Lower and Upper Slaughter
If ever we are asked to suggest a couple of villages that perfectly encapsulate the magic of the Cotswolds, they are Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter.
Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds and under 2 miles from Bourton-on-the-water, these two villages are overflowing with classic Cotswolds charm; the combination of golden Cotswold stone cottages and the babbling shallow waters of the River Eye with perfectly positioned stone bridges make it feel like you’re stepping back in time. Although the names of the villages seem strange and rather morbid, they actually stem from the Old English name ‘slough’ or ‘slothre’ – Old English for muddy place!
It’s easy to while away a couple of hours here. Dogs will love splashing in and out of the shallow river in Lower Slaughter, before grabbing an ice cream at the Old Mill. Walk between the two villages along a one-mile path, which starts next to the Old Mill and runs along the River Eye and across sheep fields before arriving in Upper Slaughter. You’ll get great views of the Lords of the Manor Hotel across the river on the final stretch into the Upper Slaughter. Lords of the Manor prides itself on being dog friendly so is a great stop off for a drink or afternoon tea on the terrace. Otherwise pack a picnic and head down to the ford in Upper Slaughter, a perfect spot to paddle in the shallows whilst deciding which of the beautiful surrounding houses you’d like to live in most!
For a longer walk, you can opt to take on the full 14-mile Warden’s Way, which is a stunning linear walk between Winchcombe and Bourton-on-the-water and winds through the villages of Lower and Upper Slaughter, Naunton and Guiting Power.
Lower Slaughter in particular is understandably a very popular place to visit, so we’d always recommend an early morning or evening visit to enjoy a more peaceful side of the village.
The route below takes in a mix of farmland, woodlands and the lovely villages of Naunton and the Slaughters so it’s a favourite of ours if we’re looking for a longer walk that escapes the crowds for the most part.
If you’d prefer something shorter, the route below is a simple there and back route between Bourton and Lower Slaughter. I’d highly recommend adding on Upper Slaughter if you can.
Why not take a look at some of our other favourite Cotswold dog walks on our post here.
Thanks so much for reading,
Cara, Andy, Poppy & Maple x
