13 February 2024 , 13:45
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A route through a charming Cotswold village has been named one of the UK's most romantic road trips for couples.
Known as the 'Venice of The Cotswolds', Bourton-on-the-Water was chosen by car experts at LeaseCar.uk for its breathtaking views and perfect spots for a riverside picnic.
The route running up to the village takes you through a beautiful rolling country and a series of villages filled with charming honey coloured stone houses which form the perfect backdrop to a romantic drive.
One 45-mile circular route from Broadway passes a beautiful stately home, several typical Cotswold hill villages, along a river and through Bourton-on-the-Water. While it can be done in a two hours, it is better to spend a full day slowly wending your way along the country lanes and regularly stopping to admire the view.
Most of the route uses small 'B' roads and single track roads with passing places. Even in peak summer tourist times you will find these roads do not get very busy with traffic.
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Castle Combe is another lovely spot in the Cotswolds (Getty Images/Robert Harding World Imagery)In Bourton-on-the-Water itself, there are two particularly romantic activities on offer. One is a visit to the Cotswold Perfumery where you can learn how to whip up a fragrant love potion at a 56-year-old institution which once made a scene for the late Queen.
The Model Railway Exhibition covers over 500 square feet of track and is one of the best motorised model villages in the country. Couples can watch on as the dinky trains make their way through the imaginatively designed scenery of open countryside, mountains, steams, industrial sites and suburbia.
"Often referred to as the Venice of The Cotswolds due to its loving atmosphere and scenic views, it’s a popular spot for couples across Britain to visit after coming off the A429. You can enjoy a picnic by the river or have a coffee at the local café for a peaceful afternoon trip," the LeaseCar list writes in praise of Bourton-on-the-Water.
There is clearly something about the Cotswolds that gets the pulse racing. Castle Combe is another village with a reputation that far exceeds its small size, due to its picture-perfect houses and charming winding streets.
Meanwhile Charlbury in Oxfordshire is a different but similarly postcard perfect town offering delicious food and stunning scenery. The town has become a hub for festivals and the pub scene in recent years, and a regular haunt for the likes of nearby resident David Beckham and former Archbishop Rowan Williams. The Long Shadow actor Toby Shadow grew up in the town, while Jeremy Clarkson's farm is just a few miles away and provides food for its pub menus.
Another lovely spot is Chalford, a town where the main road is lined by stone cottages and has steep offshoot higgledy-piggledy pathways which make it more suitable for donkeys than humans.