12. Cotswold Stone

Arguably the single most reason that gives the Cotswolds it's charm lies in the golden colour of the architecture. Cotswold stone is an oolitic Jurassic limestone that has been quarried in the region for centuries. It has a distinctive honey-coloured appearance that varies in shade from north to south. The softness of Cotswold stone and the abundance of quarries in the area makes it an ideal tool for building. The readily available stone was used extensively during the Middle Ages as the main building material across the villages and towns of the Cotswolds.

One of the most traditional uses of Cotswold stone is in dry stone walls; a skilled art dating back 5,000 years to the Stone Age. The stones are arranged without cement or mortar to build beautiful walls that will last, if constructed properly, for centuries to come. It is the glowing luminosity of a Cotswold dry stone wall that is perhaps one of the most enchanting things about it. The way it changes in colour over time and naturally blends into the landscape symbolises the connection between the Cotswolds and nature. If you're thinking about visiting Broadway, there's no better reason to come than to marvel at the sheer beauty of the golden-aged architecture.