We’re mid-walk around several of the Cotswolds’ most Instagrammable destinations. It’s a warm summer day, but we’ve picked our moment carefully and captured Lower Slaughter’s quintessential Cotswold beauty without anyone else being in shot! Result!

After venturing afar, it’s good to revisit favourite places on our Cotswold doorstep. Starting a walk amid Naunton’s golden Cotswold stone cottages always rewards. So we’d pulled on boots, donned packs and set off with Explorer map OL45 in hand.

Counterintuitively, for this circular walk you first head west from the Black Horse Inn and stroll along the banks of the babbling River Windrush. Before turning south, don’t miss the village’s famous four-gabled Dovecote with around 1,200 nest holes. Then climb the hill, carefully cross the B4068 and continue south past Naunton Downs Golf Club.

Idyllic water meadows

After passing through woodland, the view opens out again. Now descend into a verdant dry valley leading west to re-join the Windrush near medieval Lower Harford. Beyond its idyllic water meadows – watch out for iridescent dragonflies, deer, buzzards and red kites – bear right uphill and enter more shady woods near Bowman’s Hay.

Beyond Aston Farm, follow the sleepy lane across the river and past some cottages. Then do a double take as you admire a stunningly decorated barn. Remember, you’re in the Cotswolds, not the Serengeti!

Heading upslope, turn right along the Macmillan Way. Easy walking through expansive grainfields soon brings you to Lower Slaughter – among the West Country’s prettiest villages! With selfies taken on the Eye’s little bridges, it’s time for a picnic – or a visit to The Slaughters Country Inn.

Riverside luxury dining

Alas, Lower Slaughter’s Old Mill museum, gift shop and ice cream parlour has closed. But it remains an impressive piece of Cotswold history as you follow the Eye towards Upper Slaughter. For luxury dining, the classy Lords of The Manor Hotel (advance booking is recommended) is highly rated. Maybe you’ll even skip the walk and helicopter in to land on the seventeenth-century property’s neatly manicured lawn!

Continuing north, the route follows the Eye further before a short section along the B4048 (take care and use the verge) near Swiss House Farm. You’ll soon regain the sleepy Warden’s Way and more rolling downland.

Then, with around eight miles (13km) walked, look down on Naunton’s rooftops, descend to your starting point and make a beeline for the Black Horse Inn!

That was easy: next month, we’re back in Europe for a much, much longer walking adventure…