Hiking the Cotswolds

We had read of a wonderful bakery and decided to get out early ( sun expected in the am) and have a breakfast at the bakery then head out to the trail to Upper and Lower Slaughter. ( a somewhat unfortunate sounding name for two really beautiful communities with stately manor houses and lovely lanes).

The Bakery On The Water was full of delicious breads and pastries. Although there was a nip in the air, we took our breakfast out on the patio by the brook( the sound of which was familiar to our cottage brook).

As we noshed, five little ducks came swirling around the corner, riding the rapids, over a little waterfall and off to join in the river.

We walked through the town to the trail head passing the children as they headed off to school. The hike was an great introduction to the Cotswold hiking scene. We crossed a busy street to come face to face with two large draft horses grazing in a field near a gypsy wagon.

Through a gate and along a

grassy path, sheep to the right,

As we hiked the trail became more populated with other trekkers. We chatted with some , many who had dogs on leash or well trained off leash.

We spent some time walking with a couple who were in from Exeter to dog sit. Little Oscar entertained us running ahead whenever we passed them falling behind to sniff something wonderful in the grassy path. We veered off the trail now and again only to end up on a quaint lane or along a fence. In lower slaughter we came upon a craft and gift shop which was a find. Finally we reached familiar sites winding our way back into Bourton-on-the-Water.

Time to shop and walk the village. The long-standing Knightsbridge pub was buzzing with a late lunch crowd… we sat along the river by a footbridge, just in time to see our friend Oscar one more time.