There is an abundance of medieval villages and market towns in the Cotswolds where you get the sense you've stepped back in time. But one of the lesser-known hidden gems, just over an hour away from Bristol, where the landscape has a touch more je ne sais quoi than the rest.
Snowshill in Gloucestershire has a population of just 160 and doesn't usually get as many visitors as other places in the Cotswolds, but it's renowned for its unspoilt beauty, views over the Severn Vale and lavender fields that rival those of Provence in the South of France.
Cotswold Lavender at Hill Barn Farm in Snowshill opens up its visitors' field to the public for a limited time from June to August. Farmer Charlie Byrd planted the first lavender bushes there in 1999, but the scented stunners now cover 80 acres of land. If you're lucky enough to visit during the height of summer, as you approach scenic country lanes, there's a striking purple haze on the horizon and a fragrant aroma of lavender in the air.
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Despite being a working farm, Charlie and his team put aside a display field for the public every year. It spans 20 acres - so everyone gets a good space to take selfies, sniff the air and chill out in this unique, laidback atmosphere. Although the lavender fields are only in bloom in the warmer months, there's still plenty for visitors to Snowshill to enjoy out of season, with historic houses, quaint pubs, five-star eateries and a Hollywood connection.
The village of Snowshill was used as a location in Bridget Jones' Diary for scenes where Bridget visits her parents at Christmas. Blanketed in artificial snow, shooting took place on the village green and a local house featured as the home of Bridget's parents, as well as in a local National Trust staff car park.
A popular destination for visitors to the village is Snowshill Manor, which opens to the public in early March. The National Trust property houses the collection of English architect, craftsman and super-hoarder Charles Paget Wade, who lived in the 16th-century country house between 1900 and 1951.
Charles restored the manor after it fell into disrepair, and it contains his vast collection of 16,422 personal objects, including furniture, toys, bicycles and armour. The house boasts an unconventional Arts & Crafts Garden laid out by Charles and architect M. H. Baillie Scott, with a series of outdoor rooms, curious doorways, a model village, an ancient dovecote, a kitchen garden, orchards and small fields with sheep.
A standard adult entrance costs £13, a child ticket is £6.50, and a family ticket is £32.50. All tickets include access to the garden, the ground floor of the Priest's House (Cottage), a shop, a second-hand bookshop and the café.
If you're looking for something stronger to drink, the best place to head to is the Snowshill Arms in the centre of the village, a traditional English country pub that dates from the 15th century. It offers traditional pub food, homemade specials and beers from a small Worcester brewery. For those planning to stay the night, nearby Broadway has plenty to offer, such as Russell's of Broadway, a five-star hotel and restaurant.
Driving to Snowsill from Bristol takes around 75 minutes, and there are free parking options in the village. Public transport options are limited. Evesham in Gloucester and Moreton-in-Marsh are the nearest train stations, eight and seven miles away respectively. You can get the bus to nearby Broadway - a 2.5-mile walk - using the Castleways 606 service from Cheltenham and Willersey or the Johnson’s 21 service from Stratford-on-Avon and Moreton-in-Marsh.
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