The Gate Hangs High

This part of the Cotswolds has ample attractions to visit, from stately homes to pretty villages, and is within reach of activities like golfing and horse riding as a course and stables are a five-minute drive away. Beat your travel partner during a round on the green, trot along bridleways in the pretty countryside, then seek out the area’s sights: landmarks like Broughton Castle and the Rollright Stones – three Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments – are accessible within 10 minutes. Fancy following in the footsteps of the aristocracy? Other renowned buildings in the area include Blenheim Palace (25 minutes), a massive country house owned by the Dukes of Marlborough, and there are cute cottages to check out in classic Cotswolds villages like Bourton-on-the-Water (half an hour). If you fancy having a gander at some prim and proper gardens, this region has manicured outdoor spaces by the dozen – get over to the grounds of the National Trust’s Hidcote Manor Gardens (35 minutes) or see animals ranging from meerkats to rhinos in the pristine parkland of the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens (40 minutes).