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
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 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
One medium sized dog is 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 5pm 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: Double bed
- Bedroom 2: 2 x single beds
Bathrooms
- Family bathroom (1st floor): Roll top bath with handheld shower attachment, toilet and wash basin
- Shower room (ground floor): Walk-in shower with separate shower attachment, 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 wood burning stove and further log supplies can be purchased directly from the owner.
Services provided
The property has free wireless internet access and a Freeview TV with DVD player.
There is no telephone at the property.
Mobile phone reception is variable, typically being better outside the property than inside.
Parking
The property has off street parking for one car and free on street parking is readily available.
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 provided.
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, handful of Nespresso capsules, 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 some low beams and it is laid out over 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 cottage 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.
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
The Forge was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in July 2017. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-"Thanks so much for letting us stay in the Forge - we had a wonderful time revisiting and exploring the local area. Our daughter Isabel loved collecting conkers, blackberries and acorns on our walks. The cottage was so well equipped: much, much better than any other holiday rental I think we've ever stayed in (the only thing we missed was a tin opener: maybe it went walkabouts?). We made use of your recommendations of the local pubs and had great meals at The Kings Arms, Bleddington, the Fox in Lower Oddington and, of course, the Horse and Groom. (our only disappointment was the Fox in Broadwell: nice atmosphere but the food was very average). We finally made use of the stove on our last night as the evening chill came in: made the house feel very cosy. Thanks again - it was a great holiday.", Nigel, September 2020
-"Beautiful cottage, we really enjoyed our stay. Every detail was thought through and we really appreciated baby cot and high chair, choice of games was great, local area was beautiful with amazing pubs. Thank you", Aleksandra, September 2020
-"A wonderful cottage, full of warmth and character with a great location. The little touches elevated our stay at The Forge and we look forward to returning one day.", Gareth, August 2020
-"We have just finished our stay at your lovely cottage and I just wanted to say thank you. We had a great relaxing break and you’ve really made the place so beautiful and well equipped.", Caroline, July 2020
-" Many thanks for a lovely mini-break. The cottage is perfect and the setting beautiful. Lovely walk to Daylesford Farm and two delicious meals in the Horse and Groom. We will be back!", Vicky and Glenn, February 2020
-"Thank you for a wonderful place to stay for a long weekend !We enjoyed exploring the trails and can't wait to come back.", Peter and Megan, February 2020
-"Many thanks for sharing your cosy cottage with us. Great spot to explore the idyllic Cotswolds. Had a good week here. Lovely cake and Prosecco was very much appreciated. Even better with the new sofa.", Hooi and Chen, December 2019
--"We've enjoyed our stay here and have been blessed with lovely white frosty mornings and lots of sunshine. A very cosy and comfortable cottage in an ideal location and the Horse And Groom has provided us with excellent meals...highly recommend! The log burner is excellent...lots of heat! Thank you so much for the cake and wine, much appreciated!", Jane and Jill, December 2019
-"Everything about the cottage was perfect, comfortable, clean, and a lovely selection of "goodies" left for us. Graham and Louise are very friendly, welcoming and helpful hosts.", Simon, November 2019
-“Amazing little cottage, perfect for a family”, Leah, November 2019
-“It was great staying here. We enjoyed every moment of here. We liked all the rooms, kitchen of course, and living room. The small garden was a perfect place for my children to explore and play. This cottage is sweet, warm, and has everything you need.”, Soon-Tae, October 2019
-“Beautiful cottage with all the amenities. Walk to the Horse and Groom pub for dinner. The garden was a wonderful place to sit after a full day of touring the Cotswolds. Would recommend highly”, Caryn, September 2019
-“Great location, lovely little garden. Generally, a very nice and quiet spot, ideal for someone with a dog.”, Andreas, September 2019
-“This cottage, located in a quiet little village, is beautifully decorated and very well equipped. It also has a secluded small garden which is delightful. There is a good pub in the village, and several others nearby. It is in a great location to explore the Cotswolds. If you want a retreat, stay here. If you prefer to be able to walk to shops and pubs or restaurants, you might prefer a larger Cotswold town such as Broadway or Stow-on-the- Wold.”, Thomas, July 2019
-“Lovely stay at the cute cottage. Location is lovely, our first time visiting Cotswold it did pour down with rain but that didn’t ruin the weekend. Was lovely and cosy”, Leanne, June 2019
-“This is the most beautiful authentic Cotswold experience. In a nice quiet village yet only minutes from Stow on The Wold. Pictures on Airbnb look lovely but is even better in person. The spaces are lovely and warm yet big and spacious. Everyone in the family will remember our stay here!”, Pierre, June 2019
-"This Cottage is perfect, amazing, cosy, wonderful, gorgeous, comfortable, sweet, ,,,,, don't know enough English adjectives to describe. SHORT: WE ALL LOVED IT!!!”, Christina, May 2019
-"What a magical place! I loved every minute in The Forge. Central location for walks, pubs and drives to neighbouring towns. Very quiet and quaint. I highly recommend.”, Jennifer, May 2019
-“Excellent experience working with Character Cottages. Beautifully maintained property in a lovely village.”, Patricia, May 2019
-“Outstanding location. Beautiful cottage. Great little garden to sit with the kids and play. Amazing walks within 10 minutes - provided guide books were fantastic. Awesome local pubs. Felt like a local after only a few days.”, David, April 2019
-“We had a fantastic time at The Forge, such a beautiful cosy cottage in a lovely area. The welcome package was most appreciated & fireplace was a great feature!”, Katy, March 2019
-"Lovely cottage where me, my wife, child and golden retriever instantly felt at home! The personal touches (cake, wine and Netflix subscription) were a welcomed surprise, especially with the weather. We will definitely be booking again!", Stephen, February 2019
-"We loved staying at this place. It was exactly as expected, and the owner, Kirsten, was very prompt in her replies.”, Alex, January 2019
-"Lovely cottage with style and location. We walked in neighbourhood easily and on the Winchcombe Path with great ease. Stow-on-Wold had charming restaurants. Easy communication and entry. Would come back in a flash if heading to the Cotswolds.”, Katherine, December 2018
-"Very comfortable cosy cottage with ample equipment for four people. The wine, cake and milk we found on our arrival was a nice touch. The log burner was great with plenty of logs available for a chilly November. It was nice to meet the owner who dropped by to make sure we had everything we needed.", Martin, November 2018
-"Really lovely cottage, loved the log burner and the enclosed garden- it was very dog friendly! Great location close to stow on the wold and Boughton. Definitely recommend this cottage! Thank you for a lovely stay, thoroughly enjoyed it!”, Karen, November 2018
-"My girlfriend and our dog spent a lovely time at The Forge. It was perfectly located and a wonderful place for a cosy, relaxing weekend in the Cotswolds. Lots of great local walks and pubs, I highly recommend to anyone looking for an escape.”, Connor, October 2018
-"Very lovely cottage in a beautiful area. Everything was as in the pictures. Perfect retreat.", Karina, July 2018
-"Wonderful & Charming! Great cottage. Nice touches and excellent location. Fantastic. Will be back.", Chris, June 2018
-"The Forge is well equipped for a comfortable holiday. It is centrally located to visit other places in the Cotswolds. There are two excellent gastro pubs in Oddington.", Michael, June 2018
-"Very comfy beds, very tasteful interior, well-equipped kitchen, fantastic materials about walks and sights provided, nice owner.", Tanja, April 2018
-"We spent two wonderful weeks in the Cotswods. The cottage is beautiful and very lovingly decorated. From the beginning we felt very well and at home. The location is great. In 5 minutes by car in the small town of Stow-on-the-Wold. To explore the Cotswolds simply class. We thank Ms. Eriksson for the great hospitality and the uncomplicated check-in and check-out. Best regards and see you soon!", Marcel, April 2018
-"We had an excellent time, your place is wonderful.", Richard, January 2018
-"This cottage is a perfect place to stay to discover all the Cotswolds offers. It is beautifully warm and cosy and set up with all you could possibly need. We are already looking at possible dates to stay again.”, Sarah, January 2018
-"Best Holiday Cottage we have stayed in, up to now. A very high standard, hope it keeps like that. We intend to use Character Cottages again in the future.", John, November 2017
-“Had an amazing time at The Forge, amazing cottage. Very appreciative for everything provided and done to make us feel welcome. Thank you!”, Adam, October 2017
-“Lovely cottage, wish we were staying longer. Ideal spot for visiting the Cotswolds. The extra touches very much appreciated. The cake was really delicious. Thank you.”, Chris, September 2017
-“Fantastic cottage in a fantastic area of the Cotswolds. Great local walks across the fields into Stow. Great local pub with fantastic food. Enjoy”, Tom, September 2017
-“Had a lovely few days in the Cotswolds. You have a lovely home, in a great location. The Forge is a home from home. We will definitely be back!”, Claire, Russ + Ruby the Dog, August 2017
-“Thank you so much, we have so enjoyed our stay - will definitely return. Love the cottage - oozes character. Have enjoyed walks and drives in the beautiful Cotswolds.”, Ingrid, August 2017
-“First time to the Cotswolds from London where we have been living for 10 years. Can’t believe we haven’t come out sooner. Beautiful home, great location and our dog loved it, too! We will be back for sure. Many thanks and best wishes.”, Wendy, July 2017
-“Had a delightedly stay in The Forge - what a great relaxing place. Great location for everything - walks and touring the Cotswolds. Lovely relaxing evenings, cosy with the fire. Looking forward to coming back again soon - especially to visit the teddy, now named “Barnie” (he came everywhere with us :-))”, Sally, April 2016
