The Cotswolds: The Village of Bourton on the Water

People have lived and worked in the Cotswolds for over 6,000 years. Farmland covers most of the Cotswolds and its sheep at one time provided over half of England’s wool. Unsure of its derivative, the term “wolds” means rolling hills.

Local stone has been quarried since Roman times and Cotswolds’ honey-colored stone buildings and villages have steep pitched roofs, with tall chimneys, and large window sills.

A quintessential Cotswolds house in Bourton on the Water, UK.

Hiking to Lower and Upper Slaughter

Our first hike in the Cotswolds began in Bourton on the Water, population 4200. Our destination was the village of Upper and Lower Slaughter—named not for the killing of anything or anyone but for the term which meant muddy marshland.

Walking near the River Windrush through the village of Bourton on the Water.

From the town center, we walked past and over the River Windrush and through a small neighborhood of beautiful old stone homes. Soon we had to cross over a major highway in order to continue our hike through emerald colored fields and forests. The wildflowers were bountiful and colorfully strewn along the trail as we hiked alongside the clear flowing stream.

Wildflowers at the Lord of the Manor hotel gardens.

We experienced the quietness of being alone in the countryside hearing only the many bird sounds. We seldom encountered other hikers. The weather was a bit cold, partly sunny with a high of about 58°. In Upper Slaughter we came across the Lord of the Manor Hotel. We stopped, had a snack of smoked almonds and a glass of champagne and enjoyed their beautiful  English garden.

Field of oats on a local farm.

We hiked past fields of covered young oat crops, rolling hills and patches of tall trees and Hawthorne bushes in full bloom. We opened and closed many gates hiking through many farm lands along our trails. The Cotswolds has many different public trails where people can hike, enjoy the beauty of the land, and the fresh air.

One of many gates along the trail.

We hiked several miles over ancient bridges into the village of Upper Slaughter, population of 181. We hiked onward to the village of Lower Slaughter, population 232.

Along the River Windrush.

Our hike for the day encompassed 5.4 miles of rolling hills, brilliant green fields, a few sheep, and a few hikers. Our first day in the Cotswolds was everything we had hoped for . . . and more!