RESEARCH to find the best Cotswold scone is going well.

Ground between Almondsbury Garden Centre and Winchcombe has been covered, at this time of year garden centres have been well visited.

Honey Bea’s Café at Winchcombe heads the list at the moment with special mention of Tortworth Farm Shop.

One of the team, who travels the county far and wide, maintains those on offer at The Brewery Arts Centre Café in Cirencester to be exemplary both in texture and flavour.

A former school colleague Eddie Cuss mentioned a riddle that says “a scone is a scone until it is scone”.

It loses a lot in print as it is meant to be spoken.

A loyal Yorkshireman Peter Langham took polite issue with my description of Yorkshire as a confectionery desert, but he weakened his own case by making the case for Parkin, the eating of which can be compared to devouring sawdust.

Without much other ammunition he switches to rhubarb, which I did not think was a confection.

He does however make some good points by making note of some stunning venues for tea time in the White Rose county.

Having visited many of them when on holiday there I agree with him concerning their charm as venues, but we are arguing about what is on offer.

The Cotswolds wins hands down.

Research will continue and I am looking forward to heading down Chalford Hill to the Lavender Café. Mrs Light feels Tetbury may provide the winner and also mentions The Aston Potter, way out east, beyond Bampton.

Visitors may find Bampton familiar.

It is where village scenes for the pompous and overbearing TV series Downton Abbey were shot.

Westonbirt Arboretum is always worth a visit and I am sure there are scones to savour to be found there, as well as the Thistledown Café high above Nailsworth.

Who knows what wonders a visit to Thornbury will reward us with.

Look out for reports readers and suggestions please.