Lower Slaughter to Upper Slaughter Walk

This short walk between these two delightful Cotswolds villages is a favourite for visitors to the region.
Walk Report - 18th September 2026 by Simon Barnes
We headed to the Cotswolds for a day out in Lower Slaughter, with bright sunshine making the honey-coloured cottages and clear waters of the River Eye look particularly beautiful. This is a short and fairly gentle walk, but we decided to make more of a day of it rather than simply walking between the two villages.... Lower Slaughter itself is so picturesque that we wanted plenty of time to look around before setting off towards Upper Slaughter.
We started by wandering along the river through Lower Slaughter, crossing the little stone footbridges and stopping to admire the cottages beside the water. The highlight before the walk was the old water mill, where we went inside to explore the museum and learn more about the building's history. The mill is a lovely setting, with the waterwheel and river running alongside it, and it gave us something interesting to explore before we continued along the Warden's Way. Once we left Lower Slaughter, the character of the walk changed quite quickly. The path follows the River Eye through open meadows, with the water beside us and the Cotswold countryside stretching away on either side. It is a very easy section to walk, and we could simply enjoy being outside without having to concentrate too much on the route. I particularly liked the contrast between the carefully maintained village we had just left and the much more peaceful countryside along the river.
There were plenty of little things to notice along the way, including grazing sheep, wildflowers and the occasional glimpse back towards the stone buildings of Lower Slaughter. The river is shallow and clear in places, and we stopped several times just to watch the water moving through the meadows. It is the sort of walk where the short distance doesn't really matter because there is so much to look at. Before long we reached Upper Slaughter, which felt noticeably quieter than its neighbour. We wandered around the village green and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere before beginning the return journey. The village has a slightly different character from Lower Slaughter, with its attractive stone buildings and the river and ford giving it a very traditional Cotswold feel.
Back in Lower Slaughter, we headed to the tea room for lunch. Sitting outside in the sunshine with the river and old stone buildings around us was a lovely way to finish the walking part of the day. After lunch we had another look around the village before heading home, and it felt as though we'd managed to combine a pleasant countryside walk with a proper Cotswold day out.
For us, the appeal of the Lower Slaughter to Upper Slaughter walk was the combination of scenery and things to do along the way. The old water mill and museum, the riverside cottages and bridges, the peaceful path beside the River Eye and the two very different villages make this much more than simply a two-mile stroll. It is an easy walk to take at a leisurely pace, particularly if you allow time for lunch and a look around Lower Slaughter.
This walk follows the Warden's Way between the two villages so you could continue along this path if you would like to extend your walk. The Heart of England Way and the Macmillan Way also run past Lower Slaughter so you could pick up another path and head to the nearby Bourton on the Water. You can also follow the Macmillan Way north east to the town of Stow on the Wold.
Our 10 mile Circular Walk from Bourton through Naunton and The Slaughters will take you on a tour of the area using sections of the Windrush Way and Warden's Way long distance trails.
Postcode: GL54 2HX
Pubs and More Info
The Slaughters Country Inn is a fine choice for post walk refreshment. The inn serves fine food and has a lovely outdoor area next to the river. It's a great place to relax on a summer day. You can find them in Lower Slaughter at postcode GL54 2HS for your sat navs.

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Nearby Routes

Stow on the Wold Bourton on the Water Heart of England Way Macmillan Way

Photos

Lower Slaughter 1. The name of the village derives form the Old English term "slough" meaning "wet land". In the settlement there is a ford where the river widens in the village and several small stone footbridges join the two sides of the community.

Lower Slaughter 2

Upper Slaughter 1. The village is notable as being one of the Thankful Villages, amongst the small number in England which lost no men in World War I. As it also lost no men in World War II, it is also known as a Doubly Thankful Village.

Upper Slaughter 2

The old Watermill at Lower Slaughter. The mill dates back to the 1800s. It includes an undershot waterwheel and a chimney for additional steam power. The mill is built of red brick but most of the 16th and 17th century homes in the village use Cotswold limestone. They are generally adorned with mullioned windows and sometimes with other embellishments such as projecting gables.

Church at Lower Slaughter. The 13th century Anglican parish church is Grade II listed and dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Much of the existing structure was built in 1867, based on plans by architect Benjamin Ferrey.

Upper Slaughter Manor. This is the one of the best public views of this fine old manor house. Somehow the building seems to blend easily into the landscape and it would be very easily missed while driving. Well worth a walk or at least getting out of the car to admire the architecture and the beautiful Cotswold stone.
The manor is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 while the Slaughter family acquired it in the late 12th century. The current building, on the site of an ancient building, was constructed over many years, starting in the Tudor era. Its crypt is estimated to be from the 14th century.

Lords of the Manor Hotel, Upper Slaughter. The hotel is the largest business in the village. The building dates from 1649 and has been a hotel since 1960s, furnished with portraits and antiques belonging to the former owner.

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