Description
Summary
Courtyard House is a lovely Cotswold stone property which sleeps four guests in two bedrooms, and benefits from two bathrooms. The cottage is bright and spacious and has a wealth of period features, including exposed oak beams and vaulted ceilings in the bedrooms. The character of the property is further enhanced by an interesting collection of antiques, ranging from wall hung tapestries to copper pots and ornate sideboards. There are modern touches throughout, including wireless internet access, a Freeview TV with a Samsung soundbar and subwoofer, a Blu-ray player and a small but diverse Blu-ray library.
The beautiful courtyard garden was designed by American garden landscaper Gordon Hayward, and has an outdoor table and seating for four. There is off-street parking for one car on the driveway, whilst free on-street parking can be found in the village.
Location
Courtyard House is located on a quiet lane in the picturesque village of Blockley. Despite being a small village, Blockley has two pubs, a community owned shop and café, and an historic Norman church. The village is located in a valley, with a babbling brook winding its way through, and there are numerous enjoyable countryside walks right on its doorstep.
Blockley is ideally situated for exploring the popular Cotswold market towns of Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-Wold. It is equally well placed for trips to popular tourist destinations such as Blenheim Palace, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford.
Description
Courtyard House is the perfect choice for a small family or group of friends looking for a relaxing break in the beautiful Cotswold countryside. The house is laid out as follows:
| Room | Amenities |
|---|
| Kitchen |
The modern, well-equipped kitchen contains:
- electric oven with five-ring electric hob
- fridge/freezer
- microwave, kettle and toaster
- dishwasher and washing machine/tumble dryer
|
| Dining/living room |
This extraordinary room is set over two levels, with high ceilings and beautiful exposed beams. The exquisite décor features many antique furnishings and maintains a comfortable, homely feel. This room contains:
- large oak trestle table with seating for four
- ornate dresser and console table
Two steps on either side of the console lead down to the sunken living area. This space contains:
- Tudor stone fireplace with wood-burning stove
- four-seater sofa and wonderful selection of armchairs
- occasional tables and sideboard
- Freeview TV with Samsung soundbar and subwoofer
- Blu-ray player and selection of Blu-ray discs
- Bose sound system
|
| Master bedroom |
An elegant room, with vaulted ceiling and exposed beams, which overlooks the courtyard garden and village square. This dual aspect bedroom contains:
- king size bed
- built-in wardrobe and chest of drawers
- Comb-back armchair
|
| Family bathroom |
Contains:
- walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin
|
| Bedroom 2 with ensuite bathroom |
From the doorway, two steps lead down into this lovely bedroom. These steps create the room’s novel layout, as the beds are on different levels. This room contains:
- two single beds with drawers beneath for storage
- wooden chair
At the top of the two steps is the ensuite bathroom which contains:
- bath, toilet and wash basin
|
The delightful courtyard garden can be accessed via the French doors in the dining/living room, or via the small wrought iron gate from the driveway. The garden has many mature shrubs and potted flowers, and was designed by Gordon Hayward, who has featured it in one of his many gardening books. There is an outdoor table and chairs, and a charcoal barbecue, perfect for al fresco dining.
There is off-street parking for one car on the driveway and free on-street parking is available in the village.
Key Features
Key Features
Booking and payment
Character Cottages is a marketing agency and we do not own any of the cottages listed on our website. We manage a proportion of cottages within our portfolio and the remaining properties are managed by a third party property manager or the property owner – your pre-arrival email will contain confirmation and contact details for your property manager. Bookings made via us form a legal agreement directly between you and the property owner.
For bookings commencing more than 10 weeks in advance, a 30% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm the booking. The balance payment is then due 10 weeks prior to arrival.
All payments are made subject to the cancellation policy set out in the standard Booking Conditions.
Security deposits
A security deposit of £100 is payable, which is returned after the letting period, subject to an inspection of the property. For the avoidance of doubt, guests are requested to leave the property in a reasonable condition, consistent with the property's appearance upon arrival. In the event that the owners, or their appointed housekeepers, have to spend additional time tidying up after your departure, then the cost of this extra time may be deducted from your security deposit. The security deposit is payable prior to arrival at the property, via a bank transfer or a valid debit or credit card.
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property is four guests, at any point during your stay. Unauthorised over occupancy is a breach of our terms and conditions and may result in the cancellation of your booking and additional charges. Please consult us prior to booking if you wish to discuss the possibility of having more than four guests at the property.
Infants who sleep in a cot do not count towards the occupancy figure, however, due to space restrictions, the occupancy figure may only be exceeded by one additional infant.
Pets
Regrettably, pets are not accepted.
Bed linen and towels
Bed linen and towels are provided for guests.
Arrival and departure times
Arrival time is after 4pm and departure time is by 10am. Access is via a key safe, therefore it does not matter if you are arriving late at night.
Bed sizes and configurations
- Master bedroom: King size bed
- Bedroom 2: 2 x single beds
Bathrooms
- Family bathroom: Walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin
- Bedroom 2 ensuite: Bath, toilet and wash basin
Heating, fuel and logs
The property has a gas central heating system.
Electricity and gas are included in the rental price. An initial basket of logs is provided for the fire from October to April, and further log supplies can be purchased locally.
Services provided
The property has free wireless internet access, a Freeview TV with a Samsung soundbar and subwoofer, and a Blu-ray player.
There is no telephone at the property.
Blockley is in a valley and guests should be aware that mobile phone reception can be very poor.
Parking
The property has off-street parking for one car, and free on-street parking is readily available in the village.
Housekeeping
Where a letting exceeds nine nights, a mid-stay clean, bed linen and towel change may be included in the price. Please check with us to confirm.
Additional housekeeping services may be available on request.
Child friendly facilities
Guests are welcome to bring their own travel cot and high chair, to accommodate one infant.
Initial consumables
A small quantity of initial consumables is provided for your convenience (eg. tea, coffee, sugar, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, soap, washing powder, toilet rolls, etc), however, you should not expect the quantity of these provisions to be sufficient for the duration of your stay.
Accessibility, health and safety
This is an old property and has many character features, including narrow, steep stairs, low beams, sloping ceilings, low doorways and steps into some rooms, all of which could pose difficulty to guests with limited mobility, or carrying babies, both in terms of their general movement and their ability to quickly exit the house in the event of an emergency.
Due to the character features within the property, young children should be supervised at all times.
The smoke and CO detectors operate on a sound only basis and, therefore, those who have serious impairment of hearing may not be able to hear the alarm systems and could be at risk.
Smoking
No smoking or vaping is permitted throughout the property.
Photographs
In order to provide you with as much detail of our properties as possible, we sometimes use wide angle photography, which can make certain rooms, or spaces, appear larger than they actually are. Wherever possible, we try to include a floorplan, with detailed dimensions of rooms and areas.
If you have any queries regarding the size of any rooms or spaces, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Reviews
Courtyard House was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in October 2018. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-"A beautiful cottage, in a gorgeous quaint town. Very much enjoyed my stay and highly recommend to anyone looking for a homely rental in the heart of the Cotswolds.", Emily, December 2020
-"Absolutely stunning, the pictures don’t do it justice! Blockley is perfectly located to visit the best parts of the Cotswolds but (unlike some of the more touristic villages nearby) has a a genuine community feel with a wonderful local shop and cafe just a stones throw from the cottage.", Jenny, December 2020
-"This is a beautifully appointed, ideally situated characterful cottage that allows great access to the Cotswolds.", Simon, November 2020
-"A real treat to stay in such an historic property. We could have moved in! Absolutely stunning.", Laura, October 2020
-"Had a great stay. Beautiful cottage really well done out, and was sparkling clean. Lots of advice in the guest bundle and kitchen was well stocked. Highly recommended.", Gareth, September 2020
-"The cottage was very well equipped, beautifully furnished and felt like a home from home. Blockley was a quaint, friendly village with a wonderful community feel. We ate at the village cafe (not to be missed).", Karen, September 2020
-"This is a charming cottage in a beautiful location. A perfect place to explore the area on foot with easy access to lovely countryside and The Heart of England Way. The property is comfortable and homely and provides everything you need for a great trip.", Terry, August 2020
-"Lovely cottage, reassuringly very clean, great little village shop/cafe over the road.", Charlotte, August 2020
-"Location can't be beat, communication was easy and we loved the local touches", Julie, August 2020
-"We loved our visit to this cottage, it’s beautifully fitted out, cosy bedrooms and lovely big living space to hang out. Everything was very clean and comfortable. As it mentions in the description the access to the house is from a steep and narrow road, it was tighter than expected but manageable in a smaller car. The village is lovely with a shop and cafe right by the house. Lots of lovely walks and pubs very close by. Would highly recommend!", Grace, August 2020
-"Wonderful place, beautiful beyond expectations.", Norbert, October 2019
-"Courtyard House is absolutely perfect in every way, and it was a wrench to leave after our week there. It was clean, the towels were soft and fluffy, all appliances worked as they should (a rarity in many cottages), and Ella was friendly, prompt, and responsive to any queries we had. The decor was tasteful and the house contains some remarkable pieces. The garden was beautiful -- even in the rain. Staying there was a joy, and we look forward to returning one day. Please thank the owner for providing such a delightful haven!", W. Falconer, October 2019
-“Beautiful home, very nicely appointed, in a lovely quiet village. Loved our stay there and exploring the area.”, Harry, September 2019
-"This precious cottage in Blockley village has been updated with beautiful details & antiques. Sam Wilson fabrics/prints adorn the windows & walls. Google her shop! The downstairs is spacious & easy to relax around after a hard days exploring! The kitchen is VERY user friendly with lots of amenities for meals in. We had quick responses from the owner when needed who is very kind & helpful. A perfect place!”, Amy, July 2019
-"Beautiful, charming, well stocked cottage in one of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds. We will be back. Thank you.", Carey, May 2019
-“The perfect place for a Cotswolds getaway. Charming, quiet, and cozy. The town itself is quaint and close to everything, the house has everything you need, and the hosts are easy to contact. The directions given are perfect (pay attention to the specifics on how to get there, coming down the hill is much easier in a car). Would stay here again without a second thought.”, Geoff, April 2019
Floorplan
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Courtyard House as if it was your own home and this information is provided to ensure that you are aware of, and are able to use, all the facilities that are available.
| Main appliances, furniture and facilities |
|---|
| Charcoal barbecue and utensils |
Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels |
Samsung soundbar and subwoofer |
| Five-ring electric hob |
Fridge/freezer |
Cafetière |
| Kettle |
Microwave |
Outdoor table and seating |
| Electric oven |
Toaster |
Freeview TV |
| Washing machine/tumble dryer |
Wireless internet |
Dishwasher |
| Small selection of Blu-ray discs |
Bose sound system |
Blu-ray player |
| General provisions |
|---|
| Bin bags |
Dishwasher tablets |
Hand soap |
| J cloths & scourers |
Salt and pepper |
Small quantity of instant coffee |
| Small quantity of sugar |
Small quantity of tea bags |
Toilet roll |
| Washing up liquid |
|
|
| Other equipment and facilities |
|---|
| Clothes drying rack |
CO detectors |
Smoke alarms |
| Fire blanket |
Fire extinguishers |
First aid kit |
| Hair dryer |
Iron |
Ironing board |
Travel
Courtyard House is located on a quiet road in the peaceful, picturesque village of Blockley.
Travelling by car
Blockley is easily accessed by car, being located approximately one mile away from the A44 and approximately three miles away from the A429 (Fosse Way), which are two of the main roads through the North Cotswolds.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Blockley is Moreton-in-Marsh (approximately three miles away), which has regular, direct services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of approximately 90 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Blockley is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Heathrow International Airport: 76 miles, approximately 90 minute drive;
- Birmingham International Airport: 42 miles, approximately 60 minute drive.
