Description
Summary
Manor Cottage is a quintessential Cotswold stone cottage, located in the large grounds of a beautiful manor house in the picturesque village of Poulton, surrounded by beautiful countryside. Although small, Poulton has a well-regarded pub, a village shop and Post Office, and there is a children's playground close to the cottage. The village is five miles away from the Roman town of Cirencester, the largest market town in the Cotswolds, and is also close to many other picture-postcard Cotswold villages, including Bibury, Barnsley and Eastleach, with the stunning Coln Valley just a short drive away. As well as being close to the many beautiful towns and villages of the Cotswolds, Poulton is also well placed for exploring further afield places, such as Oxford, Bath, or even a day-trip into London.
This beautiful traditional cottage was fully refurbished by its owners in 2016, adding a lovely contemporary style that enhances the many character features, which include oak beams, flagstone floors, window seats and a beautiful real fire. This character is complemented by the cottage’s modern facilities, including wireless internet access, a flatscreen TV with DVD player, and a well presented kitchen.
Manor Cottage sleeps 4+1 guests, in two bedrooms (with the +1 on a full size day bed), with a lovely bathroom. There are beautiful gardens at the front and side of the property, and off street parking is available. Families or friends will find this lovely cottage perfect for a relaxing break, in a picturesque village, surrounded by the glorious Cotswold countryside.
Description
Sitting in the grounds of Poulton’s lovely manor house, Manor Cottage is entirely self-contained and the front door is accessed via a path through the cottage’s private gardens. The stunning oak front door opens into a hallway, with the following rooms on the ground floor:
- Living room: A large, beautifully refurbished room, which retains oak beams, a flagstone floor, window seats and a lovely roaring fire. There is comfy seating for five and a beautiful antique writing desk;
- Kitchen/dining room: This bright, sociable room contains an Aga, which also heats the cottage’s water, a fridge, freezer, dishwasher, microwave, kettle, toaster and washing machine. There is also a large wooden dining table, with seating for six.
Stairs lead up from the ground floor to the first floor landing, off which are the following rooms:
- Bedroom 1: A lovely dual aspect room in its own right, this bedroom is further enhanced by its stunning four poster bed. Cleverly extended to a king size bed by the cottage’s owners, the bed combines size and comfort, with gorgeous style;
- Bedroom 2: This large room contains two single beds, as well as a full size day bed (180cm x 90cm). The day bed can either be left as a comfy sofa, or set up as a bed.
- Family bathroom: Contains a bath with overhead shower attachment, toilet and wash basin.
Outside the cottage are its beautiful gardens, with a mixture of lawns, patio areas, and mature bushes and trees, all surrounded by Cotswold stone walls. There is a bistro table and chairs, a bench and a charcoal barbecue. Off street parking for two/three cars is also available, directly outside the cottage.
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 4 + 1 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 5 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, or two cats, are accepted, at a cost of £20 per booking per pet. Please note that although the garden can be closed off with gates, the wall is low at some points, and therefore dogs should be supervised at all times.
For the comfort of future guests, we ask that pets remain downstairs, stay off the furniture and that no trace of them 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
- Bedroom 1: King size bed
- Bedroom 2: 2 x single beds + 1 day bed
Bathrooms
- Family bathroom: Bath with overhead shower attachment, toilet and wash basin
Heating, fuel and logs
The property has an oil fired central heating system.
Electricity and oil are included in the rental price. An initial basket of logs is provided for the real fire and further log supplies can be purchased locally, or directly from the owner.
Services provided
The property has free wireless internet access and a Smart TV with a DVD player. A telephone is also provided for UK calls, with an honesty box for the cost of calls made.
Mobile phone reception is generally limited inside the property, but is usually better outside.
Parking
There are private parking spaces for at least two cars outside the 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) and high chair are available on request.
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 low door frames throughout and a step down into the cottage, which could pose difficulty to guests with limited mobility.
The smoke 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.
Owners
The owners of the property live in the manor house, which is in the same grounds as Manor Cottage, however the cottage is an entirely self-contained property, with its own gardens, entrance and parking spaces.
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
Manor Cottage was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in June 2016. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-“I think this was my fourth stay at Manor Cottage. It's cosy and warm in the winter and bright and lovely in the summer with its beautiful garden. The owners live next door and are super friendly without being intrusive. The Falcon Inn opposite the cottage is marvellous and there is access from the back of the cottage to bridle ways and footpaths if you have a dog. Absolutely love it!”, Christopher, December 2019
-"Fantastic cottage, very clean. Relaxing break in a beautiful area.", Tony Winwood, November 2019
-“Beautiful cottage, extremely clean and well equipped. Very comfortable”, Ethna, September 2019
-“Nick’s place is fantastic if you’re looking for a true Cotswolds experience. Close to many different villages and towns and easy access to bigger cities like bath/oxford. The cottage/garden is like a fairy tale. This was a great place for our 18 month old to run around and play in the garden. There’s also a small children’s park across the street as well as convenient pub.” Joshua, August 2019
-“Staying at Manor Cottage was like stepping back in time. Thanks to the beautiful grounds, private garden, adorable village, and the classic cotswold cottage itself, we wanted to spend each day onsite instead of heading out for more exploration! Its location was a perfect spot for seeing the region, however, with many key Cotswold locations within 30-40 min (Upper and Lower Slaughter, Arlington Row, Bourton-on-the-water, etc). Aside from the restful setting and welcoming hosts, the other pleasant surprise was the nearby town of Cirencester, which we enjoyed as much, or more than Chipping Camden and other large towns on our route. While it wasn't suggested in any of our tour books or research, it had a wonderful farmers market with locally made treats to bring home, and lots of quaint winding pedestrian only ways past interesting independent shops and lovely restaurants. The Cottage itself was very well equipped and filled with Classic Cotswold Charm. We were surprised on arrival with a lovely welcome cake. There was plenty of hot water, washing machine onsite, and good wifi. One note of warning for those staying in any older Cotswold Building, is to be aware that many doorways are under 6 ft tall which resulted in my 6'2" husband hitting his head repeatedly each day. This would be true of any older building, though, not specifically this one. It was worth it to authentically experience the region in a beautiful, restful setting! We would love to come back soon!”, Sanouri, August 2019
-“Wonderful cottage with nice garden, beautiful deco and not far from all interesting Cotswolds villages. We spent there lovely days with our children discovering all the charms of the region (Broadway tower, Hidcote garden, Chipping Campden, Slaughter, etc. etc.) & taking some rest at home or in Poulton. I recommend the place for sure.”, Sébastien, July 2019
-"Manor Cottage is absolutely gorgeous. There's quite a bit of space inside while still being very cozy with the fire and lots of comfortable places to sit and read a book. The private gardens are absolutely beautiful, straight out of a postcard, and a wonderful place to have breakfast or just relax and enjoy the flowers and the weather. And the location is excellent for exploring the Cotswolds and also for a day trip in to Oxford. Highly recommended!”, Thomas, July 2019
-“The cottage was beautifully furnished and equipped with a lovely garden and a good pub serving quality meals opposite.”, Mary, April 2019
-"We had a wonderful stay at Manor Cottage with our 2 dogs. The cottage was very clean and very cosy. The lemon cake for our arrival was a lovely touch. The village location was perfect and the pub opposite has great food and is very welcoming. Will definitely visit again!", Helen, March 2019
-“Enjoyed a wonderful, peaceful stay at Manor Cottage for four days! The perfect place to relax and unwind exploring the local villages and lots of fresh air!”, Sarah, March 2019
-"As ever, the best cottage in the Cotswolds.", Robert, February 2019
-"We enjoyed Manor Cottage immensely. It was the perfect country retreat and incredibly comfortable for short or extended stays. The owners were very friendly and even left a homemade cake. Would definitely stay here again.", Amy, February 2019
-"Lovely and very comfortable cottage. We thoroughly enjoyed our two night stay.", Julia, February 2019
-"We had a really great time at the beautiful Manor Cottage in Poulton. It was a really lovely home for us and our 4 yr old for a week- warm and roomy and a fabulous base for exploring the Cotswolds. Susan and nick were lovely hosts and we hope to be back one day. Thank you for a great holiday!", Penelope, December 2018
- "Susan and Nick were the perfect hosts who went out of their way to welcome us. Manor Cottage is very tastefully decorated, comfortable and in an idyllic setting. We would highly recommend it to anyone.", Caron, July 2018
- "Great for everything. Just 10 minutes drive to Bibury and 20 minutes to others. Location is very peaceful, house is lovely and host is very nice.", Chattima, July 2018
- "Our stay at the beautiful Manor Cottage exceeded our expectations and we will definitely return.", Susan, July 2018
- "Manor Cottage could not have pleased me more. It was everything I had hoped for ... beautiful character cottage, lovely gardens, tasteful/pristine accommodations, and gracious hosts. I highly recommend!", Anna, June 2018
- "We loved our stay at Manor cottage which had excellent facilities and furnishings throughout the property. The gardens were also superb with mature shrubs and plants, when you know a little bit of the history is not surprising. Also very safe if you have a dog like ourselves. We met the owners who live in the adjacent house and are friendly and accommodating. Poulton and the surrounding areas such as the Ampneys or the Coln valley and Bibury make excellent walking or cycling.", Jonathan, May 2018
- "Superb cottage. Very high quality furnishings and decor. Great location.", Christopher, March 2018
- “Spotless, very well equipped, comfortable and spacious. Welcoming, thoughtful owners and a pretty village. Delightful garden which was scented - even as we returned on a frosty night, after supper at the local pub - by a heady waft of Daphne! Altogether a perfect place to stay.”. Maggie, February 2018
- “Beautiful cottage. Home from home. Everything thought of to make your stay as easy as possible. Peaceful decor. Comfortable beds. Great linen. Spotlessly clean. Just gorgeous. And we stayed in the winter.”, Tina, February 2018
- "The most gorgeous cottage in a perfect location with enclosed garden for dog! Loved it!", Sophie, October 2017
- "A lovely cottage which exceeded expectations. It was immaculate and yet managed to feel homely. It was a special place to spend a few days so we'll hopefully return very soon.", Valerie, October 2017
- "An absolutely wonderful stay in a perfect cottage. We loved it. It's so cosy and beautifully designed. The garden was gorgeous and totally enclosed so our dogs had a great time too! We will definitely return.", Lucy, October 2017
- "We thoroughly enjoyed our short stay at Manor Cottage. The cottage was immaculate and equipped to the highest standards. It was warm and cosy, and the décor was delightful. It felt like home from home but better. Thank you.", Shirley, September 2017
- "Lovely cottage, very kind and generous hosts with a great fruit and veg garden, peaceful stay. Highly recommended.", Clement, September 2017
- "We had a wonderful stay in this cottage. Loved the Aga although we had never used one before we found the instructions and recipe book very useful. The cottage was extremely comfortable and included quality bedding, fluffy towels, washing machine, well equiped kitchen, herbs growing in the cottage garden, garden furniture, cosy lounge and office area. The cottage is in an ideal location to visit other villages and points of interests in the Cotswolds. Cirencester is 6 miles from the cottage with many supermarkets and quality shopping. The Falcon Inn is across the road from the front gate and a small local store a short walk up the road. Nick and Susan, the owners, live in the Manor house and are very helpful when needed and very respectful of ones privacy. Thank you for a memorable stay.", Helena and Stanley, May 2017
- "We agree with all the other reviews of the cottage. Very friendly and helpful owners. Very well equipped beautiful cottage and gardens. The village shop, a couple of minutes away, sells the basics (and locally made wine) - the volunteer staff are very welcoming. We went to the shops in Fairford and the charter market in Cirencester (every Friday) for the rest of our food. If you don't want to cook, the Falcon pub across the road serves excellent meals and the staff are friendly. Lots to do in the area or you can just relax in the safe enclosed garden listening to the bird song, admiring the flowers and trees." Maggie C, April 2017
- “Gorgeous cottage, very comfortable, beautifully decorated and furnished and spotlessly clean. Susan and Nick were very welcoming and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.”, Debbie Kitching, March 2017
- “Manor cottage really felt like home for 3 nights . Everything about Manor Cottage is first class , the decor is outstanding , there is everything you will need and more . There is nothing shoddy about Manor Cottage . My husband loves cooking and cooked some delicious meals on the aga and great cooked breakfasts . I loved the photo album of all the restoration work , when you see the cottage and garden , it's hard to believe what it was once like . The gardens are beautiful , I bet it would be great in the summer with the BBQ going . The cottage was very easy to find , your very private and there's plenty of off road parking next to the cottage . I would highly recommend Manor Cottage , you won't be disappointed.”, Kathryn Hant, February 2017
- “All fabulous - clear instructions for arrival. Delightful cottage, beautifully presented, clean and warm and welcoming. Delicious cake on arrival. Couldn't fault it. Owner friendly and helpful, immaculately kept. Would recommend unreservedly.”, Claire Worth, February 2017
- “We had a wonderful weekend stay. I couldn't fault the cottage in any way. It is just perfect. All fixtures and fittings of the highest quality, and we were made to feel so welcome. One of the best cottages we have ever stayed in.” Kathryn, December 2016
- “The cottage was just perfect, I have been meaning to write to thank you. So often when you rent a holiday house it just has the bare minimum to make it comfortable but Manor Cottage felt like a true home from home. It's clear that Nick and family put a lot of effort into the decor, ensuring that it was fully equipped with everything you needed to cook etc and high quality linens. It all just worked really well from the booking to ease of key collection and having everything set up for us on arrival (and a cake!). All of us, including the dog, were a huge fan. We really enjoyed our stay and will certainly be back - most likely in the Spring before it gets busy for the summer in the Cotswold's. Thank you again and best wishes.”, Maudie, November 2016
- “The cottage and its grounds are beautifully planned and presented, and I have never rented a cottage so well-supplied with top quality equipment on every front. A wonderful environment for exploration of one of the country's most lovely areas.”, Karen, November 2016
- "A beautiful cottage in a quiet village. It was lovely to meet the owners, made it more personal. Myself and my family loved staying here and are looking forward to our next visit. Thank you very much." Alistair, Aug 16
- "We had a fantastic time at Manor Cottage. The accommodation is superbly well equipped and extremely comfortable.We will definitely recommend you to friends and family! We will come back again, minus children!" Ashley, Ian, Seren & Isla, Aug 16
- "We had a thoroughly enjoyable week at Manor Cottage – which is both immaculate and homely. Our two boys made great use of the park in the village – although to my disappointment I did not make similar use of the Falcon! This was perhaps to do with the extensive list of things to do in the area; Blenheim Palace, White Horse at Uffington, Cotswold Farm Park, Chedworth Roman villa, Lodge Park, Snowshill Manor etc.
Manor Cottage has been placed on our “must return to “ list, and perhaps next time in the Autumn, so we can fully enjoy the Aga and the log fire. Dymuniadau Gorau / Best wishes." Alex, Cheryl, Ioan and Aled, Aug 16
- "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the cottage. The perfect venue for a family get together. Hopefully we will be back – if you will have us! Love the local pub, enjoyed the polo in Cirencester, and more importantly enjoyed the house and facilities." Dan, Ali, Rach, Miles and Josh, Aug 16
- “We have thoroughly enjoyed our few days in your exquisite cottage. You have created a very special environment for people to enjoy a real home. Village folk were so friendly when we wandered around with the three month old in his pushchair. Pimms in your peaceful garden was delightful. Manor Cottage is a place our family will remember with joy.” John, Mary & Henry, Grandpa & Nana, Aug 16
- “Thanks so much for sharing your cottage with us. We had a great time here, and it was like home away from home. It had everything we needed (who knew that there would be a heatwave!) and we appreciated the goodies you left in the fridge. We had a great time exploring the area and the cottage. We hope to return in the future and enjoy this wonderful cottage and gardens again.” Samantha, Paul & Aiden, Jul 16
- “What a beautiful cottage you have. We have had a lovely week here. Visited lots of places around the area, but have so looked forward to returning to the cottage in the evenings to relax in wonderful surroundings. Really enjoyed our breakfasts in the garden most mornings. It really makes such a difference to meet the owners of the cottage personally when they are as delightful as Susan and Nick. This is one of the cottages that we will always remember with fondness.” Linda & Paul, Jul 16
- “Thank you for letting us your wonderful cottage here in Poulton for the weekend. It has been a homely and comfortable place for us to stay with our young son, whilst exploring the Cotswolds, GWR and Fairford Airshow. We have also enjoyed a BBQ in the beautiful garden, and even the log fire in July!! It really has been a home from home, and we have found everything we needed. The little touches and surprise in the fridge were much appreciated. We won’t hesitate to recommend the cottage to family and friends, and also hope to return ourselves in the future.” Gemma, Nick & Lukas, Jul 16
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Manor 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 charcoal) | Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels | DVD player |
| Aga | Fridge | Freezer |
| Kettle | Microwave | Outdoor table and seating |
| SMART TV | Toaster | Dishwasher |
| Washing machine | Wireless internet | High chair - on request |
| Travel cot (without linen) - on request | ||
| 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 | Hair dryer | Smoke alarms |
| Fire blanket | Fire extinguishers | First aid kit |
| Iron | Ironing board | |
Travel
Manor Cottage is located in the heart of the Central Cotswolds village of Poulton, approximately five miles from Cirencester.
Travelling by car
Poulton is easily accessed by car, being located on the A417 and within four miles of the A419 and A429 (Fosse Way), which are two of the main roads through the Central Cotswolds.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Poulton is Kemble (approximately ten miles away), which has regular, direct services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of less than ninety minutes.
Travelling by plane
Poulton is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Birmingham International Airport: 67 miles, approximately 90 minute drive;
- Heathrow International Airport: 83 miles, approximately 80 minute drive;
- Bristol International Airport: 52 miles, approximately 85 minute drive.
