The tradition which is thought to be at least 200 years old has become more popular with each year.   Last year it is estimated that there were over 2000 people present to witness this bizarre but increasingly popular event with contestants as well as spectators and media coming from across the world.

The objective is simple (or so it may seem) – it is to catch the 8lb Double Gloucester Cheese, which has a one second head start, as it rolls 90 metres down the steep ( 1:2 gradient) slope.

This years’ cheese rolling will be taking place on Monday 27th May 2013 at 12:00 midday, so why not go and watch as competitors slip, somersault and make their way to the bottom of the hill in pursue of the Double Gloucester – surely highly entertaining viewing!!

The event has become so popular that its even inspired a cheese rolling game for the i-phone!

For more information click here

Our closests properties to Cooper’s Hill are:

The Granary – Southam (sleeps 4)

Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: Hauggen

For a great day out with the kids, take a visit to Cotswold Farm Park where the Spring lambs will be taking their first tentative steps in the sunshine. Children are encouraged to join in the seasonal activities from bottle feeding the lambs and milking the cows to shearing the sheep!

There is an undercover sandpit where children can play come rain or shine and the opportunity to ride on the self-propelled roller racers and battery operated tractors. Once you’ve worked up an appetite exploring all that the park has to offer, you can enjoy a nice coffee and cake or a hot lunch at one of the two snack bars on site!

For more details on The Cotswold Farm park click here

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit:BotheredByBees

We are pleased to introduce Park Cottage, a striking Grade II listed terraced cottage with a wood burner and exposed beams just a short walk from the hidden gem of Minchinhampton – probably one of the least known villages in the Cotswolds. 

This charming cottage for 4 people is distributed over three floors.  The Living room with its wood burning stove and Kitchen/Dining room on the ground floor.

A double bedroom and bathroom as well as a study area with a desk and chair are on the first floor  and a charming twin room with original beams on the top floor.

The garden at the front provides the opportunity to simply watch the world go by and the garden at the rear of the property with a table and seating for four is perfect for enjoying a BBQ on a summers evening.

There is also off street parking to avoid any stress of where to park on your return from a busy day out exploring the arear.

For full details of Park Cottage click here.

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Whether its country walks, cycling along the highways and byways, exploring the wonderfully charming towns and villages, relaxing with a fabulous cream tea or sitting in front of an open fire at the end of the day there is something for everyone.

Have a look at some of the fantastic properties still up for grabs for the bank holiday:

Wolds End House – Chipping Campden – Sleeps 8

A simply stunning cottage in the heart of Chipping Campden with 4 bedroom and four bathrooms, off street parking and a wood burning stove to relax infront of after a day out.  For full details and photos click here.

Teagles Cottage – Stow-on-the-Wold – sleeps 7

Over 150 years old, this carefully restored cottage features cosy log burner.  This is a great and  spacious property to come back to after an action packed day out.  For full details and photos click here.

Little Garth - Kingham – Sleeps 3-4

A delightful 18th Century cottage located in the picturesque village of Kingham and within walking distance to a choice of two popular pubs to stretch the day or evening out.  One small dog welcomed.  Little Garth is available between 8th and 15th March for £495.  For full details click here

Bay Tree Cottage - Near Burford – Sleeps 2

A beautifully presented Cotswold cottage oozing charm.  With an open fire, window seat and within walking distance to the local pub, this is a true romantic bolthole.  For full details click here

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: Pedestrian saint

Highbury House is a stylish, luxurious and tranquil Grade II listed cottage in the quaint and traditional Cotswold village of Taynton less than two miles from Burford.

The cottage, which sleeps 6 and is dog friendly, is a welcoming holiday home with plenty of original characters such as beams, a wood burning stove, open fire and an Aga as well as all the mod cons that we now expect.

This charming retreat has plenty of living space, with an open plan Living, Kitchen and Dining Area as well as separate Living room, three double bedrooms and two bathrooms and has a lovely cottage garden with a pond and its own well and off street parking for 2 cars.

Highbury House is perfect for those looking to get away from it all, with stunning views & walks just a few steps from the front door.

Full details and more photos to follow soon on the Jigsaw Holidays website but if you have any questions in the meantime please get in touch.

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

31st March – Easter Sunday at Sudeley Castle promises plenty of treats and activities for the whole family.

Wonder the magnificent gardens in search of the Easter Bunny for your chocolate treat and take part in the special Easter arts & crafts.  Get your face painted as an Easter bunny by professional face painters or maybe even get a bit of Easter body art with Henna artist and last but not least meet the meerkats, hedgehogs, lizards which will also be at the castle for the day.

This is also a great opportunity to see the latest Roman sculpture which dates between 150- 300AD which was recently discovered during a clear out of a cupboard after being lost for 100 years and will now be presented to the public in the new Roman exhibition.

The castle opens again for the season on 17th March.

A great day out for the whole family!

For more information click here

Here are some of our closest properties to Sudeley Castle are:

Elgin - Gretton Fields (sleeps 4)

Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Pinnock Lodge - Nr. Winchcombe (sleeps 5)

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: Angelagakehurst & Arina Habich

There were more than 60,000 visitors last year and they hope that this year there will be more as it’s going to be bigger and better, with more green-fingered guests as well as DIY experts and interior designers at hand with Charlie Dimmock, one of TVs best loved gardeners and Tommy Walsh from the popular TV series Ground Force being some of the guests confirmed.

From crafts, fine food, garden gadgets and plants & flowers are just a few of the items 80 tempting market stalls will have on offer.

There will also be free demonstrations and it’s also the perfect opportunity to get some helpful gardening advice and it can’t be a party without live music and entertainment to get the party going!

And for the shopaholic what more can be said that you are also at an outlet shopping centre…….

For more details click here

Our closests properties are:

The Granary – Southam (sleeps 4)
Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)
Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo Credit: Darkroom Daze & quisnovus

Friday 29th – Saturday 30th March there is a Knight’s Trail…follow the clues through the Pleasure Gardens, Butterfly House and Marlborough Maze and if you complete the trail you win a prize!

Sunday 31st March – Monday 1st April – Loveable characters Sid and Scrat from Ice Age will be making appearances during these two days along with Mike The Knight and Little Princess!

Other activities include a bouncy castle and cake decorating! Blenheim Palace is an absolute must visit this Easter for all families, especially those with young children!

Some of our properties still available for these dates:

Little Garth, Kingham – sleeps 4

Pinnock Lodge, near Winchcombe – sleeps 5

Jasmine Cottage, near Broadway – sleeps 5

Click here for all of our Cotswold Cottages

Berkeley Castle, is a Grade I listed building which dates back to the 11th Century.  It is one of the oldest continuously occupied castles in England and the oldest to be continuously owned and occupied by the same family.

Why not wonder through the deer park and see if you can spot one of the many wild deers which roam around grazingly freely or through the lovely terraced Elizabethan Gardens with the lily pond or Elizabeth I’s bowling green and sweeping lawns.

The Tropical Butterfly House with its more than 42 exotic species is also worth a visit and is open from May.

So why not take the family out and visit this splendid, beautiful and glorious medieval fortress.

For full details click here

Some of our closests properties are:

Springfield Country House – Rendcomb (sleeps 10+2)

Lakeside House - Fossebridge (sleeps 10)

The Granary – Southam (sleeps 4)

Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: DaveOnFlickr

Setting off the festival on Tuesday is The Stan James Champion Hurdle, the most important hurdle race of the season. With six other races and the unique first day atmosphere make this one of the most eagerly awaited race days of the year.

Wednesday is Ladies Day, bringing an opportunity to have some fun with Ladies Day fashion awards although the real action is on the track, with an awesome seven race card featuring the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

An Irish flavour hits the racecourse so celebrate St Patricks Day a little earlier.  With plenty of competitive racing as well as the charity race taking place for Cancer Research UK plus lots of Irish-style entertainment.

On the final day besides six other great races is the climax of the entire Jump racing season and the highlight of the best day’s racing of the year, with undoubtedly an atmosphere to match is The Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Why not go along and  be part of this truly spectacular sporting event.

For more information click here

Some of our properties still available for these dates:

Wold End House – Chipping Campden – Sleeps 8

Teagles Cottage – Stow-on-the-Wold – sleeps 7

Little Garth – Kingham, near Stow-on-the-Wold – Sleeps 4

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: thisisbrighteyes