Countryfile legend reveals best Cotswolds villages to visit

Adam Henson grew up on his family’s farm near Guiting Power and is one of the region’s best‑known farmers and a long‑standing presenter on the BBC show.

The 60-year-old runs the popular Cotswold Farm Park, founded by his father Joe in 1971, and has spent his life working and living in the area’s rolling countryside.

Mr Henson chatted to this newspaper following his talk at Cotswold Gate Care Home in Burford last Friday (June 5).

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As a Cotswolds native, the BBC presenter shared his picks for his favourite towns and villages to visit in the area.

“The little villages like the Upper and Lower Slaughter as well as through to Snowshill and Broadway are beautiful,” said Mr Henson.

“Just driving up Burford’s High Street, it’s lovely, so any of those little Cotswold villages, and I also think Chipping Camden is really, really lovely. So there’s plenty of them.”

The 60-year-old also praised the countryside up in Yorkshire as he added: “My son works in finance up there in Leeds.

“I’ve got mates who farm up near Malham and that part of the world, as well as Wensleydale and around there.

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“It is beautiful, that different type of countryside, the Yorkshire Dales and places are gorgeous.”

Speaking on the impact of tourists in the Cotswolds, Mr Henson added: “I don’t think it’s lost its charm and its beauty as you go into some of the Cotswold villages, and they’re still beautiful.

“Just looking out the window here in Burford, you can see that even with more modern buildings, we’ve still got that lovely Cotswold stone, that elotic limestone.

“So yeah, I think the development and uplift of any area is a good thing as long as you can maintain and retain the charm.”