Morris’s Monthly Mention – The Cotswolds.

Hey everyone, first of all let me introduce myself to you all, Im Morris, a 4 year old cockapoo and live in the beautiful Cotswolds. I love running in fields, eating whatever my dad is eating and sleeping (that’s one of my favourite things to do!)

I am very fortunate where I live as everyone seems to love me and my four legged friends, and most people will welcome us in to restaurants and shops. This means I can have lots of days out with my mum and dad and don’t miss out on anything.

Every month, my Hooman has tasked me with sniffing out some great places to stay, eat and visit so that other fur babies can go out on adventures with the whole family too. So keep your eyes peeled for Morris’s Monthly Mention where I will share some paw-some finds.

This month I thought I would start with the Cotswolds as it’s my home town, and I know all the best places to go and things to do, so get ready for the ultimutt trip away.

Where to stay

If you are a pampered pooch like me, then sometimes I like to stay somewhere a bit more luxury, where owners offer extra treats if you’re a dog, (giving them puppy dog eyes always works for more treats!) However sometimes we like to stay in places that are still lovely too but a bit cheaper, which means more money for bones.

Bow wow appeal:

• Artist Residence, Witney – Organic treats and walks on your doorstep
• Cowley Manor, Cowley – Vast countryside to explore and treats in your room, paw-fect
• The Fish Hotel, Broadway – I’m staying here in December so I shall give you my full review soon but I hear they give you a cosy dog bed, two dog bowls, some lovely doggie treats, and a dog towel. They also have a dog agility course that I’m excited to try out
• The Lygon Arms, Broadway – Dog bed, treats and dog bowls included, so you just need to bring your favourite toy, and muddy paw stations around the hotel to keep your paws clean.
• The Wild Rabbit, Kingham – You will be given a dog bed, water bowl and treats (yummy!)

Saving the bones:

• Campwell, Cherry Wood, Marshfield – Putting the glam into glamping.
• Kings Head Hotel, Cirencester – Doggylicious treats will be left in your room ready for when you arrive
• The Close Hotel, Tetbury – I pop in here quite a bit and always get lots of fuss and treats so if you stay expect lots of cuddles.
• The Feathers, Woodstock – Check out their dog friendly offer which means you get a goodie bag and a walking route booklet so you can sniff out the local area.
• The Lion Inn, Northmoor – You surely can’t stay in a Shepherd huts without a dog?!

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Where to eat and drink

If you are looking for a proper dogs dinner then check out these paw-fect places:

• The Gardeners Arms, Alderton – They offer a towel on muddy, rainy days, a bowl of water and even your own dog menu so you can have dinner too.
• The Lamb Inn, Burford – Dog’s are able to join their owners in the bar area, as long as we drink sensibly, and they too offer a dog bar menu.
• The Fish Hotel, Broadway – Afternoon tea isn’t just for the hoomans, we can get involved too with this barking good treat.

Other woofingly good pubs:

• The Bell, Sapperton
• The Crown, Minchinhampton
• The Hollow Bottom, Guiting Power
• The Kingham Plough, Kingham
• The Mount Inn, Stanton
• The Old Lodge, Minchinhampton
• The Potting Shed, Crudwell
• The Seagrave Arms, Weston Subedge
• The Woolpack, Slad

But to be fair most pubs in the Cotswolds are very dog friendly and have treats in the bar area to help yourself too!!

What to do

• Birdland Park and Gardens, Bourton-on-the-Water – There are Penguins to sniff and many other birds to look at but don’t scare them!
• Bibury Trout Farm, Bibury – Walk around the oldest working trout farm but no jumping in the water I’m afraid.
• Broadway Tower, Broadway – You can walk up to Broadway tower or down into the town but there is lots to do up at the tower and even deers to see.
• Cotswold Lavender, Snowshill – Be ready to get sniffing all the lavender on offer.
• Cotswolds Wildlife Park, Burford – Make sure you say hello to the Giraffes and Lions.
• Newark Park, Ozleworth – Tudor hunting lodge and intriguing historic home, all set in a huge estate to explore.
• Rococo gardens, Painswick – A pretty 18th-century garden with flower & vegetable plots, mazes and woodlands to sniff out.

Festival Fun

Festivals aren’t just for hoomans, we can come along for the party too.

• Badminton Horse Trials
• Cotswold Show
• Festival of British Eventing
• Frampton Country Fair
• Moreton in Marsh Show
• The Game Fair

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Walkies

There are 100’s of walks to do around the Cotswolds and many national routes to follow, so park up somewhere and start exploring.

• Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh
• Laurie Lee, Slad
• Macmillan Way, From Banbury Cross to Bath
• Minchinhampton Common, Minchinhampton
• The Cotswold’s Way, 102 miles from Chipping Campden to Bath, break the walks up here.
• Westonbirt Arboretum, Westonbirt
• Woodchester Park, Woodchester

Just keep swimming

If you are anything like me, then no matter if it’s a puddle or a lake I want to jump in it, but there are some woof-tactic places to go for swims.

• Cotswold Country Park & Beach, Cirencester – they have a dedicated swimming area for dogs
• Fairford River Walk, Fairord – This is a great walk that follows the river with shallow parts to walk into if you are just learning to swim.
• Sandford Park Lido, Cheltenham – Every so often they open the lido up to dogs for a swim with their owners.
• South Cerney Lakes, South Cerney – There are many lakes in this area to explore and some are great for jumping into, check out this walk too.

Check out my blog post all about the most picturesque villages to visit in The Cotswolds for when you plan your next trip away.