Upper Slaughter Ford

In this area of the Cotswolds, near Bourton on the Water, there are two villages collectively known as 'The Slaughters'. Lower Slaughter is the best known of the two, with pictures of the village and it's river and mill appearing in many publications. However the lesser known Upper Slaughter is just as pretty and attractive and one of it's main attractions is it's Ford. The buildings in the village are pure Cotswold, with cottages, a meandering river and parish church.

As you enter Upper Slaughter village the first main feature is The Square, where you can park up. It is small and on one side some medieval almshouses, across the road is a row of detached houses with pretty gardens in the summer.

Off here is a road with a very large Ford sign at it's entrance. Walk down this road, the church will be on your left and as you go down into the dip you will see the Ford ahead of you. The Ford gets you across the River Eye, a tributary of the River Windrush to the houses on the other side.

It is shallow and driveable and on a map you will see the road circles around to join back up with the road which goes through the main part of the village. It is well maintained for vehicles to go through, and for pedestrians there is also a small bridge provided for them to cross. Once across it is possible to get some nice pictures looking back towards the village and church up the hill. A little further down the river there is also a little clapper bridge to get across the river at this point.

During the summer months it is tempting to have a walk through but I would suggest a pair of boots is in order as it is a little deeper than it looks. On my visit I was drawn to have a walk through it and I got a little wetter than I anticipated as I got towards the middle.

There is also a nearby manor house, and at one time a motte and bailey castle only noticeable by some lumps in the grass. Nearby Lower Slaughter is also worth a visit, with its pretty river running through the core, with the mill at one end and a large manor house, now a hotel at the other, and its church.

Location: Upper Slaughter Ford, Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire Grid Reference: SP155233 Ceremonial County: Gloucestershire Map Link: Multimap    StreetMap Aerial photo: Multimap Aerial Getting there: From the A429 just past Bourton on the Water, take the road to Lower Slaughter at the fork near the church go left over the bridge which crosses the River Eye. Follow this road round at the next junction turn right, past the large mansion house and as the road dips there is road on the right to Upper Slaughter. Access: Park up in The Square at the centre of the village and walk down the road signposted Ford. Website: Other Useful Websites: Email: Address: Postcode: Telephone: Opening Times: All year Charges: None Nearby Locations: Lower Slaughter, Bourton on the Water Other Location Pages: Other Relevant Pages: Notes:

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By: Tracey Park	Section: Nature/Flora/Countryside	Key:
Page Ref: upper_slaughter_ford	Topic: Fords	Last Updated: 09/2009

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