Herefordshire's Black & White Trail, Oxford & The Cotswolds

Itinerary

Herefordshire's Black & White Trail, Oxford & the Cotswolds

Enjoy a glimpse into the past and follow Herefordshire's captivating Black and White Trail, taking in a range of towns and villages known for their distinctive timber-framed buildings. Set amidst a landscape of orchards and rolling hills, each location showcases the region's rich medieval heritage, where the cottages and shops seem straight out of a fairytale! We also discover the ancient architecture of Tewkesbury and the honey-hued streets of Broadway, known as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds', as well as the treasures of Oxford, the 'City of Dreaming Spires'.

Herefordshire's Black & White Trail, Oxford & the Cotswolds

From a morning pickup in your local area, we travel by coach to our hotel.

Herefordshire's Black & White Trail, Oxford & the Cotswolds

We take a scenic drive in the Wye Valley and follow the Black and White Trail, where the medieval timber-framed architecture offers lovely symbols of this region’s past. The trail begins in the historic market town of Leominster, particularly famous for its beautiful black-and-white timber-framed buildings and the Priory Church, which dates back to the 7th century. After some time here, we then continue with a guide, taking in the trail highlights of Dilwyn, Weobley, Sarnesfield, Eardisley, Kington and Lyonshall.

Full Day

Herefordshire's Black & White Trail, Oxford & the Cotswolds

Our day of sightseeing begins with the delightful market town of Tewkesbury, with origins spanning back to Saxon times. There’s time to look around the abbey, with its stunning Norman architecture, intricate stained glass and one of England's largest surviving medieval towers, and wander the narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses, Tudor buildings and independent shops. There are some charming riverside walks and fascinating museums on offer too, or to continue a tradition that dates back to the 16^th century, why not head to Tewkesbury Mustard? The local artisan product was once famous throughout the country and was even mentioned in Shakespeare's Henry IV!

We continue to Broadway. Often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds', this picturesque village is known for its charming streets lined with honey-coloured stone buildings, boutique shops and art galleries. It's the perfect place to treat yourself to a cream tea if you so wish, either in a little café or luxurious hotel such as The Lygon Arms. On the way back to the hotel, sit back and soak up the rolling Cotswold scenery as we pass through towns such as Northleach and Stow-on-the-Wold.

Full Day

Herefordshire's Black & White Trail, Oxford & the Cotswolds

We enjoy time at leisure in Oxford. This beautiful 'City of Dreaming Spires' has plenty to offer, with many historic university buildings to see, including the famous Bodleian Libraries, and postcard-perfect scenes of students and visitors punting on the river. Oxford also has a wide variety of shops, from High Street stores to quaint individual boutiques and bookshops, peppered with plenty of restaurants, cosy tearooms and olde worlde taverns. The city’s literary connections include J.R.R Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Oscar Wilde and it also provided inspiration for some of the sets in the Harry Potter films and Inspector Morse TV series.

Half Day

Herefordshire's Black & White Trail, Oxford & the Cotswolds

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and board the coach for the journey home.

Herefordshire's Black & White Trail, Oxford & the Cotswolds

• Return coach travel
• 4 nights at the Leonardo Hotel, Cheltenham (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast
• Excursions to Tewkesbury, Broadway & Oxford
• Herefordshire's Black & White Trail tour with local guide

Accommodation

Leonardo Hotel, Cheltenham, England JG3

The Leonardo Hotel is set in attractive grounds on the edge of the Regency town of Cheltenham. The comfortable en-suite rooms feature a TV and tea and coffee-making facilities. The hotel offers a bar and restaurant, plus a health and leisure club with a hot tub, sauna and fully-equipped gym.

Hotel Rating

Hotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service.