Shilton Ford

The River Windrush crosses at Shilton Ford, a shallow stone crossing just outside Burford that locals have used for centuries. It's the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan a trip around, but that's rather the point. The ford itself is straightforward - water running over worn stones, usually knee-deep or less depending on rainfall. Walk down from the road and you'll find yourself in proper Cotswold countryside, the kind where dry stone walls run down to the water's edge and sheep graze on both banks.

This works best for people who actually like fords and rural walks rather than crowds. If you're staying at Burford Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or one of the other parks nearby, it's an easy leg-stretcher on a afternoon walk - maybe thirty minutes there and back, longer if you potter about. No facilities here, no visitor centre, just the river and the landscape. Walkers heading between Burford and the villages upstream will pass through naturally. Families with young kids might manage it, though the banks can be muddy and there's not much to do once you've waded across.

Timing-wise, spring and early summer are best - the water's usually low enough to cross without drama, and the fields either side are green. Winter can turn this into a proper ford situation where the Windrush runs high and fast, which is honestly more interesting to watch than to cross. It's free, obviously, and always open. Worth a detour if you're already exploring the Burford area on foot, but don't drive out specially.