While on a HF Holiday walk in the UK,
our walk guide mentioned the village of Upper Slaughter was one of the Thankful Villages.
I always search for something new, anything I have never read about or been told and this was totally new. My guide for this walk
mentioned ‘thankful villages‘ which prompted a search for more information. The title was coined by the writer Arthur Mee in his 1930’s book, “Enchanted Land”.
 |
| Some of the paths are well marked while other you may just follow the worn path in the field |
During WW I and WW II the United Kingdom suffered staggering losses of service men and women. War memorials to those who gave everything for the wars are in most towns and cities in Britain.
The rolling pastures and field on the way to Upper Slaughter.
Upper Slaughter does NOT have a war memorial. All the service men and women from this village returned after the war qualifying Upper Slaughter as a thankful village
St Peters Church, Upper Slaughter
The village was quiet. Perhaps the rain kept everyone, except the hikers, inside. The church was open and other visitors were exploring. There was a table with bottles of water and shoe laces for sale if hikers were in need. Such a quiet, peaceful spot.
My visit was over Remembrance weekend. There was a parade and ceremony in Bourton on the Water but Upper Slaughter had no celebration.
An article in British Heritage stated there were more than 16,000 villages in Britain but only 53 had all their soldiers return from the WWI. Doubly tankful villages, all soldiers returned from WW I and WW II, only number 14, and Upper Slaughter is included.
 |
|
The Village may not have strong cell phone signals or just enjoys this tradition.
|
I hope to return one sunny day for outstanding blue sky photos!
HF Holidays have a large assortment of walks that show a solo traveler more English towns and villages.
Have you visited a thankful Village? Share your visit in the message section, remember it must be in English please. Advertisements can not me posted.
Mature Solo Travel 