Windrush: Naunton to Bourton

After a long gap I resumed my walk down the course of the Windrush, from the quiet village of Naunton. From here the Windrush winds a gentle course, through gentle countryside..
passing gentle Cotswold "Lions"

and into the midst of genteel Bourton on the Water...

This "Venice of the Costwolds" is a real tourist honeypot, today buzzing with visitors enjoying the sunshine

and smiling at the cute ducklings, fighting the "mighty torrent" of the Windrush

Since the Windrush flows through the grounds of Birdland (http://www.birdland.co.uk/) AND i'm a birdlover it would have been crazy not to have called in and taken a wander around before leaving Bourton.

Here's looking at ya!

The Military Macaw family on parade

When I had thus enjoyed my tour of the park I made my walking return to Naunton,

following the Warden's Way path, once again, as it passed up the course of the Eye stream
through Lower and Upper Slaughter, two pretty little villages that seem modelled on the bigger busier neighbour somewhat, and then over the ridge and back to my starting point.

This was not one of my walking epics as such....but a gentle afternoon strole, and very pleasant too!

Have bike, will cycle.

Last autumn I got around to getting my old bicycle refurbished. Today I spent the morning
out enjoying the bright blue dayness and reminding myself how tricky cycling up hills can be when you are out of practice!!

Anyway, the practical result was that I had a great morning out, stopping off at Coaley Peak
to enjoy the view and catch my breath.


Following this break I proceeded on to visit "Thistledown" (website: http://www.thistledown.org.uk/ ) a project in development outside
Nympsfield with big ideas for an innovative eco-friendly visitor centre and a family friendly
Cotswold edge "green space" on a farm, with pleasant woodland trails, quirky sculture, bits of Roman stonework at a spring.....all sorts. I even had a coffee sitting by a tipi whilst children painted eggs nearby. :-D

I shall visit again and watch it develop.