Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Westonbirt The National Arboretum is located in Gloucestershire in the Cotswolds roughly midway between Cirencester and Bristol near Tetbury. It is just off the A433 running between the two towns.
Managed by Forestry England, this beautiful 600-acre woodland offers tranquil walks along 27 km of marked paths among hundreds of species of trees and shrubs in addition to various special events during the year.
History
The arboretum was established in the early 19th century by the immensely wealthy businessman and local MP Robert Stayner Holford and later by his son George Lindsay Holford.
Robert Holford used his vast, inherited fortune to rebuild nearby Westonbirt House (now a boarding school) and also construct Dorchester House in London. He financed expeditions to collect samples from several countries including North America, Chile, China and Japan.
The Forestry Commission acquired the land in 1956 with Forestry England taking over management in 2019.
Westonbirt Arboretum lies adjacent to Highgrove Estate, owned by Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne.
Trees
The National Arboretum comprises around 15,000 trees and shrubs from 2,500 species gathered from around the world.
There are two distinct areas at Westonbirt, The Old Arboretum, the original collection of rare and exotic trees from around the world and Silk Wood, a traditionally managed woodland dating back to the 13th century.
Of particular delight are the Japanese maples with their fiery red leaves in the fall.
Events
A number of events take place throughout the year at Westonbirt. Enchanted Christmas involves a search for Santa's lost reindeer through the illuminated woods.
Guided walks and workshops are offered mainly on weekends. They include the Wonders of Westonbirt Guided Walk and Wild Westonbirt. Experienced volunteers guide visitors through the arboretum.
Forest Live is a series of outdoor music concerts held throughout the year, though mainly in the summer months. Tickets can be booked online.
Several Gruffalo sculptures from the popular children's book dot the Old Arboretum. It's fun for kids trying to locate them all!
Access & Hours
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Tetbury GL8 8QS
Tel: 0300 067 4890
www: forestryengland.uk
From the M4 motorway exit at Junction 18, then proceed on the A46 north towards Stroud then the A433 towards Cirencester. From the M5 exit at Junction 13 for the A419 towards Stroud, then the A46 towards Bath, followed by the A4135 to Tetbury, then the A433.
The Stagecoach 69 bus runs from Stroud to Tetbury, stopping at Westonbirt Arboretum.
Kemble and Yate are the nearest railway stations.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed (off lead) in the Silk Wood but not The Old Arboretum.
Nearby
The Cotswolds is around 40 km across and 145 km long. The Cotswolds stretches from Stratford-upon-Avon to Bath.
Located eight miles north of Cheltenham, Sudeley Castle is a honey-colored stone edifice complete with banqueting hall. It was once owned by Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII.
Typical Cotswold towns include Burford, Chipping Norton, Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold. One Cotswold town, Chipping Campden, is well-known for being the home of the Arts and Crafts movement, founded by William Morris at the end of the 19th century.
Four miles from Chipping Campden lies Hidcote Manor. It features one of the most inventive gardens of the 20th century.
The Slaughters are another Cotswold treat. The visitor should take the easy, mile-long stroll between the twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. The path runs beside the River Eye past scenic cottages and around an old flour mill, now converted into a tea and craft shop and a museum. By the way, the name "Slaughter" has nothing to do with meat production but rather derives from the Anglo Saxon word for mud.
Lacock has featured atmospherically in numerous films, from Harry Potter to Cranford and Pride and Prejudice. Visitors shouldn't miss Lacock Abbey, a medieval dwelling turned country house that also celebrates the work of its former resident, Henry Fox Talbot, who invented the photographic negative.
Bourton-on-the-Water is a very popular town in the Cotswolds and draws hordes of visitors to its beautifully crafted Model Village, the Bourton Model Railway, and the Dragonfly Maze.
Cheltenham abounds in elegant architecture with Regency terraces and swirling wrought-iron flourishes along Suffolk Square and Queen's Parade on Parabola Road.
Cheltenham also offers an absorbing art gallery and museum called The Wilson, named after Edward Wilson, who was born in the town and who died in 1912 on Scott's Antarctic expedition. The permanent collection includes a renowned exhibition on the Arts and Crafts movement.
The Cheltenham Festival in March is a highlight of the National Hunt horse racing calendar and brings visitors from all over the country.
Hotels
There are several good places to stay in nearby Cirencester. Choose from the four-star Kings Head Hotel on Market Place, the Corinium Hotel & Restaurant on Gloucester Street, three stars, or the Eliot Arms.
See here for a listing of places to stay in Cirencester.
Cotswolds Access - Getting To The Cotswolds
Cirencester is on the A417, A419 and A429. It is roughly equidistant from both Swindon to the southeast and Cheltenham to the northwest. No longer connected by rail, the nearest station is at Kemble, 30 minutes away on the 93 bus.
Bus 51 runs to Cheltenham (40 minutes), the 852 to Gloucester (75 minutes), the 54 and 54A to Stroud (40 minutes) and the 881 to Tetbury (30 minutes).
By Rail: All rail service from London to the Cotswolds departs from Paddington Station, which has its own London Underground station.
To travel to the Cotswolds from London by train takes about 1 ½ hours and trains run every hour, 7 days a week. Although rail services do not cover the whole of the Cotswolds, it is possible to travel to and from Bath, Cheltenham, Stratford, Chippenham, Gloucester, Kemble, Moreton-in-Marsh Station, Kingham and Oxford.
By Car: Driving from London to the Cotswolds takes about 2 hours and utilizes well sign-posted major roads. The M4 motorway provides easy access to Bath, Castle Combe and the South Cotswolds. The M40 motorway provides access to Oxford and Stratford and the North Cotswolds.
By Coach: National Express offers coach service to the Cotswolds. The main route to the Cotswolds from London starts at Victoria Coach Station and takes about 3 - 4 hours. Coaches run regularly from London to the Cotswolds, although there is no service on Sundays. The main coach stops in and around the Cotswolds are at Bath, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cheltenham, Chippenham, Gloucester, Moreton-in-Marsh, Northleach, Oxford, Stow-on-the-Wold, Stratford-upon-Avon, Stroud.
Cotswolds Maps
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