Gym's Ramblings: Fall 2023 - A Euro Roadtrip

The author's Sketchers below the Cotswold Way
marker in front of the Bath Abbey

Ever since the summer of 2016, the Cotswolds has been on Gym's mind. It has been seven years since he first wandered into this Area of Natural Beauty, about 2 hours west of London. That first trip only made it to the northernmost parts of the AONB as our travellers were based in Buckland, a village from which they could hike up over to Broadway and Snowshill. Since that time, Gym has been looking at the maps of the Cotswolds and realized that there was so much that he and his sidekick had missed.

Far to the south, the city of Bath sits prominently on the Cotswolds Escarpment. It is the southern end of the 102-mile Cotswold Way, the trail that runs south from Chipping Camden along the crest of the ridge. Bath is also an ancient city and was a vibrant Roman settlement. In more recent times it has been popular as a place to "take the waters". Since the Roman times, the baths in Bath have been a popular destination. But there it so much more to see in this place. Laid out in typical medieval fashion the town centre's narrow streets are lined with stone buildings that are constructed with the easily-carved limestone that is quarried in the area. Even on a rainy day, these buildings seem to emanate a warmth that stone buildings in other areas do not.

After settling in to the Abbey Bath Hotel on the evening of September 16th, 2023, our heroes spent the following day ambling about town and eventually determined that their hotel location was just about perfect. The River Avon and its many beautiful pathways are right out the front door and behind the hotel is the town centre. The Bath Abbey church and the Roman Baths are literally just a couple of blocks away. Just up the hill to the north are the chi chi addresses on The Circus and No. 1 Royal Crescent. If you live there, you live in gorgeous Cotswold stone homes that are within walking distance of the centre of town. Although these four storey townhouses are not detached, they have ample backyards and are close to the very abundant green spaces that are so plentiful in Bath. Gym has seen homes in this area listed on the internet, for millions of pounds.

There were plenty of great watering holes and eateries near the Bath Abbey Hotel. "Dough" is a quaint little pizza joint not too far away. You can choose to customize your pizza there with crusts that incorporate turmeric or hemp. Our travellers also tried the Joya Italian Steakhouse where one can get some perfect al dente pasta or a flat iron steak. The prices and service seemed spot on at both these establishments.