The Cotswold Lion

The Cotswold Lion

During the middle ages, wool from Cotswold sheep was amongst the the finest in Europe, and the reign of Henry VII (1485 - 1509) woollen cloth contributed half of England's wealth. Hence, the sheep producing the wool was called the 'Cotswold Lion'.

St James, the 'wool church' in Chipping Campden

The wool trade made the merchants living in the Cotswolds very rich indeed, as wealthy as Bill Gates is today.  The merchants funded impressive 'wool churches' in towns like Chipping Campden, Northleach and Burford, hoping their charity and benevolence would ease their path to heaven on their death.  

These 15th century churches are the lasting legacy of the times. 

Enjoy your walking.
Anne
Walk the Landscape

Black Sheep

Black sheep under a heavy sky

Walking down to Broadway along the Cotswold Way.

Happy hiking

Anne

walkthelandscape.co.uk

A Mother's Love

New lambs are appearing in fields all around the Cotswolds.

Happy walking
Anne
Walk the Landscape

The Classic Cotswold Tour, October 2012

Yee walking out of Blockley 

Hei leaving Bourton-on-the-Hill 

Sheep along the route

We thank Siu Yee for providing the photos.

The Classic Cotswold Tour is a 3 to 6 day self-guided walking tour of the north Cotswolds, taking in famous towns and villages such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden and The Slaughter, and the beautiful Cotswold landscape.

Contact us to find out more.

Happy Walking

Best
Anne
Walkthelandscape.co.uk

A Royal banquet of lamb from the Cotswold Sheep

The lamb from the Cotswold breed of sheep served at the Pre-Royal wedding celebration hosted by the Queen, for European Royals, the Sultan of Brunei and Sheikh Hamoud Al-Sabah of Kuwait, was described as 'nothing short of perfect'.

The Cotswold breed of sheep, with it's characteristic fringe was almost extinct and in the 1960s when there were just 200 left in England. Numbers increased due to the work of the Cotswold Sheep Society and the move toward more sustainable agriculture, and now the 'Cotswold Lion' is frequently seen grazing the upland pastures.

Best