Description
Summary
Travellers Joy is a quintessential Cotswold cottage which sleeps 4+2 guests, in two bedrooms (with the +2 option being a day bed in the snug), with a contemporary family bathroom. Dating back to the 17th century, this picturesque Grade II listed property has a wealth of character features including exposed beams, oak flooring, ledge and brace doors and an impressive inglenook fireplace with a cosy wood burning stove. These period features have been complemented by modern furnishings and facilities such as wireless internet access, a Smart TV and underfloor heating in the well-equipped kitchen and bathroom. There is a beautiful walled garden to the rear, and free on-street parking is available nearby.
Location
Travellers Joy is situated in scenic Lower Swell, a small village which is located just a mile from the vibrant market town of Stow-on-the-Wold. The village pub, The Golden Ball Inn, has a welcoming atmosphere and prides itself on its home-cooked food and range of local ales. Surrounded by breathtaking countryside, there are many walks and cycle routes from the village including footpaths to The Slaughters and Bourton-on-the-Water, the latter known as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ due to the low arched bridges which cross the River Windrush.
Lower Swell is well-placed for visiting the many charming towns and villages of the North Cotswolds such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden and Broadway which are all home to a number of pubs, restaurants, tearooms and independent shops. Popular tourist attractions and activities in the area include Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park, Sudeley Castle, the Lavender Farm and Fields, Birdland Park and Gardens, clay pigeon shooting or a gentle hack with Bourton Vale Equestrian Centre. Further afield destinations such as Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, Blenheim Palace, Oxford and Bath are accessible for day trips.
Description
Travellers Joy is the perfect property for a gathering of friends or family seeking a relaxing break amongst the rolling Cotswold hills. The cottage is laid out as follows:
| Room | Amenities |
|---|
| Living/dining room |
Bathed in natural light, this bright and spacious open plan living area is the heart of the home. Boasting exposed wooden beams and rural views, this room contains:
- inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove
- three-seater sofa, two-seater sofa and armchair
- Smart TV
- record player
- selection of board games and records
- wooden dining table with seating for six
- window seat
|
| Kitchen |
A small step up leads into the attractive and well-equipped kitchen which has underfloor heating and enjoys views of the cottage garden. This room contains:
- electric oven and four-ring induction hob
- fridge/freezer
- dishwasher, microwave, kettle, toaster, cafetière and smoothie blender
- washing machine and tumble dryer
- breakfast bench with two stools
|
| Snug |
Accessed via the living room and kitchen, this tastefully decorated room leads out into the garden and is a great spot to hide away with a good book. It contains:
- super king size day bed, available upon request
- gentleman's wardrobe
|
| Cloakroom |
Contains:
|
| Master bedroom |
This elegant dual aspect bedroom has a stone mullion window, oak flooring and lovely views over the Abbotswood Estate to the rear. It contains:
- double bed
- ornamental Victorian fireplace
- freestanding wardrobe
- bedroom chair
|
| Bedroom 2 |
With exposed timber beams and a gable window overlooking the fields opposite, this cosy room contains:
- double bed
- built-in cupboard and chest of drawers
- bedroom chair
|
| Family bathroom |
This bright and stylish room with underfloor heating contains:
- walk-in shower, toilet, wash basin and heated towel rail
|
The enchanting cottage garden is a peaceful spot to relax and unwind in the warmer months. This enclosed garden features an immaculate lawn and a colourful flowerbed which runs the length of the garden and leads to the raised patio at the rear. This patio is home to an outdoor table with seating for six and overlooks the fabulous grounds of the Abbotswood Estate. Stored within the small stone shed adjacent to the snug is a charcoal barbecue and a paddling pool, perfect for cooling off in the height of summer.
Free 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
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, including its grounds, is 4+2 guests (with the +2 option being a day 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 six 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 well-behaved dogs, over one year old, 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 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: Double bed
- Snug: Day bed which can be made up upon request
Bathroom
- Family bathroom: Walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin
Heating and logs
The property has wall-mounted electric heaters.
Electricity is 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, a Smart TV and a record player.
There is no telephone at the property.
Mobile phone reception is variable, with a stronger signal in the garden.
Parking
Free on-street parking is readily available close by.
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.
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, Grade II listed property with many character features including low beams, some uneven flooring and some sloping ceilings, 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 front door opens onto the road and so guests with young children should take particular care to ensure that children are supervised when the door is open.
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
Travellers Joy was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in September 2020. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-"Beautiful place. 2 mins from Stow. Would highly recommend for a couple or couple with child.", Carlos, April 2021
-"Lovely cottage with lots of charm, great garden and all the amenities. Highly recommend.", Helene, April 2021
-"Picture perfect Cotswold cottage. Was a beautiful place to stay, would definitely come back.", Mark, December 2020
-“We really enjoyed our break in your beautiful cottage. So much to do in this very special part of the country.”, The Dean Family, October 2020
-"Thank you for a lovely stay- the cottage had everything we needed and was a great base for us to explore the Cotswolds. We’ll miss the cosy evenings in front of the fire!", Dan and Charlie, October 2020
-“Beautiful cottage in a wonderful part of the Cotswolds.”, Julie and Mike, October 2020
Floorplan
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Travellers Joy 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 |
Record player |
| Four-ring induction hob |
Fridge/freezer |
Cafetière |
| Kettle |
Microwave |
Outdoor table and seating |
| Electric oven |
Toaster |
Smart TV |
| Washing machine |
Wireless internet |
Dishwasher |
| Travel cot (without linen) |
High chair |
Smoothie blender |
| Small selection of board games |
Small selection of records |
Tumble dryer |
| Paddling pool |
|
|
| 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 |
|---|
| Washing line and pegs |
Fire blanket |
Smoke alarms |
| First aid kit |
Fire extinguisher |
Ironing board |
| Hair dryer |
Iron |
2 x towel rails |
| CO detectors |
|
|
Travel
Travellers Joy is located in the peaceful village of Lower Swell, one mile away from the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold.
Travelling by car
Lower Swell is easily accessible by car, being one mile away from Stow which is located at the junction of seven roads, including the A429 (Fosse Way).
Travelling by train
The nearest railway stations to Lower Swell are Moreton-in-Marsh (approximately five miles away) and Kingham (approximately six miles away), which have regular, direct services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of approximately 90 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Lower Swell is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Heathrow International Airport: 75 miles, approximately 90 minute drive;
- Birmingham International Airport: 45 miles, approximately 60 minute drive.
