I’m a huge fan of Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm show and couldn’t wait to visit the famous location – only we made a huge mistake that almost ruined our trip
As a devoted fan of Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm show, I was thrilled at the prospect of visiting the famed Oxfordshire site and perhaps even catching a glimpse of the ex-Top Gear presenter himself.
According to steadfast fans who’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jeremy, he’s said to be an extremely welcoming host, often willing to pose for a photo or two with fortunate visitors to his farm, when he’s around.
I was over-the-moon when my partner surprised me with a memorable birthday present – a quick weekend getaway to the Cotswolds, featuring a night in the idyllic town of Chipping Norton.
This was the perfect chance to see the much-loved farm in all its splendour and possibly even mingle with some of the show’s stars, including Gerald and Kaleb Cooper, who, despite sharing a surname, are not related.
As enthusiastic walkers and fans of Jeremy’s show, we aimed to cram as much as possible into our brief two-night stay, setting off early on Saturday morning for the two-and-a-half-hour car journey to ensure we didn’t waste a single moment, reports Surrey Live.
We arrived at our Airbnb, a charming lodge boasting all the typical Cotswold features, including a log burner characterised by its use of natural materials, along with a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. It was just perfect.
After a quick bite to eat at lunchtime, we braved the November winter chill and unfortunate downpour. The cold and brisk walk wasn’t one of the highlights of the trip, to say the least.
With the weather forecast predicting no respite from the rain on Sunday, we decided to alter our plans. Instead of visiting Jeremy’s farm as initially planned, we opted for a trip to the local town, hoping to stay dry while exploring its quaint shops.
Little did we know, this last-minute change in itinerary was about to become the biggest blunder of our entire journey.
In hindsight, not fully considering our plan and deciding to visit Jeremy’s renowned farm on Monday, due to the typical British wet weather, turned out to be a significant oversight.
So, we set our sights on the picturesque town of Stow-on-the-Wold. Our plan was to warm up with a hot beverage before heading to the famous Cotswold Chocolate Company to sample their in-house made sweet treats.
After ticking off several touristy activities and visiting the town’s well-known spots like Castle Combe village, we returned to our lodge for a takeaway dinner and an early night, ready for an early start the next day for our farm visit.
However, what we neglected to do when reshuffling our schedule due to the inclement weather was to check if Jeremy’s Farm Shop was actually open. To our disappointment, we discovered upon arrival the next day that his popular establishment is closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays.
En route to Jeremy’s farm, we were braced for the predicted traffic snarl-ups along the remote country lanes, only to find ourselves unexpectedly breezing through without a hitch.
However, our spirits sank as we pulled up to Diddly Squat Farm, greeted not by bustling crowds but by an eerily deserted car park and a simple rope barrier signalling “closed”.
Despite the setback, the journey wasn’t entirely in vain – we seized the chance to capture that coveted Instagram shot with the iconic Diddly Squat Farm sign, completely devoid of any photobombers.
