 02/05/2011 20:12

I am definitely a miserable moaning bastard OP, I salute your forthrightness Wink

But cream teas are from Devon and Cornwall not blinking Cotswolds. We do have some exports (and yes as you would expect they are remarkably shit).

To the north, may I present the Banbury cake. Resembling a piece of pastry that someone has punched after noticing a fly in it, then lightly burned this delicacy is best enjoyed after some Hook Norton Ale (lots of it).

To the West: Gloucester Old Spot Pork (yum piggy). Actually tastes quite nice but you can't quite get away from the fact that you are eating a pig which may or may not have a skin condition.

To the South and east: Well I'm told we produce wine, though I would suggest it may be disappointing because it does tend to precipitate down here for quite a large portion of the year.

See, I've run out of things already, we are NOT gastronomes here. Yes we have the Fat Duck if you count Bray as the Cotswolds (and why not since both Warwickshire and Coventry and even Northamptonshire sometimes count themselves as Shakespeare country Hmm).

But there are no cream teas traditionally.

Humpf.

whomovedmychocolate · 02/05/2011 20:14

But if you do head to Burford, the Mermaid Inn does a nice lunch and has a great kids menu. Proper food, not frozen wotsits.

Original poster
GatOwfMarLaaaandInnitBabe · 02/05/2011 20:14

WMMC - oh I know re cream teas, but I was desperate for one, I am from Devon and just wanted some clotted cream.

Thought we may well get one because had a cream tea at tintern Abbey last year. I know that is not the Cotswolds but it aint Devon either Grin

Drove all over, couldn't find a tea room. TGI was dd's idea. I had a margarita. It didn't cheer me up.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 02/05/2011 20:14

Um what is wrong with Warwickshire counting itself as Shakespear county?

JarethTheGoblinKing · 02/05/2011 20:15

ivykaty - which pub was it? I'm quite shocked at that tbh. Was it one of the of the local pubs for local people? Wink

whomovedmychocolate · 02/05/2011 20:15

Nothing ivykaty44 - nothing at all, I can quite understand that, however I can't understand how neighbouring counties think they can mosey in on it too.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 02/05/2011 20:17

rofl @ northamptonshire calling itself Shakespeare country Grin

ivykaty44 · 02/05/2011 20:18

Jareth - I don't know, it was just a road off the main one about half way up and on the left. The hotel was on the left also about half way up where we had 15 minutes to drink our coffee and on your bike we want to serve lunches.

I have never wanted to go back after twice being treated badly.

We do go to cirencester a lot as dd2 loves it there and soemtime we go to MinM as its close and nice people in shosp there - the book ship and the deli are fab.

carriedababi · 02/05/2011 20:19

yanbu the costwols if shite on toast

although i don't mons bourton on the water for the odd picnic, but fuck living there

JamieAgain · 02/05/2011 20:20

GetAwf - hate to tell you, but the hayfever's bad for me here in sunny Hackney at. It's the Plane trees. They've everywhere

CrispyTheCrisp · 02/05/2011 20:21

You should have done your research Gerrof Wink

Also, you pretty much passed my door today - I would have made you a cream tea (and a margarita)

whomovedmychocolate · 02/05/2011 20:21

Isn't Tinturn abbey where they make the chav juice. Oh no, that's Buckfast isn't it? Confused

ninah · 02/05/2011 20:22

I had the best cream tea ever on Saturday, it was lush
not in the cotswolds, tho

ohseriously · 02/05/2011 20:22

Doesn't surprise me ivykaty - people are so miserable around here (we are in a village at the arse end of the Cotswolds!).

I have been shocked the last few times I've been somewhere else in the country on holiday and people are actually NICE to you!!

Some of the towns/villages are lovely to look at I quite agree but living here is a different kettle of fish (chance would be a fine thing as we are so land locked Sad)....

DuplicitousBitch · 02/05/2011 20:22

it is sooo flat. sil live there and pointed out a 'hill', we craned our necks but could only see an almost imperceptible undulation in the unrelenting flatness.

it is pretty though. all that wealth does make for some fine looking houses

JarethTheGoblinKing · 02/05/2011 20:23

Flat?

Erm.. not ere!

ninah · 02/05/2011 20:23

haven't you got the malverns?

ivykaty44 · 02/05/2011 20:24

I cycled from Warwick to Malembury last year and avoided a few places including Burford Grin I thought Malemsbury was lovely town but a little lacking in eateries - I was hungry when I got there so possibly this shaded my view.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 02/05/2011 20:24

Ivykaty - reckon that's the Mill, it's the only one I can think of that's on a side road on the left.

DuplicitousBitch · 02/05/2011 20:25

we live in scotland, it is fairly flat in comparison.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 02/05/2011 20:26

Well yes, but some of the hills round here are as steep as it gets without living on a mountain Grin

ninah · 02/05/2011 20:26

norfolk, now that's flat

ivykaty44 · 02/05/2011 20:28

No hill.....Shock come with me on a bike and then tell me there are no hills - flat?

Admitt its not as hilly as exmoor but pleeeease, flat it is not and the hill down into Cirencester I got well over 22 mph without pedling - thats not flat Confused

oldraver · 02/05/2011 20:29

The walls are not lovely....... well not when yours has taken a dive and rebuilding costs are £200+ per metre Shock

Collegemum38 · 02/05/2011 20:29

Juat realised its been 12 months a 2 weeks and 2 days since we moved from the shitty boring bloody Cotswolds and its only reading this thread that has made me think of the places I used to venture in a hope to find a cure for the boredom. Thats the First time in just oiver 12 months!!!!

And its not a good feeling, I want to wash my brain of the misery of living there.