Description
Summary
Mill Stream Cottage is a beautiful detached property, peacefully located at the end of a quiet lane in the heart of Lower Slaughter, widely regarded as one of England's most beautiful villages. The tranquil River Eye flows through the village, and numerous walks through the beautiful Cotswold countryside are accessible straight from the cottage's doorstep. Lower Slaughter is fortunate to benefit from a lovely country inn and one of the Cotswolds finest restaurants, with another outstanding restaurant just a short stroll up the river in Upper Slaughter. Close to the cottage is the Old Mill Museum, which has a coffee shop with a terrace overlooking the river. The well known market towns of Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water are both close by, with their wide ranges of pubs, shops and restaurants, and the cottage is ideally located for exploring the Cotswold region, as well as further afield places, such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Blenheim Palace and Oxford.
Built to the highest quality from Cotswold stone, Mill Stream Cottage has a number of character features, including stone mullion windows, exposed stonework and a roaring open fire. The cottage has been immaculately furnished in a warm, contemporary style and the traditional character of the building is complemented by modern facilities, including wireless internet access, a Smart TV and a well presented kitchen/dining room.
Mill Stream Cottage sleeps 4+2 people, in two bedrooms, with three bathrooms (with the +2 option being a futon in the second living room on the ground floor, which has its own ensuite bathroom). There is a pretty walled courtyard garden at the rear of the property, in addition to a courtyard with parking space for one car at the front. The cottage is perfect for a family or a group of friends seeking an idyllic rural retreat in one of England's prettiest villages, surrounded by the beautiful Cotswold countryside.
Description
Mill Stream Cottage is a detached property located on a quiet road, in the heart of Lower Slaughter. Wooden gates open onto a driveway, with parking for one car, which leads to the front door. The front door opens into a hallway, and the following rooms are on the ground floor:
- Living room: This spacious dual aspect room is beautifully furnished and includes a three seater sofa plus three armchairs, as well as a lovely roaring open fire. There is also a Smart TV with basic Sky package, a DVD and CD player, and a radio;
- Kitchen/dining room: A lovely sociable room, which has a comfy window seat and French doors leading out to the courtyard garden. The well presented kitchen contains an electric oven, four ring gas hob, dishwasher, toaster, kettle, rice cooker and cafetiere. In the centre of the kitchen is a wooden dining table, which comfortably seats six;
- Utility room: Accessed from the kitchen, this convenient room contains a microwave, fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, food mixer and blender, and a food preparation area;
- Sitting Room/bedroom 3 (ensuite): Accessed via a glass walkway from the kitchen/dining room, this mixed use room contains a double futon, a desk and a wall mounted flatscreen TV. There is a folding screen that provides privacy when the room is being used as a bedroom, and French doors lead out into the garden. The ensuite bathroom contains a walk-in shower, toilet and a wash basin;
- Cloakroom: Contains a toilet and wash basin.
Stairs lead up from the ground floor to the first floor landing, off which are the following rooms:
- Bedroom 1: A beautiful dual aspect room, with stone mullion windows and sloping ceilings, which contains a king size bed. The ensuite bathroom contains a bath with overhead shower, toilet and wash basin;
- Bedroom 2: Another lovely room with sloping ceilings, which contains a double bed. The ensuite bathroom contains a walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin;
French doors lead out from both the kitchen/dining room and the sitting room/bedroom 3 into a pretty courtyard garden, surrounded by lovely Cotswold stone walls. There is a wooden table with seating for four, with an additional wicker sofa and a charcoal barbecue.
Key Features
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
A security deposit of £200 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 4+2 guests, at any point during your stay (with the +2 option being a double futon in the ground floor mixed use room). 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 4+2 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
- Bedroom 1: King size bed
- Bedroom 2: Double bed
- Bedroom 3/sitting room: Double futon
Bathrooms
- Bedroom 1 ensuite: Bath with overhead shower, wash basin and toilet
- Bedroom 2 ensuite: Walk-in shower, wash basin and toilet
- Bedroom 3/sitting room ensuite: Walk-in shower, wash basin and toilet
- Ground floor cloakroom: wash basin and toilet
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 wood burning stove and further log supplies can be purchased locally.
Services provided
The property has free wireless internet access and a Smart TV with DVD and CD player, plus a flatscreen TV in the mixed use Bedroom/sitting room on the ground floor.
There is no telephone at the property.
Mobile phone reception is generally reasonable.
Parking
There is off street parking for one car and further on street parking is available a short walk away from 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
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
The property has two floors, 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
Mill Stream Cottage was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in April 2017. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-"My wife and I were delighted with Mill Stream cottage. It's location was perfect in one of the most quintessential English villages. We began and ended each day with a walk along the river which was in itself a highlight of our time in the Cotswolds. It was very central to the Northern Cotswold with major attractions less than half an hour away. We especially enjoyed the Longborough Opera - less than 15 minutes from the cottage. The cottage itself was beautifully furnished with every possible item necessary for the enjoyment of our stay. We played chess every evening on the patio and enjoyed our breakfasts there listening to birdsong and the bleating of nearby sheep. We can't recommend this cottage highly enough. We hope to return soon.", Alexander, July 2018
-"Gorgeous cottage in a beautiful village! Loved our stay! So picturesque and well equipped. Great location.", Anne, July 2018
-"Mill Stream Cottage was the final stop on our 5 week UK holiday, it was a wonderful place to finish. The house has plenty of room, comfortable beds and a great position in the little settlement of Lower Slaughter. We really loved our time at Mill Stream Cottage and highly recommend it to anyone thinking about staying here.", Christine, June 2018
-"The cottage and its location were perfect, and we struck gold with the weather as well. Lower Slaughter is one of the loveliest villages in the Cotswolds, and an ideal base from which to visit the many other attractions, towns and villages in this most beautiful part of England. Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway deserve particular mention. We also visited Adlestrop, made famous by the poet Edward Thomas, and the blackbirds still sing there. We would love to spend another holiday in Mill Stream Cottage.", Martin, May 2018
-"Mill stream is a very well equipped cottage and suited our group of 6 adults and 1 infant very well. We only booked for 3 nights but would have loved to have stayed longer. Communication with Character Cottages was exceptional. They offered a very personal service which made such a difference.", Jean, May 2018
-"Lovely cosy cottage. All facilities you could wish for provided. The location is stunning. The Slaughters are one of the nicest Cotswolds villages we visited with plenty more nearby. Will be back.", James, March 2018
-"The cottage was just as expected. Great charm and super location. We will be back!", John, February 2018
-"A Christmas gift for the family from the two grown-up children and WOW! We love the Cotswold,we love the Slaughters, we love Mill Stream Cottage. All the necessary accoutrements to make escape time a delight. I marvelled at the kitchen equipment(Oka! Jamie! In a holiday cottage?) and wept (nearly) at the nestling of the cottage, close to the (eponymous-so of course!) stream and dense with deliciousness. Roomy, but comfy, packed to the rafters with fun things to look at, quirky objects to discuss and a feel of family always close. On the bright days and the murky ones, we laughed, sang, chatted, played music and planned....... We’ll be back!", The Murray Family, January 2018
-"The cottage was delightful. It was large but cosy and homely. We could have stayed all month!", Francesca, January 2018
-"Most fantastic winter break at mill stream cottage in Lower Slaughter. Felt like home from home. Really comfy beds and a beautiful setting. Will certainly be back.", Russell, December 2017
-"Wow, this is the best place we have stayed and we travel a lot. The rooms were so comfy. Bathrooms are big and modern. Kitchen was amazing. We cooked one meal there just to enjoy the kitchen. The half bath was a nice feature too. The room by the kitchen that can be made into a bed was perfect for our girls and they loved it. The fireplace was amazing while we played games in the comity living room. Great communication for any questions you have about the place. The area is so cute and fun to walk around and checkout the old church nearby. We also ate twice at The Bell on Stow, Excellent menu and so quaint. We will be back!”, Huong and Joanne, December 2017
-"Beautifully presented. Very well equipped and nice touches such as flowers, milk in the fridge and cookies. The beds are very comfortable.", Shani, November 2017
-“Amazing cottage, in an amazing village! The cottage easily sleeps 6...don't be put off by the room off the kitchen, its actually the best bedroom in the house. I can honestly say it’s the most well equipped AirBnB we have ever had, whatever you can think of is in that house including bikes. The location is also amazing and you can walk to the level village Inn within 5 mins down the river path.”, Chris, September 2017
-“Mill Stream Cottage is beautifully and stylishly appointed. The bedrooms are very private and each has its own full bathroom. We were extremely comfortable in this charming house. The stone garden is pretty and gives one a chance to sit outside and enjoy the warmth of the sun. Lower Slaughter is a quiet village perfectly situated in the heart of the Cotswolds.”, Alexandra, September 2017
-“What a stunning property! We were 3 adults and one 3yr old, and we had so much space. The cottage is decorated beautifully, tastefully and with high quality brands. Either the host has some interior design background or they hired a designer. It feels like it was furnished for the hosts to live in originally, with all the amenities you could imagine plus extra. The kitchen is particularly well stocked with utensils, crockery, food mixer, toaster and more. The little courtyard outside is gorgeous, with its own little water feature. We had homemade afternoon tea here and it's a perfect little sun trap. There's a Tesco 10 mins away in Stow-on-the-wold which is really handy. Lower Slaughter is nothing short of picture perfect. It's incredible - like something from a movie. And the cottage's location is perfect, central enough to walk everywhere in the Slaughters and right beside a craft shop selling ice creams. The property is also really well located for driving to a lot of other really beautiful villages. We would DEFINITELY stay here again if we were to visit the area again. It's a winner!”, Hayley, August 2017
-“Wow what a beautiful house! Very comfortable well equipped. Easy access for lots to do, lovely shops at Bourton on the Water and Co-op for necessities only 10 minute drive. Thank you we had a lovely stay.”, Nicky, August 2017
-“Top hosts, amazing house and location, it was perfect. I highly recommend this property and these hosts. Could not have been better.”, Emanuel, June 2017
-“We had a wonderful stay here with the whole family (3 couples). It was really great that there's a bathroom for each bedroom and we all fit comfortably into the kitchen for meals. We even managed to have one meal outside on the little round table in the sunshine. The location is outstanding, we walked everywhere we needed to, especially in the mornings and evenings when there weren't any tourists around. There were plenty of pots and pans for us to cook with and having a big fridge was very helpful. We recommend the walk to Upper Slaughter along the public footpath right by the house through the fields. Thanks for a great stay!”, Mariko, May 2017
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Mill Stream 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 |
| Four ring gas hob |
Fridge freezer |
Tumble dryer |
| Kettle |
Microwave |
Outdoor table and seating |
| Electric oven |
Toaster |
Smart TV & flatscreen TV |
| Washing machine |
Wireless internet |
Dishwasher |
| Basic Sky package |
Rice cooker |
CD player |
| Food mixer and blender |
|
|
| 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 |
|---|
| Cafetiere |
CO detectors |
Smoke alarms |
| Fire blanket |
Fire extinguishers |
First aid kit |
| Hair dryers |
Iron |
Ironing board |
Travel
Mill Stream Cottage is located in the peaceful village of Lower Slaughter, close to the famous Cotswold market towns of Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold.
Travelling by car
Lower Slaughter is easily accessed by car, being located approximately half a mile away from the A429 (Fosse Way) and approximately six miles away from the A40, which are two of the main roads running through the North Cotswolds.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Lower Slaughter is Kingham (approximately eight miles away), which has regular, direct services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of approximately 90 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Lower Slaughter is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Birmingham International Airport: 47 miles, approximately 60 minute drive;
- Heathrow International Airport: 74 miles, approximately 90 minute drive;
- Bristol International Airport: 67 miles, approximately 90 minute drive.
