Drama in the Cotswolds.....

If like us you enjoyed the excellent BBC production Wolf Hall and more recently Sunday evenings spent glued to a compelling reprise of 70's Poldark, you may be surprised to learn that much of the grand house filming takes place in our very own Cotswolds Charming Chavenage House is no stranger to this kind of thing with a string of great dramas under its belt: Tess of the DUrbevilles, Lark Rise to Candleford and Cider with Rosie to name but a few. Just 2 miles north west of Tetbury and a little under 5 miles south of Minchinhampton, both New Church Cottage and Park Cottage are well placed for visiting Chavenage and if youre looking for something a little more personal, its often a family member that conducts the guided tours regaling visitors with tales from its history that only they would know as well as entertaining anecdotes gleaned from privileged peeps behind the scenes. Open from the beginning of May until the end of September. To make a day of it, just a 30 minute drive away is Berkeley Castle which also hosted filming for Wolf Hall as well as The Other Boleyn Girl. The family have been in residence here since the 12th century and the Berkeleys are one of only 3 families in the country able to trace their ancestry back to Saxon times pretty mind blowing! Open from the beginning of April until the end of October, it's perfect for history buffs to combine their love of history with spring picnics and autumn strolls. On the subject of walking and ways of filling your holiday diary, head to Snowshill a quintessentially English secluded village set amongst rolling hills: inspiring views, great for the soul and as you head for the local pub in search of that well earned refreshment you may experience a sense of dj vu. Those of you who have enjoyed someone elses diary, Bridget Jones to be exact, will recognise the winter landscapes from this film. Perfectly placed for making the most of these landscapes is Oat Hill Coach House and Apple Cottage both in the village and Top Cottage in nearby Broadway.