30th Aug 2024: Cotswolds, Heart of England in the UK

The Cotswolds is said to be the most beautiful countryside in the UK. It is located in a hilly area 200km west of London. The name "Cotswolds" is said to be derived from "cot", which means a sheepfold, and "wold", which means a gently rolling field. It is one of the most beautiful places in the UK with its typical English countryside and is called the "Heart of England".

The beauty of Cotswolds is characterized by the rows of stone houses made of honey-colored limestone. There is a layer of limestone underground in this area, which is a type of stone, and the honey color of this stone is the symbol of the Cotswolds.

St. Edward’s Church is located in Stow-on-the-Wold, in the Cotswolds, and is particularly renowned for its ancient north door. This door is said to resemble the hobbit doors featured in The Lord of the Rings films, creating an enchanting and almost magical atmosphere for visitors.

Many tourists from all over the world visit the area, attracted by the charm of this countryside. The reason is that it has a pristine English countryside landscape that soothes the hearts of those who visit.

When we visited St Edward’s Church, my daughter accidentally left her camera lens behind. It was a 75–300 mm telephoto lens (equivalent to 150–600 mm in 35 mm), which is very convenient for travel, so we had almost given up hope of finding it. To our surprise, the church staff had kindly kept it as a lost item, and the next day it was safely returned to my daughter. We are truly grateful to everyone at the church for their thoughtfulness.