Look no further for a picturesque walking route that offers stunning views and is not too challenging! The Bourton-on-the-Water Circular Walk is an ideal choice for those interested in admiring the quaint cottages and delightful riverside of the Cotswold postcard-perfect villages. You’ll be able to take in the incredible views of the river Windrush and the rolling hills of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as well as get glimpses of traditional village life. In this article, you’ll learn how to access the route, pick up interesting facts about the villages, and see for yourself why so many visitors have fallen in love with this place. So, let’s explore what Bourton-on-the-Water has to offer.
There is no such thing as the Cotswolds for a perfect British countryside walk. There are no houses more beautiful, no villages more picturesque, no settings more traditionally British. Whilst it is quite difficult to access by train and coach, you can make the most of London-based hiking groups using their mode of transport to get there and finally enjoy the beauty of the region.
Logistics of the Bourton-on-the-Water Walk
- Distance: 10 miles (16.2 km)
- Total Ascent: 423 ft (129 m)
- Highest Point: 712 ft (217 m)
- Lowest Point: 423 ft (129 m)
- Walking Estimate: 4 hours and 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate
How to get there:
- By Car: by far the easiest. There are two large car parks, one on Station Road and one on Rissington Road. There is also a motorcycle carpark.
- By Public Transport: Take a train from Paddington to Kingham. The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes. From Kingham Station, take a taxi to Bourton-on-the-Water. The journey takes 20 minutes.
- By Public Transport: Take a train from Paddington to either Moreton-in-Marsh or Cheltenham Spa. The journey takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Then take coach 801 to Bourton-on-the-Water. The journey takes 20 minutes.
- It is a circular walk so you can get back to London the same way you came.
What to Pack
- Comfortable clothing and footwear. The route takes you through the hilly Cotswold countryside, so make sure you wear shoes with a good grip.
- A backpack with water, snacks and a packed lunch.
- Headcover, sunscreen and sunglasses if the sun is out.
- Rain gear in case rain is forecasted
- A sitting mat, as there is no designated place for lunch
Additional Information:
- There are public toilets available at Bourton-on-the-Water at the start and end of the walk
- There are no public toilets available during the walk
- There are customer toilets available at the Black Horse Inn, Naunton
- There is 1 stile on this walk
- This is a dog-friendly walk, however, the stile does not have a dog gate
- This walk is not suitable for pushchair and wheelchair users
Where to Eat
- Black Horse Inn, Naunton for lunch mid-way
- Bakery on the Water, Bourton-on-the-Water, for breakfast before the walk
Highlights of the Bourton-on-the-Water Walk
- Bourton-on-the-Water
- The 5 bridges
- River Windrush
- The Windrush Way
- Naunton Dovecote
- Naunton Village
- The Warden’s Way
- Upper and Lower Slaughter villages
Bourton-on-the-Water Circular Walk Guide
So now we covered the basics, let’s get to the walk!
Bourton-on-the-Water
We start our walk in Bourton-on-the-Water. The village is located in the Cotswold, an Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty.
The region was settled during the Neolithic as shown by the artefacts uncovered during excavations near the Slaughters were go through during this walk. Remains from Roman potteries as well as coins were also found near Bourton. The village lies on the River Windrush, and 5 stone bridges were built across the river between 1654 and 1937, giving the village the nickname of “Venice of the Cotswold“.
The main landmarks of the village are:
- The Model Village, a replica of the village itself
- The Cotswold Motoring Museum
Fun Fact: In the video music of Oasis’s song “I’m Outta Time”, you can see Liam Gallagher walking around the Model Village.
The Windrush Way
For the purpose of this blog post, the walk begins at the corner of High Street and Sherborne Street. Walk down Sherborne Street, crossing over the low-arched stone bridge in front of you. At the end of the road, you find a footpath indicated on your right.
Take the path leading to the banks of the River Windrush. The river source is near Snowshill, a small village in Gloucestershire, home of the Cotswold Lavender Farm which is worth visiting between July and August when the lavender flowers are in full bloom. It flows for 40 miles (65 km) until it meets the River Thames at Newbridge, Oxfordshire.
The towpath ends as you come face to face with a house on the edge of the river. Divert to the road on your right. Follow Lansdowne until you reach the A429, and cross over carefully to join the continuation of the footpath on the other side.
You enter a field with a footpath going straight across it and then cross over the river to get to a forested area with tall old pine trees. When you reach the end of the forest, turn left onto the river towpath. You enter an undulating open land with grassy green hillsides dotted with shrubs.
You soon arrive at the Lower Hartford Farm. Walk across the meadow where sheep are resting and grazing (or both at the same time), giving you that look that you are disturbing their peace.
Naunton Dovecote
Before we reach the village of Naunton where we stop for lunch, we have one hill to walk up and a steep descent to get through. But you will be rewarded as you arrive at Naunton. Push the gate and enter the ground of the Dovecote.
Built sometime during the first half of the seventeenth century, it used to be linked to the Manor House of the village and was seen as a symbol of opulence. It would have been comprised of 1200 nest boxes to allow dovecotes to enter and leave safely, protecting them from the birds of prey. But the purpose of having a dovecote on your property did not stop at showing off your wealth. The young pigeons inhabiting the building were used as a source of meat. However, due to the increase in the price of wheat in the 1850s, pigeon meat fell out of fashion and dovecotes were demolished.
This one survived through the hard work of local residents who raised funds to acquire and restore the building for everyone to enjoy. And this is exactly what we are doing on this walk!
Find a place on the benches or on the grass by the River Windrush, with the dovecote building on your right and enjoy your lunch in a setting you won’t find anywhere else! After lunch, you can make your way to the only public house in the village, the Black Horse Inn, for a coffee and a toilet break before getting back on the trail.
The Warden’s Way
I hope you enjoyed your lunch and you are fuelled up, because here starts the walk up our tallest hill on this walk. As we leave the charming village of Naunton, we say goodbye to the Windrush Way and start our journey on the Warden’s Way. The name comes from the fact the trail was created at the end of the twentieth century by the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens.
When you reach the Cotswold Club Equestrian you are at the highest point of this walk, 217 m above sea level. Turn right at the farm and continue walking on the side of this countryside road.
At the end of the lane, cross over the road in front of you to continue on the Warden’s Way path. You walk through a wildflower meadow with red poppies and wheat flowers.
After walking through different meadows, you arrive at the B4068. Turn left onto B4068 and you find the trail continuation a little bit further down on your right, after the Eyford Lodge.
The path follows the course of the River Eye, a short waterway of 4.7 miles (7.6 km) flowing from the Cotswold Hills to Bourton-on-the-Water where it merges with the River Dikler. On your way down towards the Slaughter, you walk past a farm with sheep grazing in the front yard.
The Slaughters
We arrive at one of the Slaughter’s villages, the Upper Slaughter. Don’t let the name spook you, Slaughter comes from the old English word “slohtre” or “sclostre” which means “muddy place“. And it is not hard to imagine that the River Eye could overflow when you see the ford by the bridge.
The main building of the village is the Lords of the Manor Hotel. Built in 1649, the Manor used to be the property of the Slaughter Family (Sclostre). It went through many different owners over the centuries and was converted into a hotel in 1972 by the Witts family. It now belongs to the Munir family who acquired the property in 1997.
Walk across the bridge over the Ford and walk down towards Lower Slaughter. The main landmark of the second village is the Old Mill building, which was turned into a shop and a cafe after the operation ceased. The place is now unfortunately closed. Continue a little further down the main street and enjoy the sights of this picturesque village.
Just opposite The Slaughters Country Inn, where you can stop for a coffee by the river, is the Slaughter Manor House. This former convent became a private estate from 1611 to 1964 when it was turned into a hotel. Between both properties, you can get a glimpse at the Church of Saint Mary, hiding behind the trees. Erected during the thirteenth century, the church was entirely rebuilt in 1867.
Close the Loop
Follow the footpath on the bank of the River Eye before deviating from the watercourse onto more fields.
It is only a short walk until you are back in Bourton-on-the-Water, this time going through a more modern development before reaching the more traditional heart of the village. Take the time to wander around, discovering the local stores such as the confectionery or the around-the-year Christmas shop before leaving the Cotswold and making your way back to London.
Happy discovery!
What to do after?
If you don’t want to go back straight to London and you came by car, make a stop at the nearby village of Burford. It is a 20-minute drive from Bourton-on-the-Water and it is really worth the visit.
Are you feeling hungry? Stop at the Huffkins bakery for an afternoon tea or takeaway pastry.
If like Ariana Grande in “7 Rings“, retail therapy is your addiction, you will find your remedy on the Hill, Burtford main street, which as its name indicates goes down (or up) a hill. Browse around the myriad of boutiques selling books, furniture, jewellery as well as local artists’ creations and hunt for that perfect item no one else has.
Happy shopping!
Bourton-on-the-Water Circular Walk
Map
Do you want to do this walk? Download the GSP map for free by clicking on the button below. Learn how to upload the file onto your navigation app by checking my step-by-step guide here.
Final Thoughts on the Burton-on-the-Water Circular Walk
The Bourton-on-the-Water circular walk is an excellent means to explore the Cotswolds countryside. Whether you’re visiting for a day or just passing through, it’s a great way to experience the best of the area. With stunning architecture, rolling hills, and a variety of attractions, this walk is a perfect way to get a real taste of the Cotswolds. So why not take the opportunity to explore this beautiful region on foot? You won’t be disappointed.
And you, what is your favourite walk in the Cotswolds? Let me know in the comments below.
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