There is a public foot path that goes between Bourton-on-the-water to Lower Slaughter and Upper Slaughter. It is a loop, but today we did an in and out, only part of the trail. We were looking for a little sunshine and expecting a lot of beauty.
It wasn't too long before the beauty began to present itself to us.
Lower Slaughter has beauty to no end.
Wouldn't you want to move right into this cottage? And, look how they store their firewood.
Water was still making its way over the Lower Slaughter mill.
It seems we have had a theme this week: mud.
Lunch was back in Bourton-on-the-water. There were a few things that I was hoping to experience or see on this trip. One was eating scones with clotted cream. Well, there it is! One thing ✔️'d off the list. It was both filling and delicious. We shared the table with a young couple from Vancouver.
The National Trust property Hidcote was our destination for the afternoon.
This is a Cedar of Lebanon. The photo does not come anywhere near to how majestic that tree was.
Another wish ✔️'d off - seeing an European Robin. When I watch my favourite gardening show, Gardeners' World, there often are European Robins bopping around on fences and walls. I'd been looking for one for 6 days. I even enlisted my travel buddies to look for one. Today, Lindsey found this little guy.
Hidcote gardens are very different from the more formal gardens we saw last week. We all agreed that we like it better than them. There is a looseness and friendliness to this garden that the others don't have.
Just as we entered the grounds, a tour was heading out.
As we toured and learned about the history of the garden, we had plenty of time to stop and admire individual species. I've tried to photograph English Bluebells every day. You see them everywhere - in the ditches, in front of houses, at market stalls. But, they are so hard to photograph. This is the best I could do.
Hidcote has 10.5 acres of gardens! They are all about the views at Hidcote. Long views. They even planted the hedges a few feet closer to each other near the top of this length to make it look like it was even longer.
There are a lot of doors in the Cotswolds that could use another inch or two.
I love this view.....
.... and this one. The distant hills are so hazy.
Tree peonies were blooming.
As were these whatever-they-ares.
And, I'll end with some poppies. There were poppies everywhere, peppered throughout the gardens.
This is it for Chipping Norton. Tomorrow, we have plans to drive westward to Cardiff, Wales. Yippee! We all agree that we really lucked out with our accommodations here. As I sit by the fire, writing the post, I can hear the dishwasher going in the kitchen next door. One of us is having a bath in the deep tup upstairs, another is reading next to me and the other.... who knows? There is plenty of room to spread out and relax. It has been truly lovely.
Steps? Ranging from around 14,000 to 18,000 depending on the device.
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