Two bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x twin. Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, WC. Open-plan living space with kitchen, dining area and sitting area
Situated to the west of Malmesbury in Wiltshire, on the county boundary with Gloucestershire, is this charming rural village of Sherston. The village is ideal for visitors who want to make the most of the Cotswolds AONB, while being within easy reach of the renowned Westonbirt National Arboretum. There are a handful of dining options in the village, such as The Rattlebone Inn, where guests can enjoy wholesome meals washed down by a local ale, while the village also offers a convenience store and the Sherston Sub Post Office & Stores, where you can pick up any essentials. Spend the day in Malmesbury, a short drive from the village and offering quaint strolls along Tetbury Avon, whilst also hosting the stunning Abbey House & Gardens. For more entertainment, travel further afield to the market town of Cirencester, where the fascinating sights of the Corinium Museum, Cirencester Ampitheatre and Abbey Grounds Park take centre stage.
The Cotswolds is a richly rural area with more than 3,000 footpaths and trails running through farmland and wildflower meadows, as well as ancient woodlands to explore.
For woodland birds, Box Wood tucked away in a valley near Minchinhampton is well worth a visit. Comprised mainly of beech, with some limestone streams running through it, in summer it becomes alive with birds. Listen out for great-spotted woodpeckers and tawny owls, and keep your eyes peeled for treecreepers and nuthatches as they run up and down the trees.
More woods can be found on Crickley Hill jointly managed by the National Trust and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Located just south of Cheltenham its habitats also include grassland, scrub, and limestone rock exposures. Mixed flocks of tits and finches are common in the woods, while kestrels can often be seen hovering above as they hunt for prey. In summer, the site is also a haven for wildflowers and butterflies.
Cotswold Water Park which straddles the Gloucestershire and Wiltshire border is a vast marl lake system spread over 42 miles. Cleveland Lakes Reserve is made up of two of the largest lakes and is an important site for both wintering and breeding birds including coots, great crested grebes, and little egrets. For bitterns, reed buntings, water rails, and snipes, head to Shorncote Reedbed which also has two bird hides so you can view the wildlife close up.
If you want to see some exotic and rare birds, Birdland in Bourton-on-the-water has a variety of attractions set in nine acres of gardens and woodland. Some of the highlights include the Parliament of Owls, home to eight species of owl, the Pandemonium of Parrots, where you can learn about the 16 species of parrot housed there, and Penguin Shore which has daily feeding displays. There are plenty of spots to have a picnic, as well as a children’s play area, and a gift shop.
Nearby Greystones Farm nature reserve is home to wildflower meadows, Iron Age ramparts, a replica Iron Age roundhouse, a working organic farm, and an interactive discovery barn. The old farm buildings are used by swallows and house martins for nesting and there are plenty of birds of prey to be spotted gliding overhead. There is also the opportunity to view a live camera feed of a barn owl box, and watch the birds as they bring up their chicks.
Farmland birds can be found all over the beautiful Cotswolds countryside. Look out for corn buntings, grey partridges, turtle doves, and yellow wagtails.
