Stow on the Wold to Bourton on the Water Walk
This linear walk joins these two picturesque Cotswolds village using a series of waymarked footpaths. The route runs for a distance of just over 4 miles, descending from the higher village of Stow on the Wold to the tourist honeypot of Bourton on the Water. On the way there's old mills, river views, rolling hills and a visit to the popular village of Lower Slaughter too. The route makes use of two of the waymarked trails which run through the area in the form of the Gloucestershire Way and the Windrush Way. As such it's generally a good footpath and well signposted throughout.
In Lower Slaughter you could take a short detour from the route and try The Slaughters Walk which takes you between the two neighbouring villages on the River Eye.
Stow on the Wold to Bourton on the Water Walk Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Stow on the Wold to Bourton on the Water Walk Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Stow on the Wold to Bourton on the Water Walk OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Stow on the Wold to Bourton on the Water Walk Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Mousetrap Inn in Bourton is a good choice for some post walk refreshments. The pub does excellent food and also has its own art gallery with landscape paintings in oil by local artist Silvi Schaumloeffel. There's a cosy, attractive interior with a log fire while outside there's a garden area for warmer days. You can find the inn at Lansdowne with a postcode of GL54 2AR for your sat navs. It's also dog friendly if you have your pet with you on the walk.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
In Bourton you could pay a visit to the Cotswold Motoring Museum or Birdland. They are two of the most popular attractions in the area and well worth a visit if you have time.
For an example of a circular walk in the area see the video below.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
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Stow-on-the-Wold
A scene in the center of Bourton-on-the-Water
Lower Slaughter Mill Calm Cotswolds
Hidden Lower Slaughter. Less than 400 yards from the bit of Lower Slaughter that the tourists visit, but in a different world. This is Lower Slaughter cricket pitch with a few Cotswold stone houses behind that in any other village would receive at least a second glance.
On the Macmillan Way. The Macmillan Way climbs up from Lower Slaughter and continues in a south westerly direction on a good bridleway. Going against the grain of the land there are a lot of small climbs and descents; here we are near the crest of one such small ridge.
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The Wardens' Way. A view of this path near Lower Slaughter.
On the Gloucestershire Way. The Gloucestershire Way soon leaves Stow town centre on this path on the west side of the A429. It is also a convenient route for Macmillan Way walkers who have diverted to stay in Stow overnight; not strictly on route but avoids a longer section of road walking. When you are halfway between Lincolnshire and Dorset the odd diversion won't make much difference.
Hyde Mill. Situated spanning the River Dikler, the mill is seen from the Macmillan Way long distance path.