Some places are popular, while some are not. Yet, some of the places considered to be unpopular hold a lot, in terms of recreational and traditional significance. Gloucestershire is one of such places, but it adds sports to the mix.
In this article, we talk about this place and some of the sports and leisure activities it offers to tourists.
Where is Gloucestershire?
Gloucestershire is a “ceremonial county” located in the South Western part of England. It’s so designated because of two reasons:
- It serves as a ceremonial county, because of the ceremonial purposes it’s used for. It includes districts like Forest of Dean, Cheltenham, Cotswold and Gloucester.
- It serves as the unitary authority of South Gloucestershire.
It has at different points, being home to popular individuals in society. Roger Andrew Taylor, an English musician, has this to say, “I lived a normal life for a number of years. I had kids. I lived up on a farm in Gloucestershire in rural England, and just kind of got back to reality again.”
Gloucestershire & Sports
Despite being used for ceremonial purposes and occasionally, for local governance, the county of Gloucestershire also has a thriving sports community.
The county is heavily invested in some of the popular sports, including football, horse racing and cycling. Worth mentioning that the cycling community is often taken to routes like Verderer’s Trail and Family Cycle Trail, which are located in the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean.
Rugby is another popular sport in this county, with Gloucester Rugby being one of the top teams. The other is the Hartpury University FC, which competes in the RFU Championship.
Doug Ibbotson was quoted as saying, “The Holy Writ of Gloucester Rugby Club demands: first, that the forwards shall win the ball; second, that the forwards shall keep the ball; and third, the backs shall buy the beer.” The quote reinforces the belief in the backs of Gloucester Rugby.
We won’t round up the list of Gloucester sports without mentioning cricket. It’s home to Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (GCCC), one of the eighteen (18) top county cricket clubs in England and Wales. It was established in 1870 and has a rich history spanning decades, tagging along with it the close-knit community and valued tradition, upheld by the supporters.
The cricket community in this county is lively, with a massive concentration of talent development in the Cotswolds, Bristol and Cheltenham districts. The county also has a fair share of cricket players who have shined in the sport, especially W.G. Grace, who is famed for his contribution to cricket’s development. Others are:
- Muttiah Muralitharan, who had a brief stint with the GCCC.
- Jack Russell
- David Payne
- Chris Dent
Who is the best cricketer in the world?
The debate on who is the best cricketer in the world is ongoing, especially with new skilled players coming on board. Six years ago, the British Broadcasting Corporation conducted a poll, and the votes counted showed Sir Donald Bradman from Australia leading the list. Currently, data from the ICC World Rankings show Shubal Gill from India leading as the best cricketer in the world.
Leisure Activities in Gloucester
The rich and varied sports community in the county is enriched further with elite professional teams.
Now, let’s look at another part of entertainment in Gloucestershire — leisure activities. It boasts of an array of these, ranging from kayaking to hiking.
Travel back in time
History lovers will love to visit this county, as it has an array of heritage and culture to pass down—with some structures still standing. The Berkeley Castle is the ideal place for both kids and adults who want to learn more about history, especially to gain an insight into medieval times.
Fans of Harry Potter will remember the name, Gloucester Cathedral. That’s right. This Harry Potter location is nowhere else than in the county of Gloucestershire. Located in Gloucester, it was formerly known as St Peter’s Abbey, as well as the Cathedral Church of St Peter.
Watch the horse gallop!
Horse race lovers should find their way to The Shed, where they watch the horses gallop through the racecourse. The Cheltenham Racecourse hosts hundreds of spectators who come around to participate in the fun.
Elevate the fun with a treetop challenge
The Go Ape—Treetop Challenge opens at different times within the year. You can choose to go during weekends in November and December. Looking to bring kids along? Take them along only during school holidays, during which the challenge is open daily. The location is Mallards Pike, Forest of Dean, Glos., GL15 4HD.
The challenge entails flying down the zip wires and tackling the crossings.
Conclusion
Gloucestershire has a plethora of sports and leisure activities, much too many for a county designated for ceremonial purposes. Little wonder it ranks sixth in the region of the United Kingdom with the highest value of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in correspondence to the International Territorial Level (ITL) level 2 sub-divisions.