Sunday 4th December Bourton on the Water

On Sunday 4^th December, a cold and cloudy day, nine Ramblers walked though Bourton-on-the-Water, famous for its wide green and stone bridges spanning the River Windrush. On reaching Bird Land they saw a heron standing so still in the water they wondered if it was real until it moved.

They followed the Rissington Road until taking a footpath on the right crossing a field and footbridge over the River Windrush.

With the river on the left they took a footpath through a wooded area emerging and passing two lakes and crossing a footbridge over the River Dikler.

Then a little road walking before heading up a steep field on their way to the pretty village of Little Rissington, with its church that is home to the graves of World War 2 RAF servicemen, and a modern stained glass window depicting aeronautic symbols.

After a refreshment stop they left by the small gate on the far west corner of the churchyard and continued over the fields on part of the Donnington Way to Wick Rissington. Teenage Gustav Holst was the organist and choirmaster for a year in the village church here.

Then they headed back to Bourton-on-the-Water via the Diamond and Oxfordshire Ways, passing through Greystones Nature Reserve.