Visit The Notswolds

The Notswolds is what happens when you take everything people love about the countryside (rolling fields, cosy pubs and ancient lanes) and remove the crowds and the coach parties. Six counties and one extraordinary region. A rebellion against curated countryside clichés. Rooted in places like Easton in Lincolnshire, it’s where the sheep graze contentedly, the skies are wide, the stone cottages are a beautiful honey colour and the stories a little stranger than the well beaten tracks of the Cotswolds. Think rose covered stone villages and towns where the people are really pleased to see you. From Oundle to Lincoln, via Rutland and Stamford, you’ll struggle to find it on a map. But once you’re here, you’ll know.

Wander down winding lanes lined with honey‑coloured cottages, discover a village green you didn’t know you needed, and stumble upon a thatched pub full of local conversation, firelight and the clink of proper glasses. Here in the Notswolds, Easton in Lincolnshire, we’re prettier than you expected, less polished than you imagined, and all the more charming for it.

There’s no touristy crowds here. No choreographed charm. Just wildflowers edging gravel tracks, old churches with crooked pews, and a pace that’s somewhere between meander and potter. You’ll pass villagers who still nod a greeting, even if they don’t know you (yet). It’s the sort of place where you leave your phone in your pocket. Not because you’re trying to detox, but because you forgot it was there.

Cosy Corners, Big Skies

From tucked-away tea rooms with mismatched china to sudden, heart-thumping views where the land rolls out like a green patchwork quilt, this is the rhythm of the Notswolds. The air smells faintly of woodsmoke and wild thyme. A place where time slows down without asking permission.

Pop into a converted barn for soup that tastes like someone’s grandmother made it. Or find a wooden bench beneath an ancient oak and watch the clouds drift like gossip overhead. This isn’t curated countryside. It’s just… countryside. Bring boots. And maybe a book you’re actually ready to finish.

Local Life, Lightly Pickled

It’s not all storybook cottages and Instagram-ready scenes (though, yes, there are those). Life here is delightfully scruffy around the edges. Think church noticeboards that haven’t changed since the Jubilee. Jam jars for vases. Dogs in the pub. And stories. Oh, the stories.

You might stumble on a scarecrow festival judged by a vicar in wellies. Or meet a local who swears by the healing properties of nettles and homemade chutney. There’s a certain logic to life in the Notswolds: if it works, it stays. If it’s broken, someone’s uncle will fix it. Possibly with twine.

Nightfall in the Notswolds

When the sun dips, the landscape doesn’t go quiet, it deepens. A barn owl sweeps silently across the fields. Distant sheep settle with low, occasional murmurs. The village pub spills warm yellow light onto gravelled courtyards. It’s the kind of night that invites stories – or silence.

There’s little light pollution, and even less urgency. No neon glow. No motorway hum. Just the occasional fox bark and stars so thick you might mistake them for frost. You won’t want to scroll. You might not even get signal. And honestly? That’s the whole point.

Come for the fresh air, stay for the slow moments. Whether you’re chasing skies, silence, or just a really decent pub lunch, the Notswolds delivers, without the drama of booking months ahead. Pack your wellies, your curiosity, and maybe a jumper (just in case). We’re not polished. We’re not perfect. But we’re here, waiting, with the kettle on and the door open. If you’re visiting us just for the day or a little longer, come and see what the Cotswolds once was. Booking is advised but not essential (get your tickets here), we’re always more than happy to welcome you on the day.