"BLACK HORSE WALK"

A FULL DAYS WALK ACROSS THE HILLSIDES

THROUGH WOODS AND WATER MEADOWS

TAKING LUNCH AT THE BLACK HORSE NAUNTON

VISITING UPPER AND LOWER SLAUGHTER

Starting in BOURTON-ON­THE-WATER walk out of the village along Lansdown to the junction with the Fosseway (A436). Cross over to gate by the River Windrush and follow blue arrow across meadow and into field through narrow gate. Walk along with wire fence on left and ahead into woodland. 

Here it can be muddy; when you emerge at Aston’s Mill follow lane downhill past cottages, and through gate on right to Aston Farm. Walk ahead between barns and out onto well marked track across field and into woodland. The path runs through the woods for about a mile, leading to a gate into field; walk along with woodland on right to arrow taking you downhill through scrub and gorse into river valley again. Follow path across meadows with river on your right hand till you arrive at a stile into a lane. 

Cross over and follow arrows through two fields and across a stone slab bridge. Uphill to a stile onto the Golf Course, following track to main road (B4068). Cross over and walking 50 yds right, join path leading downhill with wall on left hand, to a gate that leads between cottages and across the Windrush and there is the BLACK HORSE on your right in the centre of NAUNTON. (One and a half hours.)

 After rest and refreshment turn right from the pub and passing the village pump in the wall, turn right and follow lane uphill to kissing gate on right.

Set off diagonally uphill through trees and emerge on high meadow. Follow well marked path until you reach farm road/track. Turn right onto track and walk along following blue arrows until gate on left leads onto wide lane (Buckle Street). 

Cross straight over through metal gate, and follow track to barn on right, where path slants to the right downhill through three fields to picturesque Eyford Cottages on the Swell Road (B4068).Turn left, walking along verge for lOOyds to Lodge where you cross to driveway to Swiss Farm. Follow track uphill, through narrow gate and cross two fields to UPPER SLAUGHTER. 

Admire this chocolate box village, with it’s famous Ford below the castle mound. From the Ford walk along street to T-junction and turn right, after 50 yards take footpath on left beneath trees which winds to a kissing gate into meadows. 

Follow well trodden path through meadows alongside River Eye to arrive at LOWER SLAUGHTER. Turn right into village, admire the Mill and walk along narrow pavement on the rivers edge round to the left. Follow riverside path, past Hotel, until a wide gravelled path leads off right. Cross two fields on hard path to the Fosseway. Turn right, crossing to footpath when you can, and return a few hundred yards to the Lansdown turn by the bridge where you began.