We say goodbye to new found friends and reflect on another gorgeous country stay.
I think I was meant to be a country girl. It must be in my blood, as my mum and dad grew up in a small NSW country town in Bega.
LACOCK
Our path today took us to Lacock a National Trust Medieval Village. The whole village is about 700 years old.
The local abbey was used in one of the Harry Potter movies.
This is a seven hundred year old country barn.
CASTLE COMBE
Just twenty more minutes down the road was voted England’s prettiest village. Castle Combe was quaint and has also been used in many movies. We were lucky to visit both of these popular villages when they were empty of tourists. This enabled us to quickly find a park.
GLOUCESTER SERVICES
Well we stopped for lunch at what we called the rich man’s truck stop and farm shop beside the highway in Gloucester. If you were not looking you would miss the environmental building submerged in the hill side.
It is called Gloucester Services. The Farm Shop – a popular truck stop that links 130 farmers and their produce. This was my sort of shop. Everything fresh from sour dough bread, farm fresh vegetables to meat and organic wines, ciders and beers. We brought blueberry beer, apple cider, river cottage yogurt and smoked bacon.
I moved away from the organic cotton clothing and country kitchen ware.
The farm shop cafe was like walking into a resort buffet lunch. Everything was freshly cooked using farm fresh local produce. There was a huge range of fresh salads and home baked cakes along with a smoothie bar.
This place put our truck stops to shame. It was all about honouring good food, local produce, sustainability and the farmers.
This is the Eco hidden petrol station to go with the Farm Shop. No big signage just hidden in a mound.
WORCESTERSHIRE AND MALVERN HILLS
We head on down the highway to Worcestershire still in awe of where we had just been.. We drive over the bridge with a magnificent view of the Avon river and its rich agricultural lands. Woolly sheep huddle together grazing on lush green velvet pastors.
At three thirty the mist rolls in across the hillside towards where we are headed.
Two afternoon school buses nearly collide on the narrow country road.
English country cottages just look amazing as we drive by.
Our accommodation is set on a hillside in the hinterland town of Malvern. Our deck views are to die for. We are settled here for three nights.
Rob wants to stay here longer and we have just arrived!
