Cotswold Walks 7: Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Hill

I visit the bustling Cotswold town of Moreton-in-Marsh and walk to the beautiful village of Bourton-on-the-Hill, following part of the Monarch's Way and return back to the town, following part of the Heart of England Way.
#Cotswolds
#Walks
#MoretoninMarsh

[@SouthWestSundays]

So true what you said about many people being focussed on materialistic things and not observing nature around them. Like you, I am so aware of it when filming. I love that it makes me so much more observant of my surroundings. I notice that I am so much more aware of background noise too. Even in really quiet places there are so many background noises that I never used to notice, like cars, tractors, motorcycles, aeroplanes, car horns. Sometimes a few of these have occurred at the same time just as I am about to record! 🤣

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Louise. Yes, when you are filming and recording sound you tend to be more aware of distracting and noisy sounds too. That is so true - when I hit the red record button I swear someone is watching me nearby ready to fire up a noisy lawnmower or motor bike!

[@sunnyonion3461]

I lived there, raised my children in Batsford village, they had their first jobs at the Arboretum, and the Horse and Groom as teenagers, I walked my Jack Russells Tosca and Digger over those fields to Moreton every day for tens of years. I now live in the Caribbean, and so enjoy looking and reminiscing those wonderful days when my children (and I) were young, and my doggies (pets who have now passed), shared so many sunny days wondering those paths together.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! It is a really beautiful area - glad it brought back happy memories for you. I really enjoyed this walk and filming it too. Cheers, Paul

[@faithg9766]

This was a lovely walk full of buttercups and umbellifers. It reminds me of the lovely plants we have coming out very soon.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Ah, yes! That reminds me that I have not yet visited (for the channel) Batsford Arboretum, which is close by. Maybe one for this autumn? Glad you liked the walk Faith, Take care, Paul

[@josefeschweiler3631]

Hello there. When our English friend returned to his home country from Holland to run a pub & restaurant in Evesham, this brought us to the Cotswolds, where we explored all the numerous limestone villages and towns as well as the walks in this Heart of England for many years. This was from the start of the 2000's on for about 10 ys., but our friend ended up running a hotel in Blackpool and has retired meanwhile. So our last short visit to the Cotswolds was on the way back from Malvern Hills. This little film nrought back old memories and plans for returning once again.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you so much! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Yes, I have done several videos now on the Cotswold Area (which is huge, by England's standards anyway) as well as the long distance Cotswold Way footpath. Moreton-in-Marsh makes a good base for the Northern part of it. Hope you can get to visit this way again. Incidentally, The Malvern Hills is my absolute favourite part of the wider Westcountry Region that I cover here on KZbin. Great comment. Take care, Paul

[@unowhotravelchannel]

A marvellous circular walk in a lovely part of the country! We know the Monarch's way well as it passes through our home town in Worcestershire! Thanks for taking us with you on your walk, kind regards, Simon👍

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Simon! Yes, The Monarch's Way passes close by to where I live in Gloucestershire too. It keeps cropping up on my travels - it is a bit of a switch back route, but too long and goes way out of the area (Sussex, for example) that I cover for me to do the whole thing. I do need to cover The Commandery in Worcester though (where it starts) - been past the start (Battle of Worcester) many times, but haven't got around to it yet. Thanks for the comment, and thank you for your lovely videos too - I keep dipping into them. Cheers, Paul.

[@royedwards8713]

Hi Paul a nice video lovely views nice photos look forward to next video👌👌

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Roy. Glad you liked it. Yes, I was lucky with the light and the buttercups. Light always makes all the difference with photos. Hope you are having a good week. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Paul - greetings from POland What a wonderful walk. Fabulous scenes across the fields of buttercups and rapeseed. Englands green and pleasant land. I think that on occaisions, we all tend to take our surroundings for granted. It's completely wrong, I agree. Your still photographs were brilliant. I loved this video very much. It showed me what I'm missing from ythe UK living here in Poland. Your videos bring so much enjoyment into my life. Thank you.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! That's very kind of you to say so Michael. It is always a privilege to know that my little videos bring joy into people's lives. Moreton-in-Marsh is possibly my favourite town in Gloucestershire, and the landscape around here is outstanding. Take care, Paul.

[@cathydyer3774]

Thank you Paul. I enjoyed your May video. I loved the beautiful scenery, the buttercups, the clouds in the sky when the sun came out, the mighty oaks and the little oaks that had been planted for the future, the fields and the birdsong. I smiled when you talked about the people chatting about buying things. There is a lot of wealth in the Cotswolds so always money available to buy the next house and car. Ha. I liked your photos too. Glad your walk back was more solitary. Pretty Cotswold villages.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Cathy, glad you enjoyed the scenery and the walk. I really enjoyed this one (as indeed all of the Cotswold Walks, because they are a pleasure to make, and they require little research or planning. You are right - there is a lot of wealth in the Cotswolds, but there is much (hidden) poverty too, which is about to grow a whole load more, I fear. Thanks again for watching and commenting. Take care, Paul.

[@cathydyer3774]

@@westcountrywanderings yes Paul. There will be more poverty at this rate.

[@ian4iPad2]

A great walk and video, Paul. I didn’t know about the meaning of Marsh as boundary. Slightly ironic that The Slaughters, villages quite close to there, is supposedly an old term for marsh or swamp, nothing to do with killing. Looking forward to watching your next outing. Good work!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Ian! Yes, that's true about 'The Slaughters' too. The River Coln runs through it, and they are on the flood plain, so can get a little boggy around the footpaths around there during wet weather. I am off soon to start the Severn Way in Wales, but there will be another Cotswold Walk in June. Cheers, Paul 🙂👍

[@Short_and_tweet]

Thanks for the video and tips . Planning on coming this May 2024 for do some short walks around the Cotswolds

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you found it useful. Moreton-in-Marsh makes a good base. Mainline trains and busses to places like Stow-on-the-Wold. Batsford Arborateum is close by as are Seizencote Gardens.

[@abandonedrailwaya2470]

Thanks for sharing your video of the Moreton countryside, Paul. Moreton is my hometown and has some lovely walks and scenery. Batsford, of course, was home to the Mitford Sisters, and Lord Dulverton who helped to fund the Moreton to Stratford Tramway. Keep up the good work and stay safe. Ron

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hi Ron - thank you! Yes, I have been thinking of doing a video on the Moreton to Stratford tramway but the lack of remains and visuals puts me off a bit. There is one of the original tramway trucks outside a pub at the canal basin in Stratford though - I saw it the other day. Yes, I will definitely be going to Batsford Arboretum on my channel - shame the house isn't open. I had forgotten about the Mitford Sisters connection. Fascinating history there. I will do Seizencote and Bourton Hill gardens too. Not sure if I should say this, but I personally prefer Moreton-in-Marsh to both Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Norton, because it still seems like a real town to me, if you know what I mean. Thanks for watching and commenting, take care, Paul 👍🙂

[@abandonedrailwaya2470]

@@westcountrywanderings I’ve done a lot of research on the Moreton end of the Tramway, so I’ll post a video in the near future. There was never much railway infrastructure between Moreton and Shipston, but at least 2 crossing keeper cottages still exist. The tramway offices and warehouse were still present up to 1986, in what is now the Co-op car park. I’ve also seen the original wooden entrance gate, until someone ran into it and damaged it beyond repair. The metal replacement is, frankly an eyesore! Ron

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@abandonedrailwaya2470 Oh, I look forward to that Ron! Sounds great 👍🙂

[@KidCurry666]

Going to give this walk a go over the Xmas break as we are staying in Morton for a few nights. Thanks for posting 👍🏼👍🏼

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Yes, this is a relatively easy walk, and Moreton-in-Marsh makes a good base by having reasonable facilities, a mainline railway station, and buses out to some to of the Cotswold gems nearby. Hope you have a good time over Christmas here! Cheers, Paul

[@KidCurry666]

Did the walk yesterday, although we carried on the Heart of England way for a mile or so before turning left back to Moreton. Paths were quite muddy and we had some rain but it didn't detract from a thoroughly enjoyable walk. Thanks again for posting 👍🏼👍🏼

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, everywhere is unfortunately very muddy at present. Glad you got to do the walk and continuing on with the Heart of England Way which is a great medium distance trail. Thanks for commenting. Cheers, Paul