Family fun in Bourton-on-the-Water

Public Transport:   Pulhams Coaches (01451 820369) operate several routes from local villages ,towns and from Moreton-in-Marsh railway station. Villager Community bus (01451 832114) operate services V21  Wednesdays only and V12  Fridays only including Kingham station.

By car: The village is just off the A429 Fosse Way. Turn into the village at the traffic lights on the main road, turn left at the T Junction opposite the post office and find the car park on the right. The postcode of the HF Holidays house, close to the war memorial is GL54 2BY.

There are large pay and display car parks on Station Road and at Birdland. In winter, or after 5pm in summer, you may find some street parking on single yellow lines. Check the signs carefully.

On the main street through the village, follow the river up stream to find the prominent war memorial on the river bank by the last bridge.

[1] From the war memorial cross the bridge over the river and follow the road to where it widens and forks by Harrington House, the HF Holidays centre, on the left. Turn right down a path by the right fork, signposted 'The Windrush Way', that goes between cottages. When it emerges into a field continue straight ahead. It reaches the riverside with the River Windrush on your right.  Take care with children near water. When you reach a low footbridge, cross it and continue on the other side of the river until you reach The Mill House.

Turn right down a footpath between a fence and hedge, which emerges onto a playing field with a view of the church ahead in the distance. Carry straight on, leaving the field by the British Legion building on your right, and follow the lane to the main road. Turn right and cross the road. After about 50 metres turn left to St Laurence church.

[2] Walk up the footpath to the left of the church and turn right immediately beyond the churchyard. Follow the path ahead, continuing across a lane. Just before a T junction, turn left up a path to a car park, and follow the yellow hatched path across it.  (Alternative walk starting point at car park (E))

On reaching the main road, cross over and turn right, 20 metres after crossing the junction with Roman Way, turn left along the dead end road,  signed to the cemetery. The road immediately splits. Take the left turn up Greystones Lane to Greystones Farm and Nature Reserve, passing allotments on your right.

[3] Follow the path ahead through three gates across  the farmyard,  then along the track downhill between fields. Go straight ahead through a gate at the junction of footpaths, and then through a gate on the left onto a stretch of boarded path. On exiting through the next gate the path heads towards the lake and follows the bank with the water on your left.

Just past a tiny boathouse turn right through a gate by Bury Grange into a lane. More lakes can be glimpsed through hedges. Pass through a gate and the lane continues, bending to the right as another footpath joins it from the left. At a low barn on the right, turn left down a footpath. The path passes between the back of houses and trees. At a path junction by a green wooden fence on the left, turn right along a path passing football pitches on the left. It crosses a lane and eventually emerges through stone gate posts onto a main road, Station Rd.

[4] Turn left and follow the road into the village centre, passing the Baptist church on your right.

Turn left onto Rissington Road. At the Old New Inn note the signs for the Model Village. Cross the road and take the lane opposite down a few metres to cross the footbridge by a ford. (Or take a detour along Rissington Road to Birdland).

Turn right and follow the footpath along the riverside (with the river on your right), crossing several roads and passing Victoria Hall. On reaching the Old Manse Hotel the war memorial is just to your right.

(A) Harrington House. Historic house with some parts dating back to Tudor times but mainly built in 1730-1740 with lovely plaster work in the principle rooms and staircase. Now used as a base for HF holidays.

(B) River Windrush. This rises a few miles from Bourton-on-the-Water and meanders through the village crossed by numerous low bridges. It has led to the village being dubbed the “Little Venice of the Cotswolds”

(C) The Mill House: A listed building that was formerly a mill. Built in the early/mid 16^th century in Cotswold stone but with a lot of early 20^th century rebuilding.

(D) St Laurence Church. The present church, built in 1784, replaces an earlier one, apart from the 14^th century chancel which was preserved.  It underwent further major changes in 1875-1890 by Sir Thomas Jackson, giving it with a very Victorian character. The stained glass is by C E Kempe.

(E) Station Rd Pay and Display Car park. Alternative starting point.

(F) Greystones Farm Nature Reserve. 6000 year heritage of farming and wildlife. (Map and leaflets available on wall of the barn ahead of you). There are two circular waymarked walks on the reserve – the Meadows  Walk and the Archaeology Walk – with details available on the notice board and in leaflets.

(G) Lake, rich in water wildlife including coot, heron, cormorant, and summer and winter migrants.

(H) Baptist church. The current church was built in 1875 replacing an earlier meeting house built in 1701 on the site of what is now the cemetery.

(I) Old New Inn. Home to the Model Village which is a one-ninth scale replica of the village. It was created by a previous landlord of the Old New Inn and officially opened in 1937, after taking 5 years to build. See www.theoldnewinn.co.uk  for further details and opening times.

(J) Birdland Park and Garden is home to more than 500 birds, including king penguins, flamingos and pelicans, in settings of woodland, river and gardens.  Other more delicate birds are in aviaries. See www.birdland.co.uk for further details and opening times.

(K) The Victoria Hall was built to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897.  It has plaques to commemorate this and the jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. It is now the village hall.

(L) Motor and Toy Museum in what was the Old Water Mill. See www.cotswoldmotoringmuseum.co.uk for further details.