Bourton-On-The-Water

Villages in the Cotswolds have quaint names -- Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Camden, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stratford-Upon-Avon. It's sort of like they have a first name and a surname -- a name that describes the village.

And there is Bourton-on-the Hill and Bourton-on-the Water, Bourton Mill, and who knows what other "Bourtons" there are in England!!!!

But a favorite village of ours is Bourton-on-the Water.

A village where "the river runs through it" -- with footpaths on both side of the River Windrush and many bridges over it so you can walk along the river bank, cross and bridge and walk back on the other side.

Fat ducks make the river home and we were surprised at how swift the river was -- we found that out when we threw bread to the ducks and watched as it quickly floated downstream!

On our last visit to Bourton, we stayed at a charming bed and breakfast for two days -- making it our "hub" in the Cotswolds. This time, it was just a day trip.

We sat on a bench along the river, fed the ducks, and visited our favorite Bourton-0n-the-Water tourist attraction.

The Miniature Village

It's a complete Bourton-on-the Water in miniature -- complete with a miniature River Windrush running through the village.

The houses are charming and then are "trees" and landscaping and gardens around the cottages.

It's all built to a 1/9 scale. It was built in the early 30's by an earlier owner of The New Inn and a team of local craftsman. It's built from Cotswold stone -- the same as the big buildings in the village.

It was opened in 1937 on Coronation Day of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

And the businesses in the miniature village

Are the same as in the real village!

And behind the miniature village The New Inn . . .

Is a miniature village of the miniature village . . .

And

behind the miniature village of the miniature village . . .

Is a miniature of the miniature of the miniature village!!!!

And along the River are some darling cottages . . . how I would love to live here!!!!

Alas, our Cotswold idyll is over . . . and we are in Windsor.

But before we left, we had one last breakfast.

Which includes toast with the best orange marmalade I've ever had.

From the farm up the road. Jonathan and Jane are a wonderful couple and they make the best bread, cakes and wonderful jams and marmalade. Called Grange Farm, they're open weekends but for us "villagers" we can come anytime they're home!!! I wanted to bring a case back to Linderhof with me, but alas, I'm careful on bringing back breakables!