A walk through the Slaughters

One of the most enjoyable things about being in the Cotswolds is that you can drive in literally any direction, find a footpath and walk through beautiful countryside and quaint villages. Ronnie rides his bike, swims or runs most mornings unless we have a special destination planned, then in the afternoon we usually go "exploring." Always, I take my camera and poke along, as there is never a shortage of photo ops. I hope that my photos give you a little feel of what the Cotswold villages are like.

Three miles from Stow are the Slaughters (English word 'slough' meaning "muddy place"). We've visited them a couple of times, once just to stroll down Copse Hill Road next to the little Eye stream that flows through the village and browse the Old Mill store and again this week to take a public footpath that starts in Lower Slaughter.

Copse Hill Road in Lower Slaughter

I need to take a better photo of the Copse Hill Road that runs along Eye stream in Lower Slaughter. This street was named the Most Romantic Street in Britain in 2011. It truly is that, though the above photo doesn't do justice to it at all.

cottages line both sides of Eye stream

St Mary's, Lower Slaughter

The Slaughters Country Inn sits on one side of Eye stream

guests enjoy croquet at Lower Slaughter Manor (hotel and restaurant)

view from side of Slaughters Country Inn

The Old Mill - now a museum and gift shop

Virginia Creeper across from Old Mill showing signs of Fall

picking up footpath in Lower Slaughter

this particular footpath begins alongside a dry stack wall

On this walk, we noticed a wedding taking place across the way at a large manor (photo below). On the way back, we could hear the squeals of children in wedding attire playing behind the manor, probably relieved to be outside and away from the wedding crowd. Walks in the countryside are often so quiet, there is nothing to be heard but the gentle cooing of doves or the occasional "clip clop" of a horse and rider.

wedding guests at Lords of the Manor (Upper Slaughter)

St Peters Church, Upper Slaughter

Our walk took us through the village of Upper Slaughter. I can never walk past an old church without snapping a few photos in the grave yard and a few more inside. Amazingly, most of the churches are still used each week and left open during the day time.

grave stones behind St Peters, Upper Slaughter

nave of St Peters

a brass eagle shoulders lectern

plaque on wall - Edward Slaughter, 1698

prayer books stand neatly in back

a bit of history - plaque nailed on gate along walking path

typical Costwold cottage (but with larger yard)

geraniums line front of stone house

Unless you just tuned in, you already know that almost every home in the Cotswolds area of England is built of local quarried yellow limestone. Most of the roofs are made of stone as well, and are usually covered with green or black moss. The "yards" are usually much smaller than the one above and there is no grass to mow, only gardens filled with different plants and blooms of various colors.

an unusual flower blooming in Upper Slaughter