A lovely Grade II-listed Cotswold stone cottage on Sheep Street, right in the centre of Stow-on-the-Wold which is one of the Cotswolds’ most popular and vibrant market towns. The cottage is a great choice for a family or friends and sleeps six across three bedrooms, (plus there’s an attic room with twin beds that’s suitable for two small children). The living room features a cosy log burner, while the outdoor fireplace in the secluded courtyard garden adds to the atmosphere when dining alfresco. With an array of shops and restaurants just steps away too, it’s an ideal place to feel part of the local scene.
Step inside the inviting entrance hall, where the floor still has the original flagstones, hang up your coats and kick off your walking boots. Then, head to the lounge and get comfortable on the sofa or in an armchair for an evening in front of the TV. If you’re feeling a little bit chilly, light the log burner to make it extra cosy.
At the back of the cottage is the open-plan kitchen/dining room that is a lovely blend of old and new, with exposed stone walls in the dining area and a sky lantern in the contemporary kitchen that lets lots of natural light in. It’s a great space for cooking and socialising and you’ll find the kitchen well-equipped with everything you’d expect including a fridge, oven and hob, microwave, coffee machine and dishwasher.
There’s also the convenience of a downstairs washroom with a WC.
Upstairs, is the master bedroom, a large room with a king-size bed, built-in wardrobes, views over the street and an en-suite shower room. Meanwhile, bedroom two is a cosy double that overlooks the patio. There is also a modern family bathroom with a bath with shower over, a WC and a basin.
A set of stairs lead up to another floor where you’ll find bedroom three which has a king-size bed and original timber ceiling beams that add character. Through this bedroom there is access to a compact fourth bedroom with twin beds, but this is only suitable for up to two small children.
Outside, there is a private and secluded courtyard garden, that’s a real gem. There’s a dining table and chairs, plus a fantastic outdoor fire, making it a lovely place to eat alfresco or catch a few rays.
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.
