A beautiful Grade II listed cottage in the idyllic Cotswolds countryside that’s perfectly placed to explore the surrounding chocolate box villages and a host of unique attractions.
Combining a harmonious blend of characterful charm and modern elegance, Fox Cottage provides a welcoming escape in the pretty village of Upper Slaughter with everything you will need for a relaxing break away. Spend your days exploring the beauty of the Cotswolds, including walking trails from the doorstep and day trips to Blenheim Palace, before returning to your cosy abode for an evening in front of the cosy wood-burning stove with your nearest and dearest.
Step through the cream door and into the warm and inviting living room where you’ll be greeted by an abundance of original features, including ancient beams and an inglenook fireplace. After a day of exploring, snuggle up on the sofa and get cosy in front of the Smart TV, or simply relax with a glass of wine in hand and enjoy a board game or two.
Meanwhile, the kitchen has everything you need to self-cater with ease, including a hob, oven, fridge, dishwasher and a coffee machine to start the mornings right. Leading off the kitchen is a spacious dining room with a six-seater dining table, ideal for savouring delicious meals together.
Upstairs, there are three elegantly designed bedrooms. On the first floor, there is a master bedroom with a king-size bed and an en-suite featuring a roll-top bath. A further staircase leads to a twin bedroom and a double bedroom with a travel cot. There is also a shared hallway bathroom with a shower.
Outside, you will have access to a private garden with a large lawn and ample seating for relaxing and alfresco dining. The budding chef of the group will love the Kamodo ceramic BBQ which comes complete with everything you need to grill, roast and prepare fresh pizza.
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.
