Description
Summary
Jackdaw Cottage is a traditional honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottage which sleeps 4+1 guests, in two bedrooms (with the +1 option being a sofa bed in the snug), with a family bathroom. Lovingly refurbished by its owners, the cottage boasts a wealth of character features including exposed wooden beams, original terracotta tiling and a large stone fireplace with a wood burning stove. Modern facilities such as wireless internet access, a Smart TV with Freesat and a DVD player and a well-equipped kitchen complement the period features, and there is a pretty courtyard at the front of the property and off-street parking for one car is available.
Location
Jackdaw Cottage sits peacefully on a quiet lane close to the heart of the chocolate box village of Blockley, one of the larger villages of the Cotswolds. This historic and peaceful village benefits from having two well-regarded pubs, a community owned village shop & café, as well as a Norman church and a children’s playground. Also tucked away in the village is Mill Dene Garden, an English country garden spanning two and a half acres with a misty grotto, beautiful mill pond and fruit garden.
Blockley is surrounded by rolling countryside which forms part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with plenty of walks on its doorstep to enjoy. The village is ideally situated for exploring the many lovely towns and villages of the North Cotswolds, including Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Campden and Ebrington, home to the award-winning Ebrington Arms. Popular tourist destinations such as Blenheim Palace, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford are also within easy reach for day trips.
Description
Jackdaw Cottage is the perfect retreat for a family or group of friends who are seeking a relaxing holiday in the heart of the beautiful Cotswold countryside. The cottage is laid out as follows:
| Room | Amenities |
|---|
| Living room |
The beautiful living room is full of character and contains:
- large stone fireplace with cosy wood burning stove
- three-seater sofa and two armchairs
- Smart TV with Freesat and DVD player
|
| Kitchen/dining room |
The smart farmhouse style kitchen/dining room has lovely oak beams and original terracotta tiles. This room contains:
- electric oven and four-ring gas hob
- fridge with freezer compartment
- washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, kettle, cafetière and toaster
- large oak dining table with seating for five guests
- radio
|
| Snug/bedroom 3 |
The well presented cosy snug is accessed via the living room and contains:
- large single sofa bed, available upon request
|
| Master bedroom |
Overlooking the courtyard at the front of the cottage, this well presented bedroom contains:
- king size bed
- freestanding wardrobe and chest of drawers
|
| Bedroom 2 |
A spacious bedroom overlooking the flora of the courtyard. This room contains:
- two single beds
- chest of drawers and wall hooks for hanging clothes
- mirror
|
| Family bathroom |
Contains:
- bath with overhead shower, toilet, wash basin and heated towel rail
|
At the front of the property there is an attractive courtyard garden with peaceful views across the Blockley valley. The enclosed garden is mostly gravelled, bordered by pretty flowers, shrubs and trees. There is a garden table with seating for five, and in the summer months a charcoal barbecue is provided which is perfect for al fresco dining as the evenings stay lighter for longer.
Adjacent to the courtyard is an off-street parking space for one car.
Key Features
Booking and payment
Character Cottages is a marketing agency and we do not own or manage any of the cottages listed on our website. 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
Security deposits are not required (please note that guests are still liable for any damage or additional cleaning required as a result of their actions).
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property, is five 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 five 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
Up to two medium sized dogs are accepted, at a cost of £20 per booking per dog.
For the comfort of future guests, we ask that dogs remain downstairs, stay off the furniture and that no trace of a dog remains after your departure.
Bed linen and towels
Bed linen and towels are provided for guests.
Arrival and departure times
Arrival time is after 3pm 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
- Snug/bedroom 3: Large single sofa bed
Bathroom
- Family bathroom: Bath with overhead shower, toilet and wash basin.
Heating, fuel and logs
The property has an electric storage central heating system.
Electricity and gas are included in the rental price. An initial basket of logs is provided for the wood burning stove and further supplies can be purchased locally.
Services provided
The property has free wireless internet access and a Smart TV with Freesat and a DVD player.
A telephone is provided for local calls only.
Blockley is in a valley and guests should be aware that mobile phone reception can be very poor.
Parking
The property has one off-street parking space and further free street parking is readily available close to the cottage.
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
A travel cot (without linen) and a high chair are provided.
The property's garden is enclosed, however, children should be supervised at all times whilst in the garden.
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, with narrow and steep stairs 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.
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 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
Jackdaw Cottage was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in January 2014. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Customer Feedback:
-“Lovely cottage, very, very well equipped, nice quality furnishings and very thoughtful touches - thank you.”, Crispin, May 2019
-“Jackdaw cottage was a great place for five old friends to enjoy one of our regular reunions which we’ve celebrated for forty years since we all met at college. It was cosy and comfortable and we spent three entertaining days chewing the fat, reminiscing, and putting the world to rights. Sometimes we even broke our own veto and discussed Brexit but by and large it was a harmonious gathering. Given the time of year it was surprisingly chilly at times outside but the interior of the cottage was toasty warm. All in all a very pleasant experience, facilitated with understanding by our hosts.” Peter, April 2019
-“Jackdaw Cottage was beautiful. It is in such a gorgeous location. The cottage was very comfortable and had everything we needed for our stay - really well kitted out!! We loved the welcome bottle of wine and lovely biscuits which were really welcome after our very long drive. It was the perfect place to base ourselves for a long weekend exploring the Cotswolds, and we're only sorry we couldn't stay longer.”, Alison, April 2019
-"Absolutely wonderful. They thought of everything. Very generous hosts!,", Sally, January 2019
-"The cottage was lovely and warm with a well stocked kitchen. The beds were really comfortable. The wine and biscuits on the kitchen table were most welcome.", Nicola, October 2018
-"A lovely comfortable cottage, well equipped and very cosy. A real home from home and great to come back to after exploring the beautiful villages and gardens in the locality. Very comfortable bed and parking is a bonus. We didn’t want to go home.", Janet, September 2018
-"Our stay at Jackdaw Cottage was delightful! The cottage is charming, quaint and very comfortable. Blockley is a quintessential Cotswolds village with a great pub, cobblestone streets and many lovely cottages. The hosts have done a wonderful job at creating a welcoming environment from which to explore the region or just relax in the cottage.", Laurie, July 2018
-"The stay was wonderful. Peaceful. The owners were very thoughtful.", Sinenhlanhla, June 2018
-"An excellent cottage...very clean and well furnished. The parking space was a real bonus.", John, April 2018
-"Beautiful and cosy cottage in a lovely area.", Pamela, March 2018
-"Lovely characterful place in a beautiful village. Really comfy beds and a nice fire, though we didn't get to use it much as weren't back in time most evenings! We were there one of the coldest weeks of the year but the place was fine once we'd got it heated up initially. Cottage looked great in the snow! Friendly locals in the pub.", Andy, March 2018
-"We had a fabulous time at the cottage. It is really well equipped and very well presented, spotlessly clean on our arrival. The locals are very friendly and the pub within walking distance does great food. I’d definitely recommend the cottage and the area. Many thanks.", Kelly, February 2018
-"Cosy cottage with walks from the door for our 2 Norfolk terriers. Very relaxing for a weekend away in a lovely friendly village.", David, November 2017
-"We loved Jackdaw Cottage and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The cottage is well presented and has everything you could possibly need. We spent the days exploring the Cotswolds and the evening snuggled up in-front of the log burner... What more could you want!!! The wine and biscuits from the owners was a lovely touch. We highly recommend this cottage.", Amanda, November 2017
-"The cottage was a great choice for us with our dogs, perfect for hiking and exploring the Cotswolds - plenty of great hiking trails right outside the door, the pub just down the road and a cosy fire in the evenings after BBQing - a lovely stay in all. Thank you so much!" Anita, April 2017
-“The cottage was wonderfully prepared and very comfortable. The picturesque and quiet village setting was exactly as described, and we only wished we had booked a week rather than four nights. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would happily return again.”, Carl, March 2017
-“Great location, spotlessly clean, very well equipped logs for fire nice touch, very cosy typical Cotswolds Cottage. Perfect for family or group of friends. Parking spot very tight!! Would highly recommend.”, Amanda, March 2017
-“Everything about the cottage was superb for my purpose. The cottage is about five minutes’ walk from my house and so it was ideal for me to hire for my son, daughter-in-law and small grandchild to stay in while visiting us and other relatives. My son and family live in South Korea. The cottage was most convenient in every respect and a very good centre for people visiting the Cotswolds on holiday. Although my son and family were on holiday, they were not here as Cotswold tourists.
The owner of the cottage, with whom I have become acquainted, was absolutely superb and very, very helpful and understanding of my needs. For example, I asked if I could provide a stair gate to protect my grandchild and he insisted on providing one for us at no extra charge. I cannot speak too highly of the facilities and equipment which the cottage provided. My son and family were thoroughly at home there and I would certainly hire it again if the occasion arose.”, Bernard, March 2017
-“Jackdaw Cottage was a lovely home from home - ideally located, clean and tidy, and cosy with comfortable beds! A nice touch by the owners to leave us a Christmas card with a bottle of wine and some biscuits. The Christmas tree provided was small, but perfectly formed and we had a lovely festive break.”, Teresa, December 2016
-"What a lovely cottage, quaint village and personable owners. Thank you" - Mark, Christina, Lauren and Brenda, June 2014
-"We enjoyed a relaxing time in your lovely cottage, so well maintained and filled with just everything you might need. Thank you so much, also for the friendly welcome gift! For us it was wonderful to stroll through all these gardens with their mansions showing stunning beauty and being a never ending source of joy. A place to remember!" - Luithi and Marie, June 2014
-"Thanks for a lovely week (despite the rain!) The cottage is great. Really well equipped. Many thanks again." - Mr and Mrs Witter, May 2014
-"We had a lovely time. Everything is very clean and well kept. Thank you for sharing this little piece of heaven with us. Will definitely recommend and visit again!" - Mr Coetzee and family, March 2014
-"What a lovely cottage. The most beautiful walks. Great weather. Found a superb pub called the Eight Bells...wonderful. Will definitely come back - thank you for the wine and chocs....yum yum. Nice touch." - Mr and Mrs Cronin, February 2014
-"What a welcome. Warm cosy, beautiful and clean and the added touch of the lights on, along with the Christmas tree and candles in the window. Home from home....just how we celebrate Christmas. Highly recommended. Thank you! Lovely to see the bed linen pressed and crisp and everything matched. We had a magical stay at Jackdaw. Thank you!" - Mike and Jacque, December 2013
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Jackdaw Cottage 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 (without coal) - Summer only |
Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels |
Cafetière |
| Four-ring gas hob |
Fridge with freezer compartment |
High chair |
| Kettle |
Microwave |
Outdoor table and seating |
| Electric oven |
Wireless smartphone/iPod speaker system |
Dishwasher |
| Toaster |
Travel cot (without linen) |
Smart TV with Freesat and DVD player |
| Washing machine |
Wireless internet |
Radio |
| 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 |
|---|
| Appliance instruction folder |
Fire blanket |
Fire extinguishers |
| First aid kit |
Iron |
Ironing board |
| Smoke alarms |
Clothes drying rack |
|
Travel
Jackdaw Cottage is located on a quiet lane 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.
