Cotswold

Pretty good shop all in all. As with all high street retailers you can probably get much of the stock cheaper online, but when buying expensive outdoor gear you really need to see it and try it on. Getting a jacket for £130 online instead of £150 in a shop isn’t much good if you open the box to find it doesn’t fit well or is not really what you thought it was going to be.
So Cotswold does a good job, good range of stuff and friendly and knowledgeable staff who seem to know what they’re talking about and will help you with any queries you may have. I’ve paid for things in here well into 3 figures and thanks to the staff have felt that I was getting the best gear in my price range, which is good for reducing the buyer remorse I usually get from treating myself to something so expensive!

Yet another outdoor retailer though it is, I’ve taken a huge fancy to Cotwold because there are a few surprises that make it a bit different.
First, the waterproof luggage bags, just the thing for when you bag falls into a river in Outer Mongolia or whereever. It happens, though if you think you’d feel silly at the airport with one of those there are the usual nylon ones and a range of rucksacks.
For winter trips, there are some lovely fur lined boots for women, an item which can be hard to find in this country, so I hope they continue to stock them for when I (hopefully) go somewhere snowy.
Third, there’s a selection of travel books and maps, with armchairs to sit at when you’re tired looking at those bags and boots. For me, it’s hard to resist a travel book so I bought one of the latest ones on Russia, just to prepare for that winter trip.
Otherwise, there are the usual tents, torches, coats, fleeces and sleeping bags. I didn’t look at those so closely, but no doubt I will because Cotswold well placed for regular visits as it’s just before the entrance to the Victoria Centre.

This is a recent edition to the usual crop of outdoor retailers in the city, Millets and Tiso being the other big two.
I don’t really go camping very often and usually it’s something festival related when I do. I was after a back pack, something fairly small just to keep the usual items in.
I had a wander around and it was more of the same. Lots of tents, mainly aimed at the higher end of the market, all weather gear, torches and water proof clothing.
Didn’t make a purchase but prices seemed quite good in comparison with other retailers so well worth a try.