Description
Summary
Laurel Tree Cottage is a delightful period property which sleeps 9+2 guests, in six bedrooms (with the +2 option being a small double sofa bed in the snug), with two bathrooms. Laid out over three floors, with a fabulous open plan kitchen/dining room leading out into the grounds, the property has a wealth of character features including exposed beams, a Cotswold stone fireplace, wooden flooring and a four poster bed. These period features are complemented by modern facilities including wireless internet access, four TVs and a well-equipped kitchen with underfloor heating.
The farmhouse style décor, featured in Country Homes & Interiors magazine and described as ‘Simply Idyllic’ in a three page spread in 25 Beautiful Homes magazine, is warm and inviting. The bright, colourful bedrooms and spacious yet cosy living room, decorated with individually crafted furniture and comfortable seating, showcase the owner’s sense of style. The rural feel of the property is further enhanced by its wonderful garden which includes an orchard and wildflower meadow and offers spectacular countryside views. There is off-street parking for up to three medium sized cars within a designated parking area on the driveway.
Location
Tucked away on a peaceful lane in the picturesque village of Guiting Power, Laurel Tree Cottage is surrounded by the glorious scenery of the North Cotswolds. This quaint village has two well-regarded country pubs, a bakery and a Post Office with a tearoom, serving food throughout the day. The friendly locals who live and work in the area are welcoming and create a lovely community atmosphere, and in the heart of the village there is a park with a playing field, swings, sandpit and zip wire, a great spot for families.
Guiting Power is well-placed for exploring the scenic towns and villages of the North Cotswolds, as well as the many tourist attractions the region has to offer. Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park is on the outskirts of the village, with lots of activities for children of all ages to enjoy, and the market town of Winchcombe is just a short drive away, home to the historic Sudeley Castle. Further afield places such as such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford and Bath are also within easy reach for day trips.
Description
Laurel Tree Cottage is the perfect retreat for a family gathering who are seeking a charming property in an unspoilt Cotswold village. The house is laid out as follows:
| Room | Amenities |
|---|
| Kitchen/dining room/sitting room |
Recently extended to create a light and sociable space, this stunning farmhouse style kitchen has exposed wooden beams in the vaulted ceiling and smart tiled flooring. This room contains:
- Aga (see Key Features)
- electric oven with two-ring induction hob
- microwave, kettle and toaster
- American-style fridge/freezer
- Kitchen Aid and Nespresso coffee machine with frother
- dishwasher
- island with two high stools
- wall-mounted Smart TV
- DAB radio and Bluetooth speakers
- wooden dining table with seating for ten
- L-shaped sofa which comfortably seats six
- selection of board games and children's games
|
| Snug |
A sliding door from the sitting area leads into the snug, a homely room with exposed beams which contains:
- small double sofa bed (4ft x 6.3ft), available upon request
- wall-mounted Smart TV
- desk with stool
- selection of books
|
| Living room |
This spacious and elegant room has lovely character features which include painted beams, engineered wooden flooring decorated with pretty rugs, and an eye-catching feature wall. Overlooking the apple tree in the front garden, it contains:
- ornamental Cotswold stone fireplace
- three-seater sofa, two-seater sofa and two armchairs, one with matching footstool
- wall-mounted Smart TV
- bespoke shabby chic furniture
|
| Bedroom 6 |
This smart bedroom, with its dark wood furnishings and earthy green finish, contains:
- single sleigh bed
- wardrobe and open shelving for additional storage
|
| Utility room |
Contains:
- washing machine, tumble dryer and butler sink
|
| Cloakroom |
Contains:
|
| Master bedroom |
Overlooking the garden, this lavish dual aspect bedroom contains:
- colonial-style four poster super king size bed
- Freeview TV
- built-in wardrobes and chest of drawers
- full length mirror
- bedroom chair
|
| Bedroom 2 |
Decorated with pretty floral touches, this bright and airy room is flooded with light from the Velux windows and contains:
- double bed
- built-in wardrobe
- upholstered bedroom chair
|
| Bedroom 3 |
With views of the Cotswold hills, this well-proportioned sunny yellow bedroom contains:
- single bed
- chest of drawers
|
| Bedroom 4 |
Another charming bedroom which contains:
- single bed
- chest of drawers
- bedroom chair
|
| Family bathroom |
The well presented spacious family bathroom has underfloor heating and contains:
- freestanding bath, walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin
- heated towel rail
|
| Shower room |
With beautiful plantation shutters and underfloor heating, this elegant room contains:
- walk-in shower, toilet and twin wash basins
|
| Bedroom 5 |
This delightful bedroom in the eaves has a high vaulted ceiling and exposed beams which stand out against the otherwise pastel palette of the room. This bedroom contains:
- super king size bed or two single beds
- freestanding wardrobe and chest of drawers
|
The beautifully maintained garden surrounds the property, with manicured lawns, potted flowers, leafy shrubs, luscious green mature trees and a heavenly scented rose garden. In front of the kitchen there is a patio area with a bistro table with seating for four which looks out over the front lawn, colourful flower beds and climbing roses. To the rear of the property is the main garden which has a lovely children’s play area complete with climbing frame, swings, slide, trampoline and sandpit. There is a wildflower area in the far corner, along with an outdoor table with seating for eight which offers far reaching views of the surrounding countryside. A charcoal barbecue is provided, as well as a fire pit, and if the timing’s right, guests are welcome to sample the produce from the well-tended greenhouse and vegetable patch. A gated archway through the back hedge leads to the orchard which comprises medlar, plum, pear and cherry trees, and wildflowers flourish here which attract wildlife to this part of the garden.
The gated gravel driveway has a designated, off-street parking area for up to three medium sized cars and further 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 £250 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, including its grounds, is 9+2 guests (with the +2 option being a small double sofa bed in the snug), 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 11 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 up to three additional infants.
Pets
Up to two medium sized dogs are accepted, at a cost of £25 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 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 (first floor): Super king size bed
- Bedroom 2 (first floor): Double bed
- Bedroom 3 (first floor): Single bed
- Bedroom 4 (first floor): Single bed
- Bedroom 5 (second floor): Super king size bed or 2 x single beds
- Bedroom 6 (ground floor): Single bed
- Snug (ground floor): Double sofa bed (4ft x 6.3ft)
Bathrooms
- Family bathroom: Freestanding bath, walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin
- Shower room: Walk-in shower, toilet and twin wash basins
Heating and fuel
The property has an oil fired central heating system.
Electricity and oil are included in the rental price.
Services provided
The property has free wireless internet access, three Smart TVs, a Freeview TV and a DAB radio with Bluetooth speakers.
There is no telephone at the property.
Mobile phone reception is variable.
Parking
The property has a gravel driveway with off-street parking for up to three medium sized cars in a designated parking area, and further on-street parking is available in the village.
At the owners request, we ask that guests do not park on the tarmac driveway located just outside the electric gate as this belongs to a neighbouring property.
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), Tripp Trapp chair and two fixed stair gates are provided. The stair gates are positioned so that the first floor landing can be enclosed.
The property’s garden is enclosed, however young children should be supervised outside at all times.
Initial consumables
A small quantity of initial consumables is provided for your convenience (eg. tea, coffee, sugar, supply of Nespresso capsules, 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 a period property and has many character features including some low doorways, multiple floors and steps from the driveway down to the kitchen, 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.
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.
Aga
The oil fired Aga is lit between October and April and can be requested for the summer months during the booking process. In the summer the kitchen can become quite hot due to the heat from the Aga, so guests may prefer to leave the Aga unlit and use the electric oven, two-ring induction hob and microwave as alternatives.
Hen, Stag and other same sex groups
Unfortunately, Hen, Stag and other same sex groups are not allowed at Laurel Tree Cottage. Please note that same sex family groups are welcome.
Corporate and commercial bookings
Unfortunately, this property does not accept corporate, work related or commercial bookings of any kind.
Other
The garden is regularly maintained by a professional gardening service and although this work is generally carried out when the property is vacant, the gardener may need to carry out work whilst the property is occupied. If you require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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
Laurel Tree Cottage was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in July 2019. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-"A beautiful home with lots of character and charm. Very comfortable beds, lovely bathrooms and plenty of kitchenware so great for the 8 of us staying. Beautiful countryside setting and lovely walks to the local pubs, we hope to stay again!", Emily, March 2020
-"This place was perfect. Furnished to a really high standard & full of character. Friendly village close to Cheltenham. Hosts were very communicative and quick to sort out minor issue on arrival - couldn’t have been more helpful. Will def return here with family.", Brian, March 2020
-"Fantastic place to stay for a long weekend.", Simon, February 2020
-"What an amazing find. Warm house. Beautifully decorated, comfy sofas and beds. Well stocked kitchen. Great area too. We are a group of friends who have been meeting up for the last 20 years and this was the best house we’ve found.”, Sarah, January 2020
-"A wonderfully appointed family home that is cozy and homey with all the modern amenities. The location in the village of Guiting Power is close to many other larger villages and also is home to Hollow Bottom which is a fabulous pub and also a great kids park with a zip line. There are gorgeous walks just out the front door and all the villagers we met were so welcoming and lovely. Highly recommend.”, Corre, January 2020
-"Perfect location. Spacious and very comfortable house. Ideal for family reunion. Well furnished and equipped. Very clean. Excellent facilities for the children.", Janet, January 2020
-“Lovely house for a family get together.”, Edward, November 2019
-“Had a lovely time. Trampoline was popular with all the children.”, Wood family, September 2019
-“Fabulous place to stay and visit.”, Peter, September 2019
-“Absolutely loved our time here at Laurel Tree Cottage, it’s so peaceful here. Amina had so much fun in the garden and on the swings. We also enjoyed our favourite meal, was at 5 North Street in Winchcombe – delicious food! Stow on the Wold and Broadway were our favourite towns. Thank you for a wonderful stay – your house is beautiful.”, Ahmed family, September 2019
Floorplan
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Laurel Tree 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 (without coal) |
Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels |
DAB radio and Bluetooth speakers |
| Two-ring induction hob |
American-style fridge/freezer |
Nespresso coffee machine with frother |
| Kettle |
Microwave |
Aga (lit from October to April) |
| Electric oven |
Toaster |
3 x Smart TVs |
| Washing machine |
Wireless internet |
Dishwasher |
| Travel cot (without linen) |
Tripp Trapp chair |
2 x stair gates |
| Outdoor table and seating |
Tumble dryer |
Selection of games |
| Freeview TV |
Kitchen Aid |
|
| 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 |
Supply of Nespresso capsules |
|
| Other equipment and facilities |
|---|
| Rotary washing line and pegs |
Fire blanket |
Smoke alarms |
| First aid kit |
Fire extinguisher |
Ironing board |
| Hair dryer |
Iron |
CO detectors |
Travel
Laurel Tree Cottage is located in the quiet village of Guiting Power, within seven miles of the popular market towns of Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold.
Travelling by car
Guiting Power is easily accessed by car, being located approximately six miles away from both the A429 (Fosse Way) and the A40, which are two of the main roads running through the North Cotswolds.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Guiting Power is Kingham (approximately 12 miles away), which has regular, direct services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of less than 90 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Guiting Power is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Heathrow International Airport: 80 miles, approximately 100 minute drive;
- Birmingham International Airport: 48 miles, approximately 75 minute drive.
