Pub Walk (81) Saturday 6^th January 2018, from the Mouse Trap Inn, BOTW.

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

Seventeen walkers turned up at Bourton on the Water for the 81^stSaturday Pub Walk and the first of 2018. The Mousetrap Inn under new management of Frank Fellows were our host, and we set off after the group photo (Photo 1). A good turnout including a small black lab, but after a wet week, a road route around the Slaughters was the preference.

Taking a footpath to our right at the rear of the pub we passed between houses until reaching the infant school where we turned left and north past the Cotswold School, and turned left at the main road. Heading towards the Fosseway we crossed at the lights turning right then left at the next footpath towards Lower Slaughter. This route is very popular with the many tourists that visit Bourton and this section is part of the Heart of England Way. Bearing Right with the River Dikler on our left, we turned left at the Road (Photo 2). We followed the river through Lower Slaughter turning right at the Mill stream (Photo 3), pausing at the shop and museum (Photo 4).

The weather was dry but cold as we carried on and turned left at the road junction heading north at the next bend. In drier conditions a footpath to the left is the shorter route to Upper Slaughter but we selected the road and after a while taking the next left turn. Traffic was minimal apart from the occasional horse (Photo 5). We turned left at the next junction downhill to Upper Slaughter taking the first turning on the right with the river to our left crossing the next bridge to our left for a group gathering (Photo 6) The river was running strongly and deep following recent heavy rain with the ford very uninviting.

Carrying on we turned right at the next junction then left just after heading past the impressive Upper Slaughter Manor on a very quiet lane past the usual horses (Photo 7) for over a mile with open views appearing to our left of Bourton and its adjacent commerce. Crossing the busy Fosseway with care (Photo 8) we made our away along Landsdowne Rd back to the Mousetrap.

A free house with Tap Dairy Gold, Stroud Tom Long and North Cotswold Windrush Bitter, all three in excellent condition, and a good lunch (Photos 9 and 10) enjoyed by all. An excellent walk and many thanks to Carol Price for devising the 5 mile dry route.

The next walk is the 82^nd of the series on Saturday 3^rd February, at the Queens Head, Stowe on the Wold. Park where you can (Next to Tesco is free) and we leave the pub in the Main Square at 10:30 hrs.

Report by Roger Price

01451 810305

Mob 07850 429630

Pictures taken on the walk:


^ Photo 1 ^	^ Photo 2 ^

^ Photo 3 ^	^ Photo 4 ^

^ Photo 5 ^	^ Photo 6 ^

^ Photo 7 ^	^ Photo 8 ^

^ Photo 9 ^	^ Photo 10 ^