Snowshill, Gloucestershire

Snowshill, Gloucestershire

I first came to Snowshill in the late afternoon of a beautiful summer's day. The sun was low in the sky, and the light was falling like a golden glow on the lovely church and the warm Cotswold stone cottages that surround it. It was a sight I will never forget (nor am I likely to forget the incongruous sound of bagpipes emanating from the church, courtesy of a pair of German motorcyclists-cum-musicians).

The church itself is dedicated to St Barnabas, and though it may look ancient, much of it is a Victorian rebuilding of an earlier church. The pulpit has Jacobean carved panels, and there is a very nice octagonal 15th-century font.

Like many Cotswold villages, there is little in the way of recognized attractions in Snowshill, though in this case, the National Trust's Snowshill Manor will bring many visitors up the winding road from Broadway. Yet despite the presence of the manor, it is the village itself that leaves an indelible impression on my mind. It is well worth a trip for its own sake, and it remains one of my favourite Cotswold villages.

Just outside the village - yet still within Snowshill parish - is Snowshill Lavender, an extremely popular local attraction, with 35 acres of lavender fields, selling lavender-based products such as soaps and oils, plus local crafts and plants.

A scenic view towards Snowshill

St Barnabas church