A pair of villages just over an hour's drive away from Bristol provide the perfect day trip for those who want to soak up a taste of country life - or simply need a break from city life. A trip to the Cotswolds offers rolling hills, green fields and the stone-built village that many of us seek during a break.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the Cotswolds often feature prominently when it comes to naming the UK's most picturesque scenes. And this beauty is perfectly showcased by the Slaughters, as reporter by MyLondon.
Despite a rather grisly set of names, the twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are the quintessential Cotswold settings. Thatched stone cottages sat beside perfectly still water, grass so verdant it almost pains the eye, and locals who nod a greeting despite never having met you in their life.
Read next: Pretty Cotswold town an hour from Bristol where it is Christmas all year round
Nestled in the Gloucestershire countryside, the Slaughters have - on multiple occasions - been ranked among Britain's most stunning locations. The Telegraph branded them two of the country's 'most beautiful' villages, recommending that anyone who wants a hit of nature take the easy, mile-long stroll between the twins.
The path takes you along a stretch of the very quaint River Eye, known as Slaughter Brook. If the name sounds slightly sinister, fear not - it's actually derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for 'mud'. Best bring a pair of wellies, then.
The villages are also a stone's throw from the more tourist-heavy options of Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh, Broadway and Burford. While all of these boast their own charms, the Slaughters have to their name a tranquillity that's oddly difficult to find in this part of the world, especially during the summer months.
The Slaughters are just pleasant to be in, more than anything, but for those longing for a more concrete experience, Upper Slaughter has one of the Cotswolds' best restaurants in Lords of the Manor. Their 1000 bottle-strong wine cellar is a marvel as it is, but the seven-course taster menu also proves head chef Charles Smith has hardly skimped on the food front either.
If you're looking to stick about in Lower Slaughter, then give The Slaughters Country Inn a go, tried and tested by countless passers-through and their glowing Tripadvisor reviews. And if you fancy going a bit further afield, it's not as though other villages are a massive trek - we'd recommend heading to Bourton's Duke of Wellington.
Read more:
- Charming Cotswold town house near Bristol for sale
- Pretty Cotswold town an hour from Bristol where it is Christmas all year round
- The ‘pretty’ Somerset village with a fairytale castle overlooking it
- Take a look inside the stunning Cotswold town that inspired Lord of the Rings
-
Town named one of the UK's prettiest is less than an hour from Bristol
