Ewen

Most visitors come specifically to walk out to the source, which lies in the fields nearby and makes for a surprisingly moving experience, even if the actual spring can be modest depending on rainfall.

The village itself rewards a gentle explore. The church of St Michael and All Angels is worth stepping inside if you're passing, and the surrounding countryside offers some excellent walking routes beyond just the Thames Head trek. The landscape here sits at the upper reaches of the Cotswolds, so you get that wonderful rolling terrain without being too far from the more substantial amenities in Cirencester.

If you're exploring this part of Gloucestershire, Ewen works well as a quieter alternative to busier market towns. It's the kind of place where you might spend an hour or two rather than a full day, but that's rather the point. The village has that genuine, working character that many Cotswolds settlements have lost. There's a good pub and a few shops to keep you going, and it serves as an excellent base for exploring the wider area between Cirencester and the Wiltshire border.