Self-catering holiday homes: Gloucestershire

Make a holiday rental house or cottage in Gloucestershire your home away from home

Gloucestershire has become synonymous with the Cotswolds, a ‘typically English’ region of green rolling hills, sleepy villages and dry stone walls. A holiday cottage in Gloucestershire is the ideal base for exploring the beautiful, diverse countryside of the Cotswolds, Severn Vale, Forest of Dean and the Leadon Valley. There is a blissfully laid-back atmosphere and great rural cuisine, best sampled in a Gloucestershire public house.

Things to do on holiday in Gloucestershire

Walking in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds has attracted visitors to the region from all over the world, many staying in the charming stone cottages and public houses nestled amongst the valleys of the countryside. There are many places in Gloucestershire offering a vast array of leisure activities, from canoeing on the River Wye to rock climbing in the Forest of Dean.

Taking a holiday cottage in Gloucestershire allows you to take the family windsurfing, sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding in the Cotswold Water Park, fishing along many of Gloucestershire’s numerous waterways, or drifting serenely over the countryside in a hot air balloon. Cycling holidays are a magnificent way to discover the varied countryside, and slowly discover some of the best Gloucestershire public houses. Gloucestershire is a county best discovered slowly, when the changing lights give each view a serene atmosphere.

There is a rich sporting heritage in the region too. Cheltenham Racecourse is one of the best in the country, and Gloucester RFC are a hugely entertaining side to watch. Golfing holidays to self catering holiday cottages in Gloucestershire are exciting, with over 20 golf courses available to the public to play.

Gloucestershire boasts one of the longest histories in England. Neolithic remains have been discovered, with 80 barrows in the Cotswold-Severn area. The largest, Belas Knap, allows visitors to climb inside, and the camp at Crickley Hill is well worth discovering from a Gloucestershire holiday cottage. There are also 32 Iron Age hill forts, a range of Roman remains, medieval castles and stately homes.

Places to holiday in Gloucestershire

The Royal Forest of Dean is an oak forest hiding secret villages and spectacular gorges, and is often touted as one of the nicest places to explore by foot, bicycle or horse-back.

The Severn Vale follows the longest river in Britain, upon which fishing, canoeing and sailing while away many hours during the summer months. The Cotswold Water Park offers a great centre for water sports, angling, walking and cycling.

Although Gloucestershire is mainly rural, the cities of Gloucester and Cheltenham have massive amounts of entertainment on offer. From the huge Norman Cathedral of Gloucester to Cheltenham’s Britain in Bloom competition, there is plenty to see and do.

Weather in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire averages 1,600 hours of sunshine per year, and the highest annual temperature average of any coastal stretch of the UK. With an average of 16˚C, the walking and cycling tours of the county are ideal, although, as with any destination in England, packing a rain coast is always advised!

Travel to Gloucestershire

Gloucester Airport receives a small number of flights from London and the West Midlands, but the easiest way to reach a holiday cottage in Gloucestershire is by road or rail.

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