Stow-on-the-Wold to Bourton-on-the-Water - August 23rd

This morning after breakfast we set out for the villages of Lower Slaughter and Bourton-on-the-Water. The Cotswold are made for walking and there are numerous, well-marked trails throughout the region. I had bought an ordinance map of the area yesterday (most of the Brits we met who were walking the C2C had these maps) and we used it, along with trail signage, to guide us through fields and pastures. We walked through numerous kissing gates and even had to hurdle a couple of electric fence wires (not my favorite thing to do).

The first village we came to was Lower Slaughter, a sleepy, picturesque place where we encountered less than a dozen people. Bourton-on-the-Water was @ a mile and a half further on, but what a difference that mile made! The British refer to this village as “the Venice of the Cotswolds” because of its quaint canals running through town. One could also argue it’s called this due to the crowds packing the streets. Before we even reached the town center we passed at least two large car parks, one with more than a dozen tour buses parked within.

Even with the crowds, it’s still a lovely village. We had a late lunch and then wandered through the many shops while waiting for a bus to take us back to Stow-on-the-Wold. A very enjoyable day!

Today's walk took us along Monarch's Way








Example of a Cotswold stone fence -
notice the stones set on edge atop

The old mill in Lower Slaughter

Along the way to Bourton-on-the-Water

View of the canal in Bourton-on-the-Water

Colorful flowers bordering a busy street in
Bourton-on-the-Water

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