Perfect for a large family or group of good friends, this cottage has a lovely dining area, a cosy sitting room with an open fire and a large outdoor terrace. Plus, there’s access to an on-site indoor swimming pool and spa.
Hardy Cottage is one of twelve luxury holiday cottages set within the peaceful grounds of an historic country estate near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds. It was formerly part of the stable block of the manor house on the estate and is now a tastefully decorated abode that sleeps eight in four en-suite bedrooms. Several factors make a stay here extra special. For starters there is access to the estate’s beautiful gardens, plus you can use the on-site indoor swimming pool, gym, spa and children’s facilities. Here, country house hotel-style luxury meets the freedom and space of a private home.
Decorated in an elegant, Gustavian style, this cottage promises a stylish stay in the Cotswolds.
Step inside the property to the large, open-plan drawing-room/dining-room/kitchen which is bright and spacious with lots of natural light. Pretty details include needlework rugs, crystal wall sconces and coordinating decorative plates and glassware. Relax on one of the sofas or the French fauteuil armchairs, gather together to watch a film on the Smart TV (access to Netflix is available with your own login details) or warm up beside the open fireplace on chilly evenings.
The dining and kitchen parts of the room feature York stone flooring and a large dining table with antique chairs to seat eight, while in contrast there are ultra-mod-cons to help you self-cater every meal with ease. There’s a large range cooker with two electric ovens and six burners and an American-style fridge/freezer with ice and chilled water dispensers, yet the smart granite worktops, Belfast sink and Shaker-style cupboards make it feel homely.
Off the drawing-room is a double bedroom featuring an antique, wrought-iron French bed and an en-suite shower room. Meanwhile, upstairs, you’ll find the master bedroom which has a mahogany four-poster, king-size bed, a bureau and 18th-century card tables used as bedside tables, plus an en-suite bathroom. There are also two twin bedrooms: one with two standard single beds and an en-suite bathroom, the other with two four-poster single beds and an en-suite shower room.
The outdoor space for this cottage comprises a large, secluded terrace with garden furniture, an umbrella and a barbecue, and it overlooks the lawn and walled garden of the estate.
You’ll also have access to the estate’s stunning gardens which feature a mix of formal and informal elements, the perfect place for a quiet stroll. There’s also access to shared facilities including an indoor swimming pool, spa and gym, as well as several children’s play areas and the teens’ games room.
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.
