Landscape information

Exploring the features in the landscape that make the Cotswolds special.

The Cotswolds is often described as a ‘quintessentially English’ landscape – rolling hills, green farmland, wooded valleys, and picturesque villages. But what are the features that give it this instantly recognisable appeal?

The limestone beneath our feet is what unifies the appearance of the Cotswolds. It has influenced the way we settle and farm here, how our buildings and farming infrastructure look (including our network of traditional dry stone walls), and where and how we’ve developed our settlement.

Read more about each of these in this section.

In this section

Dry stone walls

Dry stone walls are instantly recognisable as a classic Cotswolds landscape feature

Farming in the Cotswolds

Over 80% of the Cotswolds is agricultural land. This is a living and working landscape.

Geology of the Cotswolds

Millions of years ago the rocks in the Cotswolds were tilted to shape the geological features that are now visible.

Historic and cultural heritage

For more than 6,000 years, humans have interacted with the Cotswolds landscape, each generation leaving its mark