Cotswold stone character cottage with exposed stone walls and a cosy log burner just a few minutes’ walk into the centre of the chocolate-box town of Moreton-in-Marsh.
This beautiful Grade II-listed Cotswold stone cottage brims with character. It’s homely, yet stylish and perfectly marries original features such as the exposed stone walls with elegant, modern decor. There are wonderful views of historic St David’s church and its gardens too. Excellent for a family or a group of friends, the cottage is conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre of Moreton-in-Marsh, said to be one of the prettiest in the Cotswolds, where you’ll find plenty of restaurants, cafes and grocery shops.
The cottage has been sympathetically refurbished throughout and retains much of its country character.
On the ground floor, at the front of the house, there is large open-plan lounge/dining room. With exposed Cotswold stone walls and an old fireplace with a log burner inside, it’s a charming place to socialise and relax. There’s sofa seating and armchairs, as well as a Smart TV, DVD player, books and games, plus a dining table and chairs.
The cottage also benefits from a snug/playroom with seating on the walkway through to the kitchen.
The kitchen is modern and equipped with everything you’d expect to make self-catering a breeze, including a fridge/freezer, oven and hob, microwave, coffee machine and dishwasher. There is also a breakfast bar that overlooks the courtyard garden at the back of the cottage.
In addition, there is a utility room with a washing machine and tumble dryer and a handy downstairs cloakroom with WC which is a great place to dry off muddy boots, or even mucky dogs!
On the first floor there are two bedrooms, one king-size room and a double room, which are both tastefully decorated in a modern style. These are served by the family bathroom which has a bath, a walk-in shower, WC and basin.
On the second floor there is another king-size bedroom that features exposed ceiling beams and en suite shower room with a walk-in shower.
At the rear, there is a delightful courtyard cottage garden that is completely secluded and a real sun trap in the summer. With a patio table and chairs, as well as a BBQ, when the weather is good, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy dining alfresco.
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.
