I love city life but every so often I get the urge to escape from the hustle and bustle. The Cotswolds is one of my favourite places to visit when I need a fresh air fix. It is just a short two hour drive from London and boasts an array of charming traditional villages. The landscape is simply stunning and it is easy to see why it is one of the country's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I never return from a trip to the Cotswolds without visiting the Daylesford organic farm in Gloucestershire.
Daylesford is one of the most sustainable farms in the UK and all Daylesford products have full organic certification from the Soil Association. Visiting the organic farmshop is a must for discerning foodies. Everything is of the highest quality and beautifully displayed ... and if that doesn't get you going, then wait 'til you see the cheese room! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, an entire room dedicated to their award winning cheeses. It's the perfect place to pick up some delicious organic ingredients for a summer picnic in the beautiful countryside.
If homewares and interiors is more your thing, then you are in luck, as there is an entire home and garden section for you to explore. From cutlery and crockery to home fragrance and kitchen linens, I could spend hours browsing through their household goods. I never leave without buying one of their hand balms or amazing scented candles (these also make for wonderful gifts).
The garden shop is a must visit for everyone but particularly for those with green fingers. I have no such gardening talent but I'm a sucker for beautiful displays and packaging. They have the most stylish gardening clothing and tools I have ever seen. I have to remind myself that unfortunately this is not a skill that I possess and I should really put the pretty sage coloured watering can back where I found it!
There's no better way to end a successful day of shopping than with a delicious meal in The Trough organic cafe. All of the ingredients are fresh and organic, the chicken is free range and the beef is grass fed and sustainably raised. I opted for the pan seared pollock served with roasted tomatoes and crushed potatoes and it was delicious. The fiancé had the sirloin of Aberdeen Angus steak and reported that it was to die for.
Don't leave without trying one of the delicious cocktails in the Legbar. I highly recommend the Daylesford G&E, a delicious mix of Daylesford Gin, elderflower tonic, juniper, cardamon and orange zest. The fiancé chose a Daylesford gluten free lager, out of curiosity really as he is not gluten intolerant, and loved it so much that he wants to visit the Daylesford in Notting Hill to pick up a few bottles for home. They also have an excellent list of botanical alcohol free cocktails - perfect for the designated driver!
I've only touched briefly on all that Daylesford has to offer. There is also a spa, accommodation, a wonderful outdoor seating area and two other dining spaces. Take it from me that it is most definitely worth a visit on your next trip to the Cotswolds, and if it is your first visit then I promise you that it won't be your last! As always I will sign off with a landscape picture from the fiancé's collection. This was the beautiful sunset that he captured just a few short miles from Daylesford as we made our way back to London.
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