Arlington Row & The Medieval Wool Trade
Originally constructed around 1380 as a monastic wool store associated with the nearby St. Mary's Abbey, Arlington Row was converted in the 17th century into a terrace of cottages for weavers who supplied cloth to the historic Arlington Mill.
The row is constructed with honey-toned oolitic Jurassic limestone, crowned with pitched stone-slate roofs laid out in diminishing courses from ridge to eaves. Today, the row is protected by the National Trust and is featured inside official UK passport design pages.
The River Coln & The Historic Trout Farm
Meandering gently through Bibury is the crystal-clear River Coln, a classic English chalk-filtered stream. Founded in 1902 by naturalist Arthur Severn, the Bibury Trout Farm is one of the oldest operating fish hatcheries in England, supplying fresh brown trout across the Cotswolds.
Field Walking Routes & Heritage Points
1. St. Mary’s Saxon Church & Rack Isle Walk
Visit the Grade I listed Saxon church with its carved Norman doorways, then cross the footbridge to view the water meadows of Rack Isle, where wool cloth was historically hung on wooden racks to dry.
2. Coln St. Aldwyns Pastoral Trail
A 6-kilometer round-trip stroll along quiet bridleways and willow-lined riverbanks connecting Bibury to the tranquil neighboring village of Coln St. Aldwyns.