Mayflower Rise

OVER NORTON lies just to the north of Chipping Norton which is the highest town in the Cotswolds, and very much a working market town.

The elegant buildings which surround Chipping Norton’s gently sloping market place are testament to the historic wealth brought by the wool trade, with the imposing silhouette of Bliss Mill dominating the valley below the town. The weekly market bustles with the activity of many intriguing stalls and the range of individual shops lend the town an appealing mix of traditional and contemporary.

Chipping Norton Theatre is a well-known venue which puts on a huge variety of events, from film and theatre productions to community events for adults and children.

Over Norton is a pretty village surrounded by rolling Cotswold countryside; to some the quintessential English landscape. To the west lie the quaint villages for which the Cotswolds are famous and the towns of Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh.

Walkers love the Cotswold footpaths which link pretty villages with their greens, churches and cottages in warm honey-coloured stone; the clear, babbling brooks and welcoming pubs on the way are a delight. Cyclists appreciate the narrow, uncrowded roads and green lanes.

There are many country houses in the area, most notably Blenheim Palace, but also the gardens of Hidcote Manor and Snowshill Manor. Chipping Norton is located between the elegance of Regency Cheltenham and the history and culture of Oxford.