Bourton to Lower Slaughter Walk
A countryside link between Bourton and Lower Slaughter; choose a mapped route and allow for fields, gates and a busy road crossing.
Opening hours
Open access, generally from dawn to dusk. Check local access, conditions and any seasonal restrictions before travelling.
Location: Bourton-on-the-Water and Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire
Walking between Bourton-on-the-Water and Lower Slaughter adds a stretch of countryside to a village day. It can be a rewarding change of pace, but choose your route before leaving: several different walks link the villages, with different starts and distances.
Use a route, not just a village name
The Cotswolds Conservation Board’s “Eye the Windrush and Slaughter” leaflet describes a 5km/3.2-mile walk, allowing around two hours. It begins with an approach to Lower Slaughter and finishes in Bourton; its distance is not a promise for every return walk from your car park. Download the map and work out your start, finish and return arrangements first.
What to expect underfoot
The leaflet includes fields, gates, a wooded section, riverside paths and a crossing of the busy Fosse Way. Wear footwear suitable for wet or muddy ground. This is not a route we label pushchair-friendly or an independent toddler walk.
Keep the day manageable
Leave time to enjoy Lower Slaughter rather than adding Upper Slaughter automatically. If your group would prefer a shorter outing, stay with the Windrush in Bourton’s centre and visit the other village separately.
Before setting out
Use the map alongside current rights-of-way signs and conditions. The leaflet is an older publication: confirm current transport independently, and do not rely on its historic phone numbers or descriptions of businesses. Keep dogs under close control, following livestock and local signage.
Download the Conservation Board route leaflet, hosted by Thinktravel. Source reviewed September 2026; route not walked by us for this entry.