Our 5 Favourite Villages within 15-minutes of The Golden Ball

We want to share with you out five favourite villages that can be reached within a 15-minute drive of the pub.

Photo: Lower Slaughter

We are so fortunate here at The Golden Ball that we are located at the very heart of the Cotswolds. We want to share with you out five favourite villages that can be reached within a 15-minute drive of the pub. Some are well known, others are our best kept secrets. 

Let’s take a look:

Bourton-on-the-Water

Of course, no list about the best villages in the cotswolds would be complete without Bourton-on-the-Water. The Venice of the Cotswolds is the most popular village and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors from all around the world every year. 

Whether you’re visiting us in the frosts of winter, or the height of summer there is always something to enjoy in Bourton-on-the-Water. 

Lower Slaughter

If you’re in the mood for a little walk, why not walk from Bourton-on-the-Water to Lower Slaughter?

Lower Slaughter is possibly one of the most photographed villages in the Cotswolds. The iconic watermill, built in the 19th Century, is Lower Slaughter’s most recognisable landmarks. The ice cream the Mill’s shop is wonderful. 

We recommend walking through the public footpath that runs from the Mill through the fields to Upper Slaughter. 

Donnington

The little known and often overlooked village of Donningon is one of our favourite villages in the Cotswolds. Why? Well, where would we be without the village of Donnington and Donnington Brewery. 

The village and the brewery are the starting point for the 62-mile circular walk called The Donnington Way. 90% of the walk falls within Gloucestershire with the final 10% within in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire. The majority of the walk is comprised of public footpaths and bridleways. 

The Donnington Way can be walked in 15 sections from each of the Donnington pubs to the next, including us here at The Golden Ball.

Bourton-on-the-Water

Donnington

Maugersbury

Nestled just 10-minutes through the woods from Stow-on-the-Wold, Maugersbury is one of the most under-explored Cotswold villages. Quiet, sleepy and with stunning panoramic views, Maugerbury provides walkers and wanders a chance to see the quaintest side of the Cotswolds far away from the crowds.  

Maugersbury is a residential village; there are no shops and no pubs. There are some absolutely gorgeous B&Bs, be sure to explore them too.

Chastleton 

Chastleton must make this list. Not only is Chastleton absolutely beautiful but is also the home village of our landlady, Maria. 

Chastleton House and Gardens is cared for by the National Trust and is well worth a visit. The best route to Chastleton from The Golden Ball is to head up the hill to the traffic lights at Stow-on-the-Wold and over to Moreton-in-Marsh and through to Chastleton.

So there is a very whistle-stop tour of our favourite villages that can be found within a 15-minute drive of The Golden Ball.

Some you will know of, others will be totally new - we hope that wherever you’re headed that you have a lovely time. 

To book your table at The Golden Ball to refuel and relax after your wanders round the Wolds, call us on 01451 833886