PRETTY PAINSWICK PREMIERE next Friday. I'm going to be doing a few premieres of some particularly special Cotswolds places in the coming weeks. Though to be honest, they are all pretty special to me ;-) Hope you can join one of the future premieres, or just watch when convenient. We are so excited to share our beloved Cotswolds with you, our MOT friends! Cheers! XX Dara
I'm a 56yr old English man born and bred and I'm embarrassed to say you and your fellow Americans have seen more of the UK than I have,looking through your eyes re. this island makes me so proud but also so sad I've wasted so many years taking it for granted instead of exploring it,take note fellow Brits(especially young uns)we've got a beautiful island that millions visit every year
I'm a 57 yr old American Anglophile that doesn't appreciate the beauty of the national parks in the US because I'm always going to Britain on holiday! haha Seriously, I'm glad to remind Britons of the lovely treasures that surround them. I hope I inspire a few of them to wander off into the woods or hills or villages and enjoy the beauty ;-) Cheers! XX Dara
I am American Anglophile and I have loved everything British for over 40 years. Three years ago I had the opportunity to visit your lovely island and I can truthfully state that was the best trip I ever had. I would go back in a heartbeat. My dream would be to have at least a month there to see as much as I possibly could and really spend quality time at places without the schedule of a tour.
@@ruthgoebel723 You are most welcome Ruth. However you may be wise to give it another year, due to Covid a lot of natives are holidaying at home making booking difficult. Take a look at National Trust cottages online, I have stayed in some amazing places and the money benefits the trust. Also, for a small island there is a lot to see in a small area, you may need to select your preferred area and do it properly or you could spend a lot of time in the car.
@@thewealduk9802 Yes, I am resigned to wait till it is safe to travel again. I am just so glad I was able to do my 2019 trip before covid and all the restrictions came about. We used Classic British Drama Tours previously and along with their regular tours, they also offer bespoke tours which are wonderful! We had 9 glorious days, saw lovely mansions and country homes and spent our nights in marvelous places. We covered a lot of territory, from Brighton to Buxton to the Cotswolds. It was a great way to see the countryside.
Hey Sis! I don't know if I've told you that I stayed at The Vine in June 2000. Breakfast was in the farm kitchen near the huge warm Aga stove. The owner, Jill Carenza, also owns the Jill Carenza Equestrian Ltd. riding stables just down the street where you can ride at an hourly rate, unlike most of the other stables in the area which require a membership and/or lessons. The numerous horses are strong and beautiful and they have ones available for all levels of expertise. I took my grandkids to ride there again in March 2019 and loved sharing with them, once again, the experience of riding through the green sheep pastures overlooking Stanton and the surrounding countryside and being the ones clip-clopping through the village streets. Highly recommended. We ate at the Mount Inn and listened to stories from those hiking the Cotswold Way.
Thank you so much for all of those details! That’s fantastic! I didn’t realise you had stayed at the Vine! Wonderful to know that you can hire horses from the owner. We will definitely be using that information in the future!
Wow!! Breathtaking view, my friend!! I love the green trees and green hills! Thank you for capturing this so perfectly! Lucy is sending her full support!!
L115 greetings from a new friend watching from Hong Kong. Wow! What an amazing and stunning place to live on my friend! A peaceful and quiet place and lovely preserves place like this was a great treasure from the community. Like a paradise! I love the buildings structures it seem like an ancient houses. I’ve been only seen in the movie these kinds of houses. Excellent, informative, interesting, impressive and fantastic video filming. Thanks for sharing your great adventure my dear friend. Have a wonderful day aheads and more power!😊
Thanks so much for your nice comment. I agree... so many people haven't seen places like this in real life, so it is magically to actually go there and walk among those lovely homes! Have a great day! Dara
I think we’re going with Stanway as our favourite village so far. This one looks to have a little of everything and looks peaceful too. We are really enjoying this series Dara. Thanks for sharing 🍻
Thanks guys! A bit of the extreme opposite of Vegas, huh? LOL Yes, Stanton is so lovely. Maybe that is where we should meet up with you this summer! We can go to The Mount Inn.. you can have a pint and we shall have a salad and a pudding! haha
Awww, thanks Kay! I wish you could have been a guest star in this video! But I'm chuffed (i.e., extremely pleased) that you have shared the video with friends in Stanton. And the Mount Inn... we love that place!!
Thank you for this link, Kay, so wonderful to ‘walk through’ our beloved Stanton from my kitchen table in London on a gloomy January day. I was almost tempted to try and walk through our (heavily featured) front door at The Old Dairy. I hardly ever get to see the hollyhocks I planted; here they are shown in all their glory. 🥰 wonderful.
Thanks! It is such a well-maintained village. Nice to see in this age when many places are overrun and not kept tidy. It's like walking back in time. Thanks for your comment! Cheers - Dara
This is heaven on earth! What a beautiful, peaceful area. No wonder it's Ian's favourite place in the Cotswolds. I really enjoyed coming along to the Premiere - thank you!
Hiya friends! Thanks for watching and commenting! I've been experimenting with different video formats. I've done a lot of videos which are more travel vlogs, but in the Cotswolds series they are turning out to be more little documentaries. I hate how much time they take to edit, but I'm always chuffed when the video is finished, haha! BTW, if you want to meet up for tea this summer... let us know what county or town would be a good place! We live in Cheltenham all summer. Cheers! XX Dara
Big honor and glad to me to find new friends on RUclips and of course today your channel get new fan and friend for always keep going im with you any time 🤠❤🇹🇷👍🏻💙 💫🌏👻💕🔥🌐
It is dreamy. When we visit these villages I keep thinking how much better the ambience of these villages would be if they were car restricted like some town centres are. I know that's not practical but when you visit Broadway choked with traffic you can't help thinking it.
Thanks so much for watching and leaving that comment! It's always nice to hear the bits that people enjoy about the video. I dearly love seeing the horse riders in the Cotswolds.... just lends to the feeling of having walked back in time 400 years! More horses coming in my Broadway video in 2 weeks ;-) Cheers! XX Dara
Lovely! I had to chuckle at your comment of taking a picture over the wall of a house you could not get in to see. We did that in Luckington, trying to get a picture of “Longbourn” where Elizabeth Bennet lived in Pride and Prejudice. We were in the church yard with cameras and phones peering above the churchyard wall trying to get a good shot of the house. 😂😂😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️
The funniest thing is when you can't see and you have to hold the camera above your head and just randomly click... hoping you are getting an image! I felt cheeky filming over the churchyard wall, but it turns out that is what everybody does! The house is not open much to the public, and during covid I think it has been closed the whole time. I have read several guide books that say the best view is over the churchyard wall... so I guess that is just what you do ;-) And yes, I would agree that it's always exciting to see places from Pride & Prejudice! Thanks as always for watching and commenting! Have a great weekend, Ruth! Cheers! XX Dara
A big shout-out to Kay Horrell, who sent the link to this adorable video to us, we being residents of Stanton. We only live there part-time, and it was such a treat to view Stanton (and our house, The Old Dairy) basking in July sunshine, whilst sitting in my kitchen in London on a gloomy January day. I have also shared it widely and had lovely feedback from friends who have stayed there. It went down a storm with our American family who stayed with us in 2013; I think I might have to invite them back soon…. Thank you so much for this, Magenta Otter!
Yes, a HUGE shoutout to Kay Horrell! We were so delighted to meet her on a visit to Stanton several years ago. How thrilling to "meet" the owner of The Old Dairy! You have a lovely home and garden! The village certainly does look glorious in the July sunshine. I have enjoyed editing these videos on the cold and dreary winter days here in Dallas, Texas. We live part time in Cheltenham. Currently in Texas but looking forward to returning to our flat in Cheltenham in May! THANK YOU so much for sharing this video! I dearly love getting new viewers, and even better, subscribers! I have a wonderful group of subscribers from Britain, and am always trying to get more Americans into the group. I try to be bilingual and speak to both audiences ;-) BTW, speaking of subscribers, I only learnt this morning the word "Moggy". A longtime sub was telling me how he had rented a Morgan and driven it through the Cotswolds... and he referred to it as a Moggy. So I was interested to see your username, haha! Speaking of names, feel free to call me Dara. Nice to "meet" you! We should all meet up in person (with the Horrells) at The Mount for lunch this summer! Cheers! XX Dara
Beautiful church and costwold cottage amazing place also have horse walking around. enjoying your tour thanks for sharing this video subscribe sending my love support to you my dear friend
Stanton and Stanway are now on my list...thank you, Dara! The grounded feeling of the stone homes is what I fancy. It would be intriguing to see the inside of some of the homes, but it's quite apparent that the inhabitants of these beautiful villages are very private.
I'm so glad my video inspired you to pay a visit! It's true that local residents need us visitors to respect their privacy and not peer into their windows as we walk by ;-) But it is lovely that you CAN stay at places like The Vine or the Old Post House and see what a period property is like!
My favorite thing about this place is the actual stone. Dara and Ian, you capture it so beautifully. I know you're only there in the summer, but I bet it would be magical covered in snow with a warm fireplace too.
Yes, a warm fireplace in a "snug" (British word for a cosy little room where you watch TV or read... oftentimes has a fireplace) would be wonderful! I agree that a blanket of snow would be magical as well. I don't think it snows often in that area, though. Hopefully it will when I eventually talk Ian into spending Christmas there ;-)
Hiya Mike! Thanks for watching. This is my hubby Ian's favourite village, and it's a beauty! BTW, both of us have ties to the Bay Area, as we lived there at different points long ago ;-) Cheers! Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Saint George became associated as patron saint of England after the English reformation. Since the early modern period, his flag came to be identified as the national flag of England. Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia and also of Georgia. The national flag of Georgia (2004) displays a combination of Saint George's cross and the Jerusalem cross.
Hiya! I just subbed to both of your multiple personalities ;-) Tell me about the difference between your Xplorers and Xperiences channels. I'm a marketing nerd, so that stuff interests me!
@@MagentaOtterTravels so Dara the Xplorers one, although shared, is done mainly by Nick and is all about our hiking adventures. The Xperiences one again although shared is done by me , Jill, it’s going to be eventually all other stuff we get up to that’s not hiking but I have only recently updated my iPad for more space so I have been currently/more recently been putting previews to upcoming videos on the Xplorers channel. I did cover a lot of Christmas fun stuff once you get chance to look back and there will be more fun stuff that’s not our main hikes to come! Thank you for your interest 👍❤️😘
Very kind of you to say, Tinesha! I hate editing most of the time, but I did enjoy editing this video because the footage was so beautiful... it allowed be to re-live the time we spent in that magical place! You can see why these villages are Ian's fave ❤! BTW, saying this because we are on my channel not yours... I keep waiting to watch the video that reveals YOU are already engaged or married or something!! ;-)
Absolutely stunning! from your narration and passion to the drone shots and the beautiful scenery! I just adored this video! wow, that gatehouse is absolutely stunning - Stanway is my favourite of the two :P Ian has fantastic taste in these villages. Love chilling in the evening and watching your videos - you tell the story so well and it's so nice to watch, thank you for sharing! 💕🙌💗
I love your videos, the pacing of them, the time you take to give a real sense of the Cotswolds. We live further south, in the little town of Nailsworth, not far from Stroud and Painswick, and we go hiking in the Cotswolds nearly every week. The little places off the tourist trail are little treasures.
Thanks so much for your kind comment! We almost bought a flat near Nailsworth!!! In Longfords Mill. I'm going to do a video one day about the places we ALMOST bought, because they were very interesting! Cheers! Dara
Hiya John! Good to hear from you. No, I actually am really irritated my ASMR. If there was background noise it was accidental ;-) Well except for the babbling brook, clip clopping horses and birds singing. THAT was on purpose! Glad you enjoyed the beauty of Stanton and Stanway! Cheers ! XX Dara
Gorgeous villages, perfect for people who want to experience the Cottswolds and are prepared to go off and explore the area. It's nice to find quiet places to just enjoy without having to be constantly encouraged to stop and spend your money.
Yes, I totally agree. There is a good mix in the Cotswolds of bustling market towns (a few of those are coming soon in February!) as well as quiet little places like this. I really enjoy visiting both!!
On this somewhat mediocre Sunday morning it was pure delight to visit the Cotswolds with you. We are planning a French coast road trip but now I'm wondering whether we should change it to the UK. I was due there with my friend Annette in 2020 but I now fear that will never happen. So the yearning for the UK is growing by the day. Dara, if nothing else I will feel like I've been and seen- through your eyes. Thank you so much for the lovely video. I'm super charged now. What to do, what to do!? 💖👍🇳🇱🙋♀️🇳🇿
There are so many beautiful places to see in Europe. You are very fortunate to live there. We'd love to do a French coast road trip. I've been enjoying planning for our trip to Austria, since there are so many scenic villages and landscapes there. Whether it's in the UK or on the Continent, we really appreciate the beauty there that contrasts so significantly to our home in Texas.
You can't go wrong, Anita! A French coast road trip or a British village exploration would both be wonderful! I also enjoy watching the footage I shot from those sunny summer days when it is a chilly winters day ;-) Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! XX Dara
Late to the party. But wow what a beautiful place to visit. When the two girls on the horses past by, I could envision ladies walking dressed in their finest and men in their suits and top hats going about their daily lives in the 1600’s! What is the backstory on with the thatch animals? I love them! Great video Dara! ~Cara 😊
I agree, I love that you can walk through the village and feel like it's 400 years ago! As for the thatch animals, thanks for making me look that up! Apparently they are called "finials" and were created for a few reasons. Historically they were believed to ward off evil spirits, they had the practical use of deterring birds from messing with the roof, and they also are a way for the thatcher to show off their creativity and craftsmanship! Thatching is a dying art, but I so appreciate the workmanship!! Thanks for watching and commenting, Cara! Cheers and happy travels! XX Dara
@@ians3586 ...lol...I thought you meant Dara's opening shots 🤦😂....yes I love the opening shots from the Vicar of Dibley, must be where you both got your ideas from 😉☺️
I love Vicar of Dibley and Agatha Raisin, and I even like the Cotswolds aspect of Father Brown. Midsomer Murders is another Cotswold-y show. So fun to watch. :-)
I like the music choice in all your videos . I wish you make a video for English people who wish to visit the USA and what would be top spots affordable memorable places. thank you
No. We nearly bought a flat in Great Malvern... but that was before my RUclips channel. It had stunning views. I vetoed it but Ian was pretty sore about that ;-)
We love the Malverns, so I'm sure there will eventually be a video of the area. The views from the Malvern Hills are, of course, better than those from the Cotswold escarpment. One of my favorite things to do when we are showing Americans around the area is to take them to the top of Worcester Beacon on a clear day when you can see Brecon Beacons on one side and the Cotswolds on the other.
Thank you Vagabond Turtle. I'm the one assigned to do the drone shots, which is the only part of this process I really enjoy. I bought the drone a couple of years ago on eBay and it's been a fun little toy.
I do love opening with a lovely drone shot... rather than a selfie of my old wrinkly lopsided face! haha Ian (my otter half) is the drone pilot. I'm so grateful for his photography, which really shows off our beloved Cotswold Hills. My happiest place on earth! Going to check out your channel now and sub! Cheers! XX Dara
Lovely places and a lovely film. You captured the atmosphere perfectly👍👍 They're very unspoilt villages, which is great. Loved the vibe on this one Dara👏👏👏👏 Thankyou for sharing🙏🙏
Thanks for your kind comment! I really appreciate you watching and leaving such a nice compliment. I have been experimenting with different video formats, and it's always great to get feedback! Cheers! XX Dara
When I worked in the Middle East, I felt a longing for the 'old' England, especially the old churches. but after I came back the longing faded and I take those aspects for granted! Your video makes me appreciate this side of the country more.
Yes, it's easy to become jaded and often it's only a change in circumstances that can open our eyes to things. The nice thing about living in Texas is that it is very different from the UK, so I think I appreciate things more when we are there and then when we return to Texas, I also have an appreciation for the things that make living here good.
I love hearing Britons say that! It is very high praise, and makes me feel so happy. We Americans love to see the pretty old villages of England... and I'm glad I can remind Britons of the treasures all around them ;-) Now I just need more Americans to watch my dang videos! LOL
Thank you Tamara (I'm Dara's husband in charge of drone shots). I love your header. I recognize Painswick, Cirencester, and Stanton but I don't know what the 4th photo is.
Nice to meet you Tamara! We are always happy to meet a fellow fan of the Cotswolds! My otter half just checked out your channel and was excited to see photos of the Cotswolds on your header. Do you live in the area? In case you haven't heard... we are Americans who live in Texas most of the year, but Cheltenham in the summer. Gloucestershire is my happy place! Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Nice to meet you too. I’ve been a subscriber to your channel for a while now (just rarely ever comment). I was born in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, and most of my family still live there, but I now reside in a small village in Suffolk (Eastern England). I definitely also love the region! Thank you so much for your wonderful channel! Xx
@@tamaracarter1836 thank you for solving that mystery. Just when I think I know everything there is to know about the Cotswolds, someone sets me straight. It looks like the manor is privately held but occasionally opens the gardens to visitors. Will have to keep an eye out for that.
Welcome to the MOT! That's my cheeky inside-joke abbreviation for the Magenta Otter Tribe, haha. I just subbed to both of your channels. Since you are from Yorkshire, I have to share with you (on my channel, where shameless self-promotion abounds LOL) a few of my favourite Yorkshire vids. Let me know what part of the county you are in! Me making the best Yorkshire puddings with my friend and her mum: ruclips.net/video/0lJSiXaBp5c/видео.html Harrogate, my first time there: ruclips.net/video/e2ahiLlAJPg/видео.html Knaresborough, a place I'd never heard of but a subscriber insisted we visit... so glad we did!: ruclips.net/video/GZnrYN9C6XA/видео.html
@@MagentaOtterTravels Gosh that reminds me our car MOT is due soon! We are from the Coast, Scarborough. Thanks for the subs, will check out your Yorkshire videos! 😍👍👍
@@MagentaOtterTravels Visit South Yorkshire, on the doorstep of the Peak District. I live in Sheffield, it's surrounded by some outstanding countryside.
What a gentle, serene tour of two lovely Cotswolds villages! Thank you! I feel a little chastised that we take places like these for granted, calmly cycling through without stopping to appreciate centuries of slowly changing communities. OK, confession over, your brilliantly edited vlog allows us to appreciate superb examples of preserved Cotswold buildings - albeit many that have changed from their original uses - in uncommercialised settings. (I'm relieved that you can find a carsey at the old rub-a-dub: useful after a tumble down the sink!) 😜
OK, here's MY confession... I had to Google "carsey" LOL! I'm so glad you enjoyed the wee tour of these little Cotswold gems. They are so picturesque. And even though these videos don't get me the views that insipid "American talks why they love/hate about England" videos do... I sure enjoy watching the footage and re-living the sunny summer days spent in our beloved Cotswolds. I am sure you ARE enjoying these villages if you are cycling through them calmly. Now you just need to cycle up the hill to The Mount Inn next time you find your way to Stanton ;-) Cheers! XX Dara
I started going to The Mount at Stanton about forty years ago and there are few better places on this planet to spend a summer's evening in the beer garden, taking in the view and enjoying a pint of the local Donnington's beer. It's captivated everyone from abroad that I've taken there and is a must visit when back in the UK with my Finnish wife.
Such lovely areas, Dara. And I was so pleased with the Father Brown reference -- one of my favorite Brit shows, except that it makes me crave strawberry scones!! If you've ever watched the show, you know what I mean. 😉
YES! I went to Blockley looking for the award winning strawberry scones!!! Video forthcoming ;-) Spoiler: I had scones. But they were not Mrs. McCarthy's award winning strawberry kind. LOL
@@welshrarebit1153 yes, we live in Cheltenham all summer, which is on the border of the Cotswolds. We have spent the last three months showing American visitors around the Cotswolds. Except the last four days, when we were in Wales! 🏴 Thanks for watching! I really appreciate your support ❤️
It's astonishing how many wee little Cotswold villages are tucked here and there! We did our best to visit as many as we could. Unfortunately that has resulted in a million hours of footage and an exhausting number of episodes in this Cotswold Series! LOL 😯
Well, if you like magenta, you have certainly come to the right place! haha I am obsessed with magenta and can spot it from a mile away! In next week's video of the Rococo Garden (only one in England!) you will see so many magenta flowers you will think they are the only flowers they allow in the garden, haha! Thanks so much for your compliment on the photography. I have been trying my best to improve my photos and videos and Ian has been perfecting his drone piloting skills. It's good for us to learn new things at our advancing age ;-) Have a lovely weekend, Jill! Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels You have a good weekend too. Bet you're warmer than us, temperature in the 40s and hard frosts at night. We don't' really get extremes of temperature thank goodness.
@@MagentaOtterTravels They must have a name sign, otherwise the postman wouldn't know what house to go to. And good they resisted the temptation to call them "Ye Olde".🙂
@@Beejay950 😂😂 indeed! I was just looking at some footage for my video of Broadway, that I will be publishing in a couple weeks. I really want you to watch that video because there’s an important postal topic I need you to weigh in on 😉
We have a Saint Peters church in my home town that was founded by Benedict Biscop in the 7th century. Not much is left of the original building after the Danes ruined it, but it was rebuilt and still stands today.
That is a wonderful bit of history! Sorry that so many original buildings haven't been preserved... but nice that it's been rebuilt and not just left as a ruin. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! XX Dara
I lived in an English Civil War era (mid 1600's) house in my teens, and the ceilings were very low. My mother was tiny so she was ok, but I (like my father) am six foot plus so there were lots of bruised heads. Father Brown (I almost said Father Ted) is a show on my to watch list. Thank you Dara and Ian (the excellent drone pilot) for another very interesting video
That is a good point. The old houses look very picturesque but from a practical standpoint, the low ceilings are a problem. We tried watching Father Brown but just couldn't get into it. It's similar to shows like Rosemary and Thyme and Agatha Raisin where the filming (especially location) is great but the writing (script) is lacking. British shows that I've enjoyed recently are Happy Valley and for lighter fare The Durrells in Corfu. We're also enjoying the new version of All Creatures Great and Small.
Thanks, Mark! Always so nice to hear from you!! Yes, THAT is one of the reasons why we opted for a ground floor flat in an Edwardian home... so that we have high ceilings and normal doorways. While I do adore the 400 year old Cotswold cottages, I also like to not bang my head in doorways. And I like having more than one bathroom/toilet in the home ;-) I'll tell you a secret... I don't love Father Brown. It's a bit too fluffy for me. I like things like Shetland and Vera that have great scripts and characters and acting... FB just isn't the same level. But the village where FB is filmed and the other filming locations are so pretty. So I'll endure some 2 dimensional characters and obvious plotlines to see that, haha!
@@MagentaOtterTravels try reading the Father Brown novels by G K Chesterton, they are really quite good. I think TV sometimes "dumbs down" good books for the sake of ratings.
Hello Dara and Ian, Brit here living in lovely Shropshire. I am quite new to your channel and I have been fascinated to view your lovely and interesting videos. I have travelled extensively in Britain over many years to the point where I have been to every place you have posted about so far except a couple of the major properties such as Gidea Park. It's really interesting to hear other people's views of my favourite places. I think I have picked up from one of your posts that, Dara, you have a sweet tooth and love your puddings. Not far from your base in Cheltenham is a lovely village called Mickleton (close to Broadway) with the Three Ways House Hotel. This hotel is the birth place of the Pudding Club and they still meet monthly ( I think). On Pudding Club nights they only serve traditional British puddings, usually with custard and including the likes of sticky toffee pudding. The only items on the menu are puddings (smallish portions) and there is a competition to find who can eat the most puddings in one night. You need to book your places but sounds just right for you. A question for you both. Does your love of Britain rub off on any of your family and friends or do you just bore them stiff if you start talking about your travels? Naturally, I have subscribed and liked everything you have done so far. I hope you stay with us (in summer) for a long time to come. Enjoy 2022.
I couldn't agree with you more that Shropshire is a lovely county. From what I've seen it's mostly a county of unspoiled beauty but we still haven't been to the northern part of the county around Shrewsbury. We love the Shropshire Hills AONB, Ludlow, and Bridgnorth. Ludlow would be one of my top choices for a place to live if transport connections were better. I'm sure Dara will eventually make a video of the town. Our prospects of Birmingham on our living room wall here in Texas are from a shop there. Dara would be the best person to answer your question since her and her family are 100% American. Even though I grew up in California, both my parents are British so I have some home bias. I think that most of our family and friends aren't particularly good at watching the videos but we have a lot of friends that want us to act as their tour guides and hosts for trips to the UK. We've done that in the past and really enjoyed it. I took friends up to the Lake District, for example, and this summer we have friends that will be staying with us at our flat in Cheltenham and we will be taking them around the Cotswolds.
Thanks so much for your support and watching my videos! Ones like this take ages to edit, so I'm always chuffed to bits when people appreciate it. Here's a funny fact: I created this channel to educate Americans on visiting Britain. I have loads of friends who are Anglophiles and I thought rather than answer the same question 97 times over email or chatting my phone I would make videos to SHOW the fabulous things to do in the UK. But then I discovered that it is almost exclusively Britons who watch my channel! Like you, they are curious to see what Americans think of their island. I'm still trying to get American viewers, because I think I can explain things in a way they understand... but ultimately I'm very thankful for every single view or comment, no matter who the viewer is!! As for the Pudding Club, YES! I have heard of it, and already wrote it down on our calendar for this summer... I really hope to go experience it in person!! Ian is right, most of our family is RUBBISH at watching our videos. And my closest friends try to watch occasionally... but they don't share my total obsession with Britain, haha! We are very much looking forward to getting back to Cheltenham in May. We have a lot of things planned for the summer... hope to do a travel update video in the coming weeks! Cheers! XX Dara
@@ians3586 Thank you for the response Ian. Shrewsbury is my nearest large town and I think you will like it if you ever visit, especially by the river. You do certainly get around when you are here. You have been to so many places.
@@MagentaOtterTravels Thank you for the response Dara. It's a bit sad that you are not getting your American viewers as that is what you are working so hard for. As you commented to someone else, you would probably get more if you did a reaction video but I agree it would spoil your exclusive style. Keep doing what you are doing and I will keep watching. I adore the Cotswolds. The Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire Dales, Lake District are all dramatic but the Cotswolds are just so beautiful.
It's good to hear that some parts of the Cotswolds still aren't taken completely over by tourists. But if you continue to make such good publicity for them....the risk of us all going there is huuuuuuge 😂
I live in the Cotswolds and if you know where to go there are actually lots of villages and some towns that are completely off the tourist trail. Stanton and Stanway and nearby Snowshill are definitely among my favourite places. There's a lovely 10 mile circular walk through that area that I do every couple of years.
This is TMI, but I have a tiny bladder and drink water constantly... so a couple years ago when we were visiting the church in Stanton and chatting with locals, I asked where the nearest toilet was. They said there WAS NOT ON IN THE VILLAGE! I was shocked. And a bit distressed, TBH. So how nice to have since figured out that the pub at the top of the hill has DELICIOUS food, an AMAZING view, as well as public toilets ;-) haha
Awwww, that is so great! I really appreciate that!! BTW, have you told me your name? Otherwise, I'm just going to say "Thanks a bunch, Glastonbury?" Cheers! XX Dara
You are too kind! But then you saw the fixation on magenta flowers, and heard Dara whisper in her "reverent voice" in the church and you remembered it was classic MOT! I am noticing an appalling lack of cheese in these recent Cotswold videos though!!! Shall have to insert some next Friday ;-)
@@wencireone I am a fan of both cheesy food and cheesy jokes! And, quite right, Ian‘s burger was smothered in cheese! I guess I forgot about that since I don’t eat hamburgers and it wasn’t my meal😂
you never told us you was time travelers. as you wrote that you filmed this in the summer of 2022. lol they look such idyllic and beautiful places, but it must be a pain having to travel to the nearest city for shopping. as your average corner shops charge far more than supermarkets. so I would love to visit those places, but not somewhere I would want to live.
That was exactly our thinking, Jean, when we were looking for a place to buy in the area. We debated buying in a lovely remote village but, in addition to the fact that there was little that would work for our budget, convenience is something we really value. Where we ended up is a better fit since we can easily get to anything we need quickly. Still I can't help thinking how idyllic it would be to live in a place like this. Literally my idea of heaven.
Jean, THANK YOU for pointing that out! I have to admit I broke into a sweat because I couldn't remember if I put 2022 in a caption in the actual video... which I can't change! Thank goodness my error was just in the description... which I have since corrected. Seriously, I need a proofreader, haha I agree with you about the shops/conveniences. I have two things to say about that: 1. In next week's video we visit Painswick. We looked at buying a home there, but the fact that it was a lovely small walkable village with no real food shops was an issue! One reason we are in Cheltenham. 2. I only discovered the reason WHY this happened after talking to so many locals in our time in the Cotswolds this summer. Many of them complained about how their used to be all kinds of banks and supermarkets and other businesses in these villages. But then they were overtaken by tourism... and so often the homes are holiday lets or vacation homes that are left vacant or only occupied by tourists. So that drives out the businesses that once were supported by year-round locals. It actually is a big problem.
So many videos, so few hours in the day to edit! haha Not yet, my friend. I have some lovely footage of Chipping... just gotta get to it! Probably will be doing Painswick and Broadway next. Thanks so much for watching and commenting! Cheers! XX Dara
Of course no Cotswold series would be complete without a vid on Chipping Campden perhaps our favourite town in the Cotswolds. She'll probably do that one around the time she features nearby Hidcote, Kiftsgate, and Broad Campden.
The reason many of these cotswold villages are so peaceful and quiet is that many of the properties are owned by wealthy Londoners who only use them at weekends and holidays.
Yes! That is something I show in the video that details our meals there... I have a photo of me holding my salad with beets and lettuce in front of the patch of garden with lettuce and beets growing in it. It was 2 feet from my table! Just amazing.
I spent quite a while looking, but I couldn't figure it out! The video is too old for me to look at the project file and see... and I tried looking around through a lot of songs to see if I could track it down. Sorry! It sounds like the band Owl City... but it's not. It's a copycat band from the music service I use called Epidemic Sound ;-)
Aah I thought my English was useless, decrepit and typically American, thanks for putting me right. It's thatched!! Not thatch! How could I be so dumb!! I'll be eating plastic cheese next like anericans
@@goodyan4453 NOOOO! Don’t go near American cheese! 😂 Seriously, I posted yesterday about the thatched cottage and in my post I spelled it “thatch” and someone corrected me. So I was not being superior in anyway, trust me!😉
@@MagentaOtterTravels no pubs, no gambling and no football, but living in a city I need a little background noise, like traffic, aeroplanes, or the occasional siren, otherwise I'm just hearing the ringing in my ears
I've just discovered your channel and absolutely love your videos! Thank you. I'm a Brit who lives in Solihull at the present time but have moved around a lot, living in Kent, Derbyshire, Oxford, Lincolnshire, Cambridge, Suffolk and Norfolk (in that order!) If you'd ever like any tips on out-of-the-way places in the UK that you haven't visited then do let me know, as I cannot get enough of travel and have been to many, many places. Your candour, charm and wonderful American view on the UK is really refreshing. If you ever get to Norfolk (which I know is a fair way from Cheltenham) then do go to Norwich, which is a great medieval city with lots and lots of charm: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwich
Well, hello and welcome to the Magenta Otter Tribe (known as the MOT for short because I think I'm funny, haha)! My husband Ian is a dual citizen, grew up in the US but spent summers in the UK. He has ancestors from Solihull! We do love visiting out of the way places, and honestly have such a long list of places we want to explore! My American friends think we are nuts that we "always go back to the UK"... but there is so much to see on the wee island, why not? We look forward to many summer adventures to come, as I continue to publish videos of the glorious places we visited last summer! I REALLY appreciate your kind words. They mean so much to me, as that is the reward I get for the dozens of hours I put into editing each video... hearing that people enjoy them! And yes, I DO plan to visit Norwich... my dear friends @Brit Girls Go Stateside are from there, and as I've watched their channel and chatted with them the past couple years I have learnt so much about that lovely and historic area! Definitely want to visit in person! Thanks again for your comment, and I look forward to hearing from you again as you watch other videos on my channel! Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Great to know the Solihull connection! I'm tempted to send some photos of places you've not been to in the UK: would that be alright? I've got your email address!
PRETTY PAINSWICK PREMIERE next Friday. I'm going to be doing a few premieres of some particularly special Cotswolds places in the coming weeks. Though to be honest, they are all pretty special to me ;-) Hope you can join one of the future premieres, or just watch when convenient. We are so excited to share our beloved Cotswolds with you, our MOT friends! Cheers! XX Dara
great video, like it very much, thanks my dear friend for sharing,looking forward to more updates, stay connected.
Thanks for visiting
I'm a 56yr old English man born and bred and I'm embarrassed to say you and your fellow Americans have seen more of the UK than I have,looking through your eyes re. this island makes me so proud but also so sad I've wasted so many years taking it for granted instead of exploring it,take note fellow Brits(especially young uns)we've got a beautiful island that millions visit every year
I'm a 57 yr old American Anglophile that doesn't appreciate the beauty of the national parks in the US because I'm always going to Britain on holiday! haha
Seriously, I'm glad to remind Britons of the lovely treasures that surround them. I hope I inspire a few of them to wander off into the woods or hills or villages and enjoy the beauty ;-) Cheers! XX Dara
I am American Anglophile and I have loved everything British for over 40 years. Three years ago I had the opportunity to visit your lovely island and I can truthfully state that was the best trip I ever had. I would go back in a heartbeat. My dream would be to have at least a month there to see as much as I possibly could and really spend quality time at places without the schedule of a tour.
@@ruthgoebel723 You are most welcome Ruth. However you may be wise to give it another year, due to Covid a lot of natives are holidaying at home making booking difficult. Take a look at National Trust cottages online, I have stayed in some amazing places and the money benefits the trust. Also, for a small island there is a lot to see in a small area, you may need to select your preferred area and do it properly or you could spend a lot of time in the car.
@@thewealduk9802 Yes, I am resigned to wait till it is safe to travel again. I am just so glad I was able to do my 2019 trip before covid and all the restrictions came about. We used Classic British Drama Tours previously and along with their regular tours, they also offer bespoke tours which are wonderful! We had 9 glorious days, saw lovely mansions and country homes and spent our nights in marvelous places. We covered a lot of territory, from Brighton to Buxton to the Cotswolds. It was a great way to see the countryside.
@@MagentaOtterTravels definitely inspired me 👍💕
Hey Sis! I don't know if I've told you that I stayed at The Vine in June 2000. Breakfast was in the farm kitchen near the huge warm Aga stove. The owner, Jill Carenza, also owns the Jill Carenza Equestrian Ltd. riding stables just down the street where you can ride at an hourly rate, unlike most of the other stables in the area which require a membership and/or lessons. The numerous horses are strong and beautiful and they have ones available for all levels of expertise. I took my grandkids to ride there again in March 2019 and loved sharing with them, once again, the experience of riding through the green sheep pastures overlooking Stanton and the surrounding countryside and being the ones clip-clopping through the village streets. Highly recommended. We ate at the Mount Inn and listened to stories from those hiking the Cotswold Way.
Thank you so much for all of those details! That’s fantastic! I didn’t realise you had stayed at the Vine! Wonderful to know that you can hire horses from the owner. We will definitely be using that information in the future!
luôn chúc bạn thật nhiều niềm vui hạnh phúc bên gia đình vào dịp năm mới ...... 39 like
👍
Wow!! Breathtaking view, my friend!! I love the green trees and green hills! Thank you for capturing this so perfectly! Lucy is sending her full support!!
Thank you, Lucy, and your associated hoomans ;-)
That is a cool door knocker. We never knew there were so many magenta roses in the world until we found you! Lol.
Haha, indeed! Wait till next week... I go to a Rococo Garden and you are going to think that they ONLY had magenta flowers there! LOL
L115 greetings from a new friend watching from Hong Kong. Wow! What an amazing and stunning place to live on my friend! A peaceful and quiet place and lovely preserves place like this was a great treasure from the community. Like a paradise! I love the buildings structures it seem like an ancient houses. I’ve been only seen in the movie these kinds of houses. Excellent, informative, interesting, impressive and fantastic video filming. Thanks for sharing your great adventure my dear friend. Have a wonderful day aheads and more power!😊
Thanks so much for your nice comment. I agree... so many people haven't seen places like this in real life, so it is magically to actually go there and walk among those lovely homes! Have a great day! Dara
I think we’re going with Stanway as our favourite village so far. This one looks to have a little of everything and looks peaceful too. We are really enjoying this series Dara. Thanks for sharing 🍻
Thanks guys! A bit of the extreme opposite of Vegas, huh? LOL
Yes, Stanton is so lovely. Maybe that is where we should meet up with you this summer! We can go to The Mount Inn.. you can have a pint and we shall have a salad and a pudding! haha
@@MagentaOtterTravels sounds great! I’m going to hedge my bets and see what puddings are on offer first before I commit to a pint!!! 🍻
@@PostcardAndAPint I totally understand! Lol
Omg 🤩 absolutely beautiful views
Thanks so much. We do think it's a gorgeous spot in the world! Cheers!
@@MagentaOtterTravels 😊😊🙏🙏🙏
Beautiful view peace full place
Nice sharing 👉🔔
A magnificent depiction of our beautiful Stanton!
WELL DONE, DARA and IAN!!!!!
Awww, thanks Kay! I wish you could have been a guest star in this video! But I'm chuffed (i.e., extremely pleased) that you have shared the video with friends in Stanton. And the Mount Inn... we love that place!!
Thank you for this link, Kay, so wonderful to ‘walk through’ our beloved Stanton from my kitchen table in London on a gloomy January day. I was almost tempted to try and walk through our (heavily featured) front door at The Old Dairy. I hardly ever get to see the hollyhocks I planted; here they are shown in all their glory. 🥰 wonderful.
That's really cool and interesting vidz my friend
Great walk tour around the village. Beautiful, clean and peaceful surroundings. Tnx 4sharing.
Thank you!
Thanks! It is such a well-maintained village. Nice to see in this age when many places are overrun and not kept tidy. It's like walking back in time. Thanks for your comment! Cheers - Dara
This is heaven on earth! What a beautiful, peaceful area. No wonder it's Ian's favourite place in the Cotswolds. I really enjoyed coming along to the Premiere - thank you!
You are so kind to join the premiere! I agree, it is a really really special place!
Lovely drone footage 👍🙏 and thanks for the info 😉
Thank you!
Hiya friends! Thanks for watching and commenting! I've been experimenting with different video formats. I've done a lot of videos which are more travel vlogs, but in the Cotswolds series they are turning out to be more little documentaries. I hate how much time they take to edit, but I'm always chuffed when the video is finished, haha! BTW, if you want to meet up for tea this summer... let us know what county or town would be a good place! We live in Cheltenham all summer. Cheers! XX Dara
Big honor and glad to me to find new friends on RUclips and of course today your channel get new fan and friend for always keep going im with you any time 🤠❤🇹🇷👍🏻💙 💫🌏👻💕🔥🌐
Thanks!
I keep re-visiting the scene at 10.20 with the individual horse approaching the camera and then the two joining the main road - absolutely gorgeous.
It is dreamy. When we visit these villages I keep thinking how much better the ambience of these villages would be if they were car restricted like some town centres are. I know that's not practical but when you visit Broadway choked with traffic you can't help thinking it.
@@ians3586 I agree but we are looking at it from the point of view of the tourist. I am sure all the residents wish easy access to their vehicles.
Thanks so much for watching and leaving that comment! It's always nice to hear the bits that people enjoy about the video. I dearly love seeing the horse riders in the Cotswolds.... just lends to the feeling of having walked back in time 400 years! More horses coming in my Broadway video in 2 weeks ;-) Cheers! XX Dara
Perfect depiction of all that is best in an English village before the twee cafes and shops arrive. Long may Stanton and Stanway stay that way.
Thanks, Gerry! I agree! Hoping that S&S are preserved in their beauty.
Hey dear it's wonderful place 💖
You are doing very nice
And your presentation is too good
Thanks for this amazing content sharing 😊
Cheers
Lovely! I had to chuckle at your comment of taking a picture over the wall of a house you could not get in to see. We did that in Luckington, trying to get a picture of “Longbourn” where Elizabeth Bennet lived in Pride and Prejudice. We were in the church yard with cameras and phones peering above the churchyard wall trying to get a good shot of the house. 😂😂😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️
The funniest thing is when you can't see and you have to hold the camera above your head and just randomly click... hoping you are getting an image!
I felt cheeky filming over the churchyard wall, but it turns out that is what everybody does! The house is not open much to the public, and during covid I think it has been closed the whole time. I have read several guide books that say the best view is over the churchyard wall... so I guess that is just what you do ;-)
And yes, I would agree that it's always exciting to see places from Pride & Prejudice!
Thanks as always for watching and commenting! Have a great weekend, Ruth! Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels ❤️❤️❤️
A big shout-out to Kay Horrell, who sent the link to this adorable video to us, we being residents of Stanton.
We only live there part-time, and it was such a treat to view Stanton (and our house, The Old Dairy) basking in July sunshine, whilst sitting in my kitchen in London on a gloomy January day.
I have also shared it widely and had lovely feedback from friends who have stayed there. It went down a storm with our American family who stayed with us in 2013; I think I might have to invite them back soon…. Thank you so much for this, Magenta Otter!
Yes, a HUGE shoutout to Kay Horrell! We were so delighted to meet her on a visit to Stanton several years ago. How thrilling to "meet" the owner of The Old Dairy! You have a lovely home and garden! The village certainly does look glorious in the July sunshine. I have enjoyed editing these videos on the cold and dreary winter days here in Dallas, Texas.
We live part time in Cheltenham. Currently in Texas but looking forward to returning to our flat in Cheltenham in May! THANK YOU so much for sharing this video! I dearly love getting new viewers, and even better, subscribers! I have a wonderful group of subscribers from Britain, and am always trying to get more Americans into the group. I try to be bilingual and speak to both audiences ;-)
BTW, speaking of subscribers, I only learnt this morning the word "Moggy". A longtime sub was telling me how he had rented a Morgan and driven it through the Cotswolds... and he referred to it as a Moggy. So I was interested to see your username, haha! Speaking of names, feel free to call me Dara. Nice to "meet" you! We should all meet up in person (with the Horrells) at The Mount for lunch this summer! Cheers! XX Dara
Amazing footage of a beautiful place - thank-you for sharing this 🙂
These villages are just SO picturesque! We love visiting and sharing these gems with our friends. Cheers! XX Dara
Beautiful church and costwold cottage amazing place also have horse walking around. enjoying your tour thanks for sharing this video subscribe sending my love support to you my dear friend
Thanks!
That pub looks like a beautiful place to spend the evening,what a view!cheers Dara and Ian.
Yes, I highly recommend that pub! 10/10! Cheers, Tony!
Stanton and Stanway are now on my list...thank you, Dara! The grounded feeling of the stone homes is what I fancy. It would be intriguing to see the inside of some of the homes, but it's quite apparent that the inhabitants of these beautiful villages are very private.
I'm so glad my video inspired you to pay a visit! It's true that local residents need us visitors to respect their privacy and not peer into their windows as we walk by ;-) But it is lovely that you CAN stay at places like The Vine or the Old Post House and see what a period property is like!
My favorite thing about this place is the actual stone. Dara and Ian, you capture it so beautifully. I know you're only there in the summer, but I bet it would be magical covered in snow with a warm fireplace too.
I was saying that to Dara this morning. I wouldn't want to be filming these places in the winter except if it were snowy. That would be magical.
Yes, a warm fireplace in a "snug" (British word for a cosy little room where you watch TV or read... oftentimes has a fireplace) would be wonderful! I agree that a blanket of snow would be magical as well. I don't think it snows often in that area, though. Hopefully it will when I eventually talk Ian into spending Christmas there ;-)
Making my way through the series. All the best from that place
Hiya Mike! Thanks for watching. This is my hubby Ian's favourite village, and it's a beauty! BTW, both of us have ties to the Bay Area, as we lived there at different points long ago ;-) Cheers! Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Awesome!
There’s an art in making a wild looking garden look as good as these ,
I agree! Those are talented gardeners indeed! I have no skills in that area, so I'm in awe.
We also saw a George slaying a dragon statue while in the country of Georgia.
Really?! That is interesting... now I need to know why it was named Georgia... The state of Georgia was named after King George.
@@MagentaOtterTravels Saint George became associated as patron saint of England after the English reformation. Since the early modern period, his flag came to be identified as the national flag of England. Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia and also of Georgia. The national flag of Georgia (2004) displays a combination of Saint George's cross and the Jerusalem cross.
Hey Dara 🙋🏻♀️ met you at Pinned on Places premiere. Looking forward to checking out your content 👍🔔❤️
Hiya! I just subbed to both of your multiple personalities ;-) Tell me about the difference between your Xplorers and Xperiences channels. I'm a marketing nerd, so that stuff interests me!
@@MagentaOtterTravels so Dara the Xplorers one, although shared, is done mainly by Nick and is all about our hiking adventures. The Xperiences one again although shared is done by me , Jill, it’s going to be eventually all other stuff we get up to that’s not hiking but I have only recently updated my iPad for more space so I have been currently/more recently been putting previews to upcoming videos on the Xplorers channel. I did cover a lot of Christmas fun stuff once you get chance to look back and there will be more fun stuff that’s not our main hikes to come! Thank you for your interest 👍❤️😘
Your videos get better and better. Great way to start Friday evening. x
Awwww, thanks so much for saying that, EKK!! You really made my day! Cheers! XX Dara
Wonderful vlog x
Thanks so much!
You do such a great job with these videos ...now I want to visit the Cotswolds - places I've never heard of until watching your channel - LoL
Very kind of you to say, Tinesha! I hate editing most of the time, but I did enjoy editing this video because the footage was so beautiful... it allowed be to re-live the time we spent in that magical place! You can see why these villages are Ian's fave ❤! BTW, saying this because we are on my channel not yours... I keep waiting to watch the video that reveals YOU are already engaged or married or something!! ;-)
Just lovely!
Yes, it's a special place! Ian went to the open gardens of Stanton this past June and said they were out of this world!
Absolutely stunning! from your narration and passion to the drone shots and the beautiful scenery! I just adored this video! wow, that gatehouse is absolutely stunning - Stanway is my favourite of the two :P Ian has fantastic taste in these villages. Love chilling in the evening and watching your videos - you tell the story so well and it's so nice to watch, thank you for sharing! 💕🙌💗
That is very kind of you to say! I'm glad you enjoyed seeing one of our favourite places ;-) Cheers! XX Dara
Thank you for share 💕👍Gain more knowledge in this clip. Thank you very much.
My pleasure
I love your videos, the pacing of them, the time you take to give a real sense of the Cotswolds. We live further south, in the little town of Nailsworth, not far from Stroud and Painswick, and we go hiking in the Cotswolds nearly every week. The little places off the tourist trail are little treasures.
Thanks so much for your kind comment!
We almost bought a flat near Nailsworth!!! In Longfords Mill. I'm going to do a video one day about the places we ALMOST bought, because they were very interesting! Cheers! Dara
A beautiful video. And commentary wise, was this you trying your hand at ASMR 🙂
Hiya John! Good to hear from you. No, I actually am really irritated my ASMR. If there was background noise it was accidental ;-) Well except for the babbling brook, clip clopping horses and birds singing. THAT was on purpose!
Glad you enjoyed the beauty of Stanton and Stanway! Cheers ! XX Dara
These villages seem to beautiful to be true....OMG! I want to live there 💜
Me too! But I'd have a hard time giving up the convenience of living in a town where everything is close by.
@@ians3586 Oh this would be easy for me, it's all about organisation. I would prefer the calm to the convenience.
You would love it there!
@@MagentaOtterTravels yes, I really would!!
Wow the carvings on that gatehouse door are amazing!
It's amazing how elaborate that gatehouse is. I always want to say "it's JUST the gatehouse"... but it really is so magnificent!
Gorgeous villages, perfect for people who want to experience the Cottswolds and are prepared to go off and explore the area. It's nice to find quiet places to just enjoy without having to be constantly encouraged to stop and spend your money.
Yes, I totally agree. There is a good mix in the Cotswolds of bustling market towns (a few of those are coming soon in February!) as well as quiet little places like this. I really enjoy visiting both!!
Hats off, I just loved this, the village aesthetic just speaks to me. Thank you.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! We love the village aesthetic as well! Cheers! XX Dara
On this somewhat mediocre Sunday morning it was pure delight to visit the Cotswolds with you. We are planning a French coast road trip but now I'm wondering whether we should change it to the UK. I was due there with my friend Annette in 2020 but I now fear that will never happen. So the yearning for the UK is growing by the day. Dara, if nothing else I will feel like I've been and seen- through your eyes. Thank you so much for the lovely video. I'm super charged now. What to do, what to do!? 💖👍🇳🇱🙋♀️🇳🇿
There are so many beautiful places to see in Europe. You are very fortunate to live there. We'd love to do a French coast road trip. I've been enjoying planning for our trip to Austria, since there are so many scenic villages and landscapes there. Whether it's in the UK or on the Continent, we really appreciate the beauty there that contrasts so significantly to our home in Texas.
You can't go wrong, Anita! A French coast road trip or a British village exploration would both be wonderful! I also enjoy watching the footage I shot from those sunny summer days when it is a chilly winters day ;-)
Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! XX Dara
Late to the party. But wow what a beautiful place to visit. When the two girls on the horses past by, I could envision ladies walking dressed in their finest and men in their suits and top hats going about their daily lives in the 1600’s! What is the backstory on with the thatch animals? I love them! Great video Dara! ~Cara 😊
I agree, I love that you can walk through the village and feel like it's 400 years ago! As for the thatch animals, thanks for making me look that up! Apparently they are called "finials" and were created for a few reasons. Historically they were believed to ward off evil spirits, they had the practical use of deterring birds from messing with the roof, and they also are a way for the thatcher to show off their creativity and craftsmanship! Thatching is a dying art, but I so appreciate the workmanship!! Thanks for watching and commenting, Cara! Cheers and happy travels! XX Dara
Always think of the Vicar of Dibley when I see villages in the Cotswolds 💕
Exactly. I always love the opening shots for that show.
@@ians3586 ..she's amazing, I never knew we had so many beautiful places 👍💕
@@ians3586 ...lol...I thought you meant Dara's opening shots 🤦😂....yes I love the opening shots from the Vicar of Dibley, must be where you both got your ideas from 😉☺️
I love Vicar of Dibley and Agatha Raisin, and I even like the Cotswolds aspect of Father Brown. Midsomer Murders is another Cotswold-y show. So fun to watch. :-)
I like the music choice in all your videos . I wish you make a video for English people who wish to visit the USA and what would be top spots affordable memorable places. thank you
The view towards the Malvern hills from the pub was a spectacular view. Have you done any videos from Malvern?
No. We nearly bought a flat in Great Malvern... but that was before my RUclips channel. It had stunning views. I vetoed it but Ian was pretty sore about that ;-)
We love the Malverns, so I'm sure there will eventually be a video of the area. The views from the Malvern Hills are, of course, better than those from the Cotswold escarpment. One of my favorite things to do when we are showing Americans around the area is to take them to the top of Worcester Beacon on a clear day when you can see Brecon Beacons on one side and the Cotswolds on the other.
@@ians3586 I can see the Malvern Hills, the two Clee Hills in Worcestershire and the Wrekin hill in Shropshire from my house.
@@SRT8Cat that's right. You're in the lovely county of Shropshire.
@@ians3586 Not quite Shropshire Ian, I live near to Dudley and I'm about five miles from the Shropshire border, so you're not far out!
What an opening! I love that view over the fields
Thank you Vagabond Turtle. I'm the one assigned to do the drone shots, which is the only part of this process I really enjoy. I bought the drone a couple of years ago on eBay and it's been a fun little toy.
I do love opening with a lovely drone shot... rather than a selfie of my old wrinkly lopsided face! haha
Ian (my otter half) is the drone pilot. I'm so grateful for his photography, which really shows off our beloved Cotswold Hills. My happiest place on earth! Going to check out your channel now and sub! Cheers! XX Dara
@@ians3586 I love flying too so I can relate :) amazing shots and amazing video, good job both, my friends :)
Lovely places and a lovely film. You captured the atmosphere perfectly👍👍
They're very unspoilt villages, which is great. Loved the vibe on this one Dara👏👏👏👏
Thankyou for sharing🙏🙏
Thanks for your kind comment! I really appreciate you watching and leaving such a nice compliment. I have been experimenting with different video formats, and it's always great to get feedback! Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels 👍👍
When I worked in the Middle East, I felt a longing for the 'old' England, especially the old churches. but after I came back the longing faded and I take those aspects for granted! Your video makes me appreciate this side of the country more.
Yes, it's easy to become jaded and often it's only a change in circumstances that can open our eyes to things. The nice thing about living in Texas is that it is very different from the UK, so I think I appreciate things more when we are there and then when we return to Texas, I also have an appreciation for the things that make living here good.
I love hearing Britons say that! It is very high praise, and makes me feel so happy. We Americans love to see the pretty old villages of England... and I'm glad I can remind Britons of the treasures all around them ;-) Now I just need more Americans to watch my dang videos! LOL
So beautiful! Thank you so much for this wonderful video
Thank you Tamara (I'm Dara's husband in charge of drone shots). I love your header. I recognize Painswick, Cirencester, and Stanton but I don't know what the 4th photo is.
Nice to meet you Tamara! We are always happy to meet a fellow fan of the Cotswolds! My otter half just checked out your channel and was excited to see photos of the Cotswolds on your header. Do you live in the area? In case you haven't heard... we are Americans who live in Texas most of the year, but Cheltenham in the summer. Gloucestershire is my happy place! Cheers! XX Dara
@@ians3586 You’re welcome! The fourth picture is of Asthall Manor in the village of Asthall, Oxfordshire. Wonderful drone shots by the way!
@@MagentaOtterTravels Nice to meet you too. I’ve been a subscriber to your channel for a while now (just rarely ever comment). I was born in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, and most of my family still live there, but I now reside in a small village in Suffolk (Eastern England). I definitely also love the region! Thank you so much for your wonderful channel! Xx
@@tamaracarter1836 thank you for solving that mystery. Just when I think I know everything there is to know about the Cotswolds, someone sets me straight. It looks like the manor is privately held but occasionally opens the gardens to visitors. Will have to keep an eye out for that.
Got to you from PinnedonPlaces, great video guys! Will be joining you on your future travels! 😍👍
Welcome to the MOT! That's my cheeky inside-joke abbreviation for the Magenta Otter Tribe, haha. I just subbed to both of your channels. Since you are from Yorkshire, I have to share with you (on my channel, where shameless self-promotion abounds LOL) a few of my favourite Yorkshire vids. Let me know what part of the county you are in!
Me making the best Yorkshire puddings with my friend and her mum: ruclips.net/video/0lJSiXaBp5c/видео.html
Harrogate, my first time there: ruclips.net/video/e2ahiLlAJPg/видео.html
Knaresborough, a place I'd never heard of but a subscriber insisted we visit... so glad we did!: ruclips.net/video/GZnrYN9C6XA/видео.html
@@MagentaOtterTravels Gosh that reminds me our car MOT is due soon! We are from the Coast, Scarborough. Thanks for the subs, will check out your Yorkshire videos! 😍👍👍
@@MagentaOtterTravels Visit South Yorkshire, on the doorstep of the Peak District. I live in Sheffield, it's surrounded by some outstanding countryside.
What a gentle, serene tour of two lovely Cotswolds villages! Thank you! I feel a little chastised that we take places like these for granted, calmly cycling through without stopping to appreciate centuries of slowly changing communities. OK, confession over, your brilliantly edited vlog allows us to appreciate superb examples of preserved Cotswold buildings - albeit many that have changed from their original uses - in uncommercialised settings. (I'm relieved that you can find a carsey at the old rub-a-dub: useful after a tumble down the sink!) 😜
OK, here's MY confession... I had to Google "carsey" LOL! I'm so glad you enjoyed the wee tour of these little Cotswold gems. They are so picturesque. And even though these videos don't get me the views that insipid "American talks why they love/hate about England" videos do... I sure enjoy watching the footage and re-living the sunny summer days spent in our beloved Cotswolds. I am sure you ARE enjoying these villages if you are cycling through them calmly. Now you just need to cycle up the hill to The Mount Inn next time you find your way to Stanton ;-) Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels The Mount Inn 🍺is definitely on our 'refreshment stop' list. Thanks for the recommendation!
The honey coloured stone is the best. Especially when it's new. I love seeing a newly roofed house in Cotswold stone.
I love the new and the old!
I started going to The Mount at Stanton about forty years ago and there are few better places on this planet to spend a summer's evening in the beer garden, taking in the view and enjoying a pint of the local Donnington's beer. It's captivated everyone from abroad that I've taken there and is a must visit when back in the UK with my Finnish wife.
Yes, we keep taking visitors there as well! On a clear summer afternoon or evening the view can't be beat!
Such lovely areas, Dara. And I was so pleased with the Father Brown reference -- one of my favorite Brit shows, except that it makes me crave strawberry scones!! If you've ever watched the show, you know what I mean. 😉
YES! I went to Blockley looking for the award winning strawberry scones!!! Video forthcoming ;-) Spoiler: I had scones. But they were not Mrs. McCarthy's award winning strawberry kind. LOL
Just found your channel and absolutely loving the Cotswolds playlist. Have you visited it again recently?
@@welshrarebit1153 yes, we live in Cheltenham all summer, which is on the border of the Cotswolds. We have spent the last three months showing American visitors around the Cotswolds. Except the last four days, when we were in Wales! 🏴
Thanks for watching! I really appreciate your support ❤️
To me it's funny, all those years I spent travelling and missed the things just up the road from me
It's astonishing how many wee little Cotswold villages are tucked here and there! We did our best to visit as many as we could. Unfortunately that has resulted in a million hours of footage and an exhausting number of episodes in this Cotswold Series! LOL 😯
Beautiful places, again beautifully photographed. How do you do it?
You also have a knack for finding magenta flowers, one of my favourite colours.
Well, if you like magenta, you have certainly come to the right place! haha
I am obsessed with magenta and can spot it from a mile away! In next week's video of the Rococo Garden (only one in England!) you will see so many magenta flowers you will think they are the only flowers they allow in the garden, haha!
Thanks so much for your compliment on the photography. I have been trying my best to improve my photos and videos and Ian has been perfecting his drone piloting skills. It's good for us to learn new things at our advancing age ;-)
Have a lovely weekend, Jill! Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels You have a good weekend too. Bet you're warmer than us, temperature in the 40s and hard frosts at night. We don't' really get extremes of temperature thank goodness.
@@jillhobson6128 it was -7 C (20 F) here last night. I’m wearing lots of warm fleece clothing in the house and drinking chamomile tea tonight!!
@@MagentaOtterTravels I always think in Fahrenheit until it gets below freezing.
It's so endearing to see all the cottage names on the sides of the homes. :)
I agree!!! I desperately want to get a sign for our flat that says "The Holt" (where otters live)... but so far Ian has vetoed that :-(
@@MagentaOtterTravels They must have a name sign, otherwise the postman wouldn't know what house to go to. And good they resisted the temptation to call them "Ye Olde".🙂
@@Beejay950 😂😂 indeed! I was just looking at some footage for my video of Broadway, that I will be publishing in a couple weeks. I really want you to watch that video because there’s an important postal topic I need you to weigh in on 😉
@@MagentaOtterTravelsOK, I'll be there, but I don't know very much about New York.
We have a Saint Peters church in my home town that was founded by Benedict Biscop in the 7th century. Not much is left of the original building after the Danes ruined it, but it was rebuilt and still stands today.
That is a wonderful bit of history! Sorry that so many original buildings haven't been preserved... but nice that it's been rebuilt and not just left as a ruin. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! XX Dara
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I lived in an English Civil War era (mid 1600's) house in my teens, and the ceilings were very low. My mother was tiny so she was ok, but I (like my father) am six foot plus so there were lots of bruised heads. Father Brown (I almost said Father Ted) is a show on my to watch list. Thank you Dara and Ian (the excellent drone pilot) for another very interesting video
That is a good point. The old houses look very picturesque but from a practical standpoint, the low ceilings are a problem. We tried watching Father Brown but just couldn't get into it. It's similar to shows like Rosemary and Thyme and Agatha Raisin where the filming (especially location) is great but the writing (script) is lacking. British shows that I've enjoyed recently are Happy Valley and for lighter fare The Durrells in Corfu. We're also enjoying the new version of All Creatures Great and Small.
Thanks, Mark! Always so nice to hear from you!! Yes, THAT is one of the reasons why we opted for a ground floor flat in an Edwardian home... so that we have high ceilings and normal doorways. While I do adore the 400 year old Cotswold cottages, I also like to not bang my head in doorways. And I like having more than one bathroom/toilet in the home ;-)
I'll tell you a secret... I don't love Father Brown. It's a bit too fluffy for me. I like things like Shetland and Vera that have great scripts and characters and acting... FB just isn't the same level. But the village where FB is filmed and the other filming locations are so pretty. So I'll endure some 2 dimensional characters and obvious plotlines to see that, haha!
@@MagentaOtterTravels try reading the Father Brown novels by G K Chesterton, they are really quite good. I think TV sometimes "dumbs down" good books for the sake of ratings.
Hello Dara and Ian, Brit here living in lovely Shropshire. I am quite new to your channel and I have been fascinated to view your lovely and interesting videos. I have travelled extensively in Britain over many years to the point where I have been to every place you have posted about so far except a couple of the major properties such as Gidea Park. It's really interesting to hear other people's views of my favourite places.
I think I have picked up from one of your posts that, Dara, you have a sweet tooth and love your puddings. Not far from your base in Cheltenham is a lovely village called Mickleton (close to Broadway) with the Three Ways House Hotel. This hotel is the birth place of the Pudding Club and they still meet monthly ( I think). On Pudding Club nights they only serve traditional British puddings, usually with custard and including the likes of sticky toffee pudding. The only items on the menu are puddings (smallish portions) and there is a competition to find who can eat the most puddings in one night. You need to book your places but sounds just right for you.
A question for you both. Does your love of Britain rub off on any of your family and friends or do you just bore them stiff if you start talking about your travels?
Naturally, I have subscribed and liked everything you have done so far. I hope you stay with us (in summer) for a long time to come. Enjoy 2022.
I couldn't agree with you more that Shropshire is a lovely county. From what I've seen it's mostly a county of unspoiled beauty but we still haven't been to the northern part of the county around Shrewsbury. We love the Shropshire Hills AONB, Ludlow, and Bridgnorth. Ludlow would be one of my top choices for a place to live if transport connections were better. I'm sure Dara will eventually make a video of the town. Our prospects of Birmingham on our living room wall here in Texas are from a shop there. Dara would be the best person to answer your question since her and her family are 100% American. Even though I grew up in California, both my parents are British so I have some home bias. I think that most of our family and friends aren't particularly good at watching the videos but we have a lot of friends that want us to act as their tour guides and hosts for trips to the UK. We've done that in the past and really enjoyed it. I took friends up to the Lake District, for example, and this summer we have friends that will be staying with us at our flat in Cheltenham and we will be taking them around the Cotswolds.
Thanks so much for your support and watching my videos! Ones like this take ages to edit, so I'm always chuffed to bits when people appreciate it. Here's a funny fact: I created this channel to educate Americans on visiting Britain. I have loads of friends who are Anglophiles and I thought rather than answer the same question 97 times over email or chatting my phone I would make videos to SHOW the fabulous things to do in the UK. But then I discovered that it is almost exclusively Britons who watch my channel! Like you, they are curious to see what Americans think of their island. I'm still trying to get American viewers, because I think I can explain things in a way they understand... but ultimately I'm very thankful for every single view or comment, no matter who the viewer is!!
As for the Pudding Club, YES! I have heard of it, and already wrote it down on our calendar for this summer... I really hope to go experience it in person!!
Ian is right, most of our family is RUBBISH at watching our videos. And my closest friends try to watch occasionally... but they don't share my total obsession with Britain, haha!
We are very much looking forward to getting back to Cheltenham in May. We have a lot of things planned for the summer... hope to do a travel update video in the coming weeks! Cheers! XX Dara
@@ians3586 Thank you for the response Ian. Shrewsbury is my nearest large town and I think you will like it if you ever visit, especially by the river. You do certainly get around when you are here. You have been to so many places.
@@MagentaOtterTravels Thank you for the response Dara. It's a bit sad that you are not getting your American viewers as that is what you are working so hard for. As you commented to someone else, you would probably get more if you did a reaction video but I agree it would spoil your exclusive style. Keep doing what you are doing and I will keep watching.
I adore the Cotswolds. The Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire Dales, Lake District are all dramatic but the Cotswolds are just so beautiful.
It's good to hear that some parts of the Cotswolds still aren't taken completely over by tourists. But if you continue to make such good publicity for them....the risk of us all going there is huuuuuuge 😂
I appreciate your opinion of my channel, but I still think my wee little channel will have minimal impact on overall traffic to Stanway ;-) haha
@@MagentaOtterTravels well if only half of your subs go there....it will be crowded!
I live in the Cotswolds and if you know where to go there are actually lots of villages and some towns that are completely off the tourist trail. Stanton and Stanway and nearby Snowshill are definitely among my favourite places. There's a lovely 10 mile circular walk through that area that I do every couple of years.
Good call out that there aren't tourist conveniences in these villages, I appreciated the heads up so I can plan accordingly!
This is TMI, but I have a tiny bladder and drink water constantly... so a couple years ago when we were visiting the church in Stanton and chatting with locals, I asked where the nearest toilet was. They said there WAS NOT ON IN THE VILLAGE! I was shocked. And a bit distressed, TBH. So how nice to have since figured out that the pub at the top of the hill has DELICIOUS food, an AMAZING view, as well as public toilets ;-) haha
it’s so nice to see a beautiful Cotswolds town not swarming with tourists!
I could not agree more!
Watched this 3 times now and sent to friends 💕
Thank you so much! We really appreciate the support!
Awwww, that is so great! I really appreciate that!! BTW, have you told me your name? Otherwise, I'm just going to say "Thanks a bunch, Glastonbury?" Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels my name is Jamie , but am male as Americans use it as a female name as well 🤷😉😅
@@glastonbury4304 oh yes, ever since the bionic woman the name Jamie is both genders 😂
@@MagentaOtterTravels lol...I had her on my wall as a kid with Lee Majors 🤦🤣🤣
Well done, I think you've nailed the editing, I almost forgot I was watching an MOT production, seemed like a tv show.
You are too kind! But then you saw the fixation on magenta flowers, and heard Dara whisper in her "reverent voice" in the church and you remembered it was classic MOT! I am noticing an appalling lack of cheese in these recent Cotswold videos though!!! Shall have to insert some next Friday ;-)
@@MagentaOtterTravels I'm guessing that's the food and not the bad jokes
@@MagentaOtterTravels I definitely saw cheese in the IG burger 😉
Eric's right. There was definitely cheese on my burger at the end. I wouldn't have it any other way.
@@wencireone I am a fan of both cheesy food and cheesy jokes! And, quite right, Ian‘s burger was smothered in cheese! I guess I forgot about that since I don’t eat hamburgers and it wasn’t my meal😂
you never told us you was time travelers. as you wrote that you filmed this in the summer of 2022. lol
they look such idyllic and beautiful places, but it must be a pain having to travel to the nearest city for shopping. as your average corner shops charge far more than supermarkets. so I would love to visit those places, but not somewhere I would want to live.
That was exactly our thinking, Jean, when we were looking for a place to buy in the area. We debated buying in a lovely remote village but, in addition to the fact that there was little that would work for our budget, convenience is something we really value. Where we ended up is a better fit since we can easily get to anything we need quickly. Still I can't help thinking how idyllic it would be to live in a place like this. Literally my idea of heaven.
Jean, THANK YOU for pointing that out! I have to admit I broke into a sweat because I couldn't remember if I put 2022 in a caption in the actual video... which I can't change! Thank goodness my error was just in the description... which I have since corrected. Seriously, I need a proofreader, haha
I agree with you about the shops/conveniences. I have two things to say about that:
1. In next week's video we visit Painswick. We looked at buying a home there, but the fact that it was a lovely small walkable village with no real food shops was an issue! One reason we are in Cheltenham.
2. I only discovered the reason WHY this happened after talking to so many locals in our time in the Cotswolds this summer. Many of them complained about how their used to be all kinds of banks and supermarkets and other businesses in these villages. But then they were overtaken by tourism... and so often the homes are holiday lets or vacation homes that are left vacant or only occupied by tourists. So that drives out the businesses that once were supported by year-round locals. It actually is a big problem.
Love you 🥰🥰🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏
❤
Have you done Chipping Campden yet ?
So many videos, so few hours in the day to edit! haha
Not yet, my friend. I have some lovely footage of Chipping... just gotta get to it! Probably will be doing Painswick and Broadway next.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! Cheers! XX Dara
Of course no Cotswold series would be complete without a vid on Chipping Campden perhaps our favourite town in the Cotswolds. She'll probably do that one around the time she features nearby Hidcote, Kiftsgate, and Broad Campden.
Do you know about the Campden wonder ?
Corpus delicti is a clue if you don’t know it
The reason many of these cotswold villages are so peaceful and quiet is that many of the properties are owned by wealthy Londoners who only use them at weekends and holidays.
Yes… That has had an unfortunate effect on the villages 😔
I suppose the food at The Mount has food yards instead of food miles!
Yes! That is something I show in the video that details our meals there... I have a photo of me holding my salad with beets and lettuce in front of the patch of garden with lettuce and beets growing in it. It was 2 feet from my table! Just amazing.
I thought that the highest fountain of that type was the one in Switzerland.
@@Julie-hf4ch I believe this is the tallest single jet gravity-fed fountain.
Hello Y ❤️ U ❤️ thank you 🙏🙏
You are so welcome!
what song plays at 7:30? thanks
I spent quite a while looking, but I couldn't figure it out! The video is too old for me to look at the project file and see... and I tried looking around through a lot of songs to see if I could track it down. Sorry! It sounds like the band Owl City... but it's not. It's a copycat band from the music service I use called Epidemic Sound ;-)
Where's the thatch cottage??
The lovely thatched cottages are in Stanton. I'm excited to show them all in tomorrow's premiere! See you then ;-)
Aah I thought my English was useless, decrepit and typically American, thanks for putting me right. It's thatched!! Not thatch!
How could I be so dumb!!
I'll be eating plastic cheese next like anericans
@@goodyan4453 NOOOO! Don’t go near American cheese! 😂
Seriously, I posted yesterday about the thatched cottage and in my post I spelled it “thatch” and someone corrected me. So I was not being superior in anyway, trust me!😉
Possibly a little too quiet for me
Aye, you need some boisterous pubs, a bookie and Wembley Stadium in YOUR ideal Cotswold village, don't you?
@@MagentaOtterTravels no pubs, no gambling and no football, but living in a city I need a little background noise, like traffic, aeroplanes, or the occasional siren, otherwise I'm just hearing the ringing in my ears
@@wencireone I would be happy with the noises of Stanton. Babbling brook, singing birds, clip clopping horse hooves💕👍
I've just discovered your channel and absolutely love your videos! Thank you. I'm a Brit who lives in Solihull at the present time but have moved around a lot, living in Kent, Derbyshire, Oxford, Lincolnshire, Cambridge, Suffolk and Norfolk (in that order!) If you'd ever like any tips on out-of-the-way places in the UK that you haven't visited then do let me know, as I cannot get enough of travel and have been to many, many places. Your candour, charm and wonderful American view on the UK is really refreshing. If you ever get to Norfolk (which I know is a fair way from Cheltenham) then do go to Norwich, which is a great medieval city with lots and lots of charm: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwich
Well, hello and welcome to the Magenta Otter Tribe (known as the MOT for short because I think I'm funny, haha)! My husband Ian is a dual citizen, grew up in the US but spent summers in the UK. He has ancestors from Solihull! We do love visiting out of the way places, and honestly have such a long list of places we want to explore! My American friends think we are nuts that we "always go back to the UK"... but there is so much to see on the wee island, why not? We look forward to many summer adventures to come, as I continue to publish videos of the glorious places we visited last summer! I REALLY appreciate your kind words. They mean so much to me, as that is the reward I get for the dozens of hours I put into editing each video... hearing that people enjoy them!
And yes, I DO plan to visit Norwich... my dear friends @Brit Girls Go Stateside are from there, and as I've watched their channel and chatted with them the past couple years I have learnt so much about that lovely and historic area! Definitely want to visit in person!
Thanks again for your comment, and I look forward to hearing from you again as you watch other videos on my channel! Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Great to know the Solihull connection! I'm tempted to send some photos of places you've not been to in the UK: would that be alright? I've got your email address!
@@MattJMcDade sure! Cheers!