Please note - February 2024 - The Old Mill has closed and is no longer open for business. You can still enjoy lovely walks around the village, but there are no public facilities available, nor shops or tearooms here.
I popped over to the Slaughter villages last Friday, famously known as the most beautiful villages in the Cotswolds, to visit The Lords of the Manor hotel for the first time. Once there, I met Louise, who gave me a quick tour of this beautiful hotel, set in a peaceful lost-in-time setting. I made a mental note to check dates for their Tasting Menu evenings in their award winning restaurant. I am a serious foodie enthusiast and this is a place needing further investigation!
I had to tear myself away from the offer of a coffee, and headed back to Lower Slaughter. Parking here early in the morning is best, it gets busy, due to its great beauty and quintessential Cotswold style. If a tour guest really, really wanted to go there for a visit, then I'd arrange a nice early morning or end of day outing. It is so worth taking the effort to visit out of business hours, to really get a sense of a village and its community.
One of the village's highlights is The Old Mill , a beautiful old water mill, which was even mentioned in
the Doomsday Book in 1086. You can go in to the Mill and meet Gerald and his daughter, who have been running his museum and mill shop for 25 years. He is utterly delightful. I told him all about Teacup Tours and he charmed me with generous tasting samples of his organic ice cream - I felt very special - and sat outside the mill, very smug, on his bench soaking up the autumnal sunshine, eating one of his Rum and Raisin specialities. I must admit, I did feel a little bit guilty. How is this work?
Gerald told me about his business' success. Hundreds of tourists pass through his shop every day, but it never feels crowded. Coaches are not allowed to stop at Lower Slaughter, so thankfully it retains its quieter feel, than some of the other busier hotspots.
Note to self - must return to The Old Mill, there's a winter coat there which has my name all over over it, plus I need to have some of their range of naughty naked farmer birthday cards to make my friends' chuckle!
I said my farewells to Gerald, and wandered back to through the village to my VW caravelle. This vehicool is much more luxurious looking than the average people carrier, in its Cherry Red and candy white retro colour theme, so I often receive a few admiring glances and 'oohs' and aahs' from passersby. It is a joy to take tourists out in the VW, especially if they are VW enthusiasts themselves. It just oozes adventure and happy holidays.
I had to tear myself away from the offer of a coffee at the hotel, and headed into to Lower Slaughter. Parking early in the morning is best, it gets busy, due to its great beauty and quintessential Cotswold style.
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