Broadway Manor Cottages

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (’The Honeybourne Line’) is a fantastic steam railway that currently runs from Toddington (approximately 5 miles from our Cotswold holiday cottages in West End, Broadway) to Cheltenham Racecourse through the picturesque Cotswold countryside.

The route from Toddington to Cheltenham is a 20-mile round trip.  From Toddington the line passes by the National Trust’s Hailes Abbey, through Winchcombe (home of Sudeley Castle), occasionally stopping at Gotherington Halt (on request) and on to the station at Cheltenham Racecourse. Trains pass through some of the most spectacular scenery with fantastic views across the Vale of Evesham towards the Malvern Hills and of Cleeve Hill near Cheltenham, the highest point in the Cotswolds.

Trains operate on certain days of the year and during the summer months and Bank Holidays there is a frequent service. The GWR also runs trains to and from Cheltenham Racecourse on race days (trains run during Cheltenham Gold Cup Festival week in March and the Cheltenham Open in November) and holds many special events during the year. Last year ‘Hogwarts Express’ (no. 5972 “Olton Hall”) from the Harry Potter films was a popular visitor and Thomas the Tank Engine often puts in an appearance.

This year the GWR is celebrating its 175^th anniversary with the Cotswold Festival of Steam from 29th May and 6th June 2010. Many events and themed days are planned and there will be an impressive array of locomotives and displays.

A visit to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway is always a great way to spend time whilst visiting the Cotswolds and the Cotswold Festival of Steam will no doubt appeal to all ages.

For this and other Cotswold events in 2010 click here.

Broadway Manor Cottages receives Heart of England 2009 Excellence in Tourism Silver Award

The  Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards 2009 celebrates the cream of the West Midlands’ tourism industry. The annual awards were announced at a ceremony at Birmingham’s ICC on 29th October 2009 hosted by BBC presenters Suzanne Virdee and Nick Owen.

Hundreds of entries were received for the awards and we are delighted to announce that Broadway Manor Cottages was awarded Silver in the self catering category.

Broadway Manor Cottages: award winning self catering Cotswold holiday cottages
 in the picturesque village of Broadway, The Cotswolds

Broadway Manor Cottages receives a Silver Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme 

Broadway, Worcestershire, 14^th December 2009

Broadway Manor Cottages is the first self catering holiday cottage business in Worcestershire to be awarded a prestigious SILVER grading by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) reflecting their dedication to sustainability and green tourism.

The GTBS is the UK’s leading green tourism certification scheme which recognises and rates businesses demonstrating high levels of commitment to protecting the environment and promoting sustainability with Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. The GTBS is now recognised by UK Government as a crucial part of its drive towards sustainability. Businesses are graded by a qualified assessor against over 150 separate measures of best practice, covering energy and water efficiency, waste management, bio diversity and more.

Broadway Manor Cottages, which has only been in business since October 2006, has managed to bring all of its five holiday properties up to the GTBS Silver standard which is awarded to businesses showing very good environmental practice. By agreeing to the GTBS Code of Conduct Broadway Manor Cottages has made a commitment towards reducing the impact of their business on the environment.

“We are very proud of our achievement which follows on from our successful completion of the VisitBritain Green Start scheme last year. We are dedicated to making our cottages and apartment some of the most environmentally friendly places to stay in Worcestershire and the Cotswolds.” said Debbie Williamson, owner of Broadway Manor Cottages.

The 4 star Cotswold holiday cottages and apartment are located in the grounds of a Cotswold Manor House dating back to the 16^th century a short walk from the centre of the Broadway. The surrounding grounds attract a wide variety of wildlife and guests are encouraged to shop locally and to leave the car behind and ‘Enjoy a Car Free Day’ as a number of footpaths, including The Cotswold Way National Trail cross the grounds.

“We closely monitor our water and energy usage and have recently installed solar power panels to heat some of the water used on site and have increased our loft insulation across all of our properties. We encourage our guests to recycle and compost and provide our guests with jute shopping bags to take shopping rather than use plastic bags. We will continue to look at other ways to reduce the environmental impact or our business such as the introduction of LED lighting and we hope to join a local Visitor Payback Scheme.” explained Debbie Williamson.