#1389. Undestination: Batsford arboretum

In the Northern-Eastern part of the Cotswolds (UK) lies an arboretum that's anything but unknown. But I feel it's not drawing in enough photographers.

"Explore quintessentially English villages of honey-coloured stone, lively market towns and visit some of the country's greatest palaces and castles." That's the official tourist information for the Cotswolds, a very beautiful part of Southern UK that spans 6 counties and extends from the West of Oxford all the way to Bath and Salisbury.

For once, the description feels accurate. The area has maintained an ancient charm that's so traditionally English (except for the dominantly German cars) that visitors leave with a strong accent ;)

It derives its wealth from the sheep and weaving industry and is now home to half the Tory party and a great number of stars including the Top Gear / Grand Tour terrible trio. And it would take a seriously jaded traveller not to be gobsmacked at the beauty of the place. I just spent five days there with my children and would have gladly stayed on for three more weeks. In fact, if my wife could work from there, I'd happily move. Beyond the aesthetics lies the sort of "terroir" that always pleases me, with numerous artists, creators, winemakers, cheeses and all the other essential necessities for a soul to thrive happily ;)

This is the sort of scene you come by accidentally leaving a shopping centre, almost anywhere in the area.

And the countryside is riddled with gorgeous little paths such as the one below. Apparently, J.R.R. Tolkien drew the inspiration for The Shire from the farmed landscapes of the Cotswolds. Writing from the nightmare of a war trench, such scenes would indeed be something you'd want to protect from the evil of powerful gits at all costs.

I would strongly recommend visiting in November. It might be hit or miss, weatherwise, and brass monkey is more or less guaranteed, but the insane colours are well worth the risk.

So, you get it, the Cotswolds are pretty. But they hardly qualify as an undestination. For one thing, the Cotswolds are huge (which is part of their appeal, as you can keep visiting for a long time), not a specific place. And, well, they are simply a world famous tourist hotspot.

But Batsford Arboretum (just off the road from Moreton-on-Marsh, where I was staying) is just one of the many gems the area has to offer. And, while it is famous with the locals and garden lovers, it is nowhere near as visited as Blenheim Palace or some of the nearby villages. I'd wager most photographers leave it out in favour of more iconic shoots such as Bibury (definitely not worth your time).

Besides, unlike grand arboretums such as Kew Gardens or even Westonbirt (also in the Cotswolds), this is smaller and offers lots of little winding lanes and views and angles, which almost guarantees that no two photographers will return with the same images (heck, I already visited and brought back very different photographs). The appeal of undestinations is not just that they are less busy, but also that they are not iconic enough to more or less enforce a similar set of images to all who visit. In that sense, Batsford qualifies. It is pretty, easily accessed, and easy to photograph from a multitude of view points.

Here are a few photos made there a couple of days ago. I hope you enjoy them and that they inspire you to come and see for yourself, if you're ever in the area. The first photograph in this page, as well as all the ones below, were made using a C-Sonnar 50 lens on my X1D.

Peace!