What Makes Our Properties Special?

We are always overjoyed when we hear from our guests about how special their stay was with us, and so we thought it was about time we shared with you a little story about each of our beautiful properties.

From when we first started out in 2017, our vision for Unique Cotswold Cottages was always to create something really special.  We wanted to wow our guests so they would leave our cottages with unforgettable memories.

Over the last 6 years we have stuck by this vision, we watched it come to life as we tirelessly and meticulously planned, designed, and created.

Each of our properties has their own unique story that gives them their charm.  And by adding special touches to each and every one of our hand-picked cottages, and sending a personal pre/post arrival email, we have created the vision we set out to accomplish.  This forms part of our unique stamp and lays the foundation for a superbly comfortable stay.

We have done this by leaving a handwritten welcome card for every guest that stays with us. 

A welcome tray filled with high quality local and sustainable treats such as wine, organic rape seed oil, biscuits and honey is provided for our guests to use and enjoy. 

We provide unique local offers and discounts for guests at local restaurants, cafes and pubs.   And to make their stay that much more special, they also have their own on-hand housekeeper who lives locally so should there be any requirements, all our guests need to do is pick up the phone and our housekeeper will be there to help.  

welcome tray at honeypot

We want to make sure each and every one of our guests has the most comfortable and restful night’s sleep.  This is our absolute top priority!  So in all of our cottages you will find the best of the best mattresses by Hypnos in all our cottages, 500 thread count Egyptian cotton bed linen, roll-top bath tubs, walk-in showers and Egyption cotton towels.

Our cottages have all mod cons including high speed wifi and we also offer a later check out than usual, so guests can enjoy taking their time on their last morning with us.

Guests also have the option to book an in-cottage Spa treatment from Solace Asia Therapy, which specialises in deep tissue massage, reflexology, Thai stretch massage and much more.  

Our cottages are of course in beautiful walking country so guests have their own personal walking map, we have umbrellas, spare bathroom accessories in case anything is left at home, and let’s not forget your four-legged friends - they have their own basket, treats, blankets and bowls.

And if you are wondering what are the best villages to visit in The Cotswolds, well our cottages are located in some of the prettiest places to visit in this glorious landscape.  So without further ado, let’s look a little more closely at our properties and their locations…

Little Gem Cottage - Bourton-on-the-Water

Our first cottage, Little Gem, is over 200 years old. It was a garage for many years but then became a cottage that belonged to the neighbouring house.

When we acquired Little Gem back in 2017, it was very tired and in desperate need of some TLC so we rolled our sleeves up, got to work and it is now a beautifully refurbished Cotswold stone cottage complete with a log burner, fully equipped kitchen, delightful private patio garden and private parking.

The bedroom has a king size bed, a roll-top bath and walk-in shower in the bathroom.

An open plan living/dining/kitchen space has every top quality appliance you should need and the stable door in the kitchen leads to a charming, private patio garden with Weber barbeque, outdoor sofa and table & chairs for outdoor dining.

Located in Bourton-on-the-Water - also known as ‘The Little Venice of the Cotswolds’ - and a stone’s throw from the centre of this charming village.  Bourton itself is a quintessentially quaint Cotswold village with its low stone bridges and it has many cafes, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants serving delicious local food.

The Loft, Stow-on-the-Wold

The Loft is a beautiful, romantic rooftop apartment for two in the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold.  The Grade II Listed building is over 400 years old, it lived one of its many lives as a bakery and we have taken great care to preserve its charm.

This cosy and quirky apartment is at the top of a stunning Cotswold stone building but don’t be fooled - the loft is both spacious and luxurious and has its own access and delightful, private decked terrace with outdoor dining and sofa, perfect for unwinding with a bottle of wine or breakfast.

In the loft we have created a haven with the feeling of a retreat so it is perfect for a romantic getaway where you can enjoy the large bedroom with a stunning roll top bath complete with a view of the stars.  There is also a walk-in shower, a large lounge with a dining table, a kitchen with breakfast bar, and everything else you could possibly need.

The Loft is in the heart of Stow village so you can peruse the boutiques and antique shops to your heart’s content!

The Bolt Hole - Winchcombe

At over 150 years old, The Bolt Hole spent many years as a butcher's shop before we lovingly refurbished it to the delightful holiday cottage it is today.  With its open plan living/dining room/kitchen and every appliance you should need including a washing machine, dishwasher, 6-ring hob, double oven, fridge with freezer box and microwave so guests can enjoy the ease and comfort of this home-from-home.  

To add to the cosy atmosphere of this little haven, we also installed a log-burner and wall-mounted Smart TV to turn those chilly evenings into a perfect setting for snug relaxation.

Despite the Bolt Hole’s size it boasts a king-size bed with views from the bed of the beautiful countryside, a walk-in shower and roll-top bath.  We also welcome babies and have provided a cot and highchair.

The Bolt Hole is in the conservation area of Winchcombe which is deemed an area of notable historic interest worthy of preservation.  Winchcombe is the ‘walkers paradise’ of the Cotswolds and with its wealth of delightful walks and cycle routes on the doorstep you’ll be pleased to know there are many timbered inns, coffee shops and restaurants - including the celebrated Michelin rated “Restaurant 5 North Street”  - to satisfy your appetite!

Honey Pot - Chipping Campden

Delightfully cosy Honey Pot is Ideally situated just off the  high street in a very quiet location, and yet it is just  a minute’s walk away from the centre of Chipping Campden.  

We have made our guest’s stay at Honey Pot as smooth running as possible with a large private parking area and EV charger right outside.   Guest’s can enjoy air conditioning when the weather is hot and relax in the private enclosed garden on a balmy evening with a bottle of wine, or for breakfast in the morning.  Honey Pot has everything you need to make as comfortable a break as possible including dishwasher, walk-in shower and luxurious touches everywhere.

Chipping Campden, a charming old wool merchant’s town in the heart of the cotswolds,  was described by the noted Historian G.M. Trevelyanas as ‘the most beautiful village street now left on the island’, and it’s not hard to see why with its elegant terraced buildings, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century.

Here our guests can enjoy a vast choice of independent shops, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants.  We have partnered up with some of these wonderful eateries to offer our guests a discount. 

NEW - Hideaway Cottage

Our stunning Hideaway Cottage was originally named after the nearby River Windrush and in its past life has been a bookmakers and a boot shop.  The name Hideaway feels very apt, as the access to the back gate and private garden is hidden away.

Beautifully decorated and immaculately presented, this property will surprise and delight.  A little bigger than our other properties, Hideaway has a cosy study/bedroom as well as a beautiful wood panelled master bedroom with king size bed - both have been lovingly decorated with fixtures and fittings including wood panelling, and as with the rest of the property are high quality, sustainable and locally sourced wherever possible.

The master bedroom at hideaway cottage

The spacious bathroom has a roll top bath and walk-in shower - perfect for unwinding after a day’s exploring or walking the surrounding Cotswold hills. 

The fully equipped kitchen with top quality appliances, opens out to the cosy living space with log burner, beautiful sofas and smart tv for those cosy nights in.

Hideaway has its own private parking space complete with EV charger for guest use.  The delightful private patio garden has Bramblecrest table and chairs for outdoor dining and outdoor sofa so you can enjoy the morning papers. 

Bourton village is just a short, easy stroll away where you can enjoy the many characterful shops, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants including The Mousetrap Inn and Bakery on the Water, a fourth-generation, family run artisan bakery.

We hope that you have enjoyed our ‘tour’ and we would love to welcome you soon as another happy guest.  Should you wish to look further into our properties and our ethos, you can find more info on our website www.uniquecotswoldcottages.com

Happy browsing!

10 dog-friendly Cotswold pubs in the north Cotswolds

Lots of our guests like to bring their dogs with them when they come to the Cotswolds.  And why wouldn’t you?  The Cotswolds is welcoming to dogs in their shops, restaurants, and pubs.  Here is a list of 10 of the ones that we think go that extra mile to be dog-friendly that are a short drive or walk to the location of our Unique Cotswold Cottages in the North Cotswolds.

We have put in brackets the name of our property that is in the same village.  The other ones are a short drive or longer walk.

 

1.    The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold (The Loft)

 

2.    The Maytime Inn in Asthall, near Burford

 

3.    The Lion Inn in Winchcombe (The Bolt Hole)

 

4.    Eight Bells Inn in Chipping Campden (Honey Pot)

 

5.    The Lamb Inn in Burford

 

6.    The Crown and Trumpet in Broadway

 

7.    The Fox Inn in Broadwell, near Moreton-in-Marsh

 

8.    The Plough Inn in Ford, Temple Guiting

 

9.    The Bell in Stow-on-the-Wold (The Bolt Hole)

 

10. Snowshill Arms in Snowshill, near Broadway

5 top tips to stay cool in the Cotswolds because it's hot and it's about to get hotter...

Here are some suggestions to help you stay cool during these summer months

1) Paddle in the River Windrush at Bourton on the Water - this is a favourite of many over the summer months and our dog loves it too. Its shallow enough that little ones can have a paddle and there is a great atmosphere on the river banks in the summer months.

2) Take a stroll round Batsford Abaroretum http://www.batsarb.co.uk where there are lots of tall trees to shade you from the sun. Dogs are welcome on leads too.

3) Cool down with ice cream at The Cotswolds Ice Cream stand in Bourton-on-the-Water - there a quite a few options along the river and plenty of places to stop for a drink as well. Home to Little Gem Cottage https://www.uniquecotswoldcottages.co.uk/little-gem-cottage and our newest property which is due to be refurbished and launched later on in the year.!

4) Enjoy a refreshing beverage in the garden of one of our favourite pubs - https://www.theebringtonarms.co.uk and https://fuzzyduckarmscote.com - have delightful grassy outside areas with shade and excellent food

5) Keep out of the sun by visiting one of The Cotswolds Treasures - Like https://sudeleycastle.co.uk - with their thick stone walls that will keep you cool. this is just a short stroll from the Bolt Holehttps://www.uniquecotswoldcottages.co.uk/the-bolt-hole where picnic blankets and a picnic hamper is provided.

5 staycation destinations you might consider moving to

After a great staycation, many visitors will miss the place they’ve just been to. In fact, some will take it one step further and consider moving there! The beautiful Cotswolds is filled with staycation destinations that would be a dream to relocate to.

We offer luxury cottage retreats in three distinct locations within the idyllic Cotswolds. Read on to learn about the 5 staycation destinations you might consider moving to.

  1. Stratford-upon-Avon – known for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is to the north of the Cotswolds. Surrounded by the glorious Warwickshire countryside, this market town is somewhere you might want to move to for its natural beauty and rich, cultural heritage.

  2. Winchcombe – this Anglo-Saxon town is a popular staycation location for its proximity to Sudeley Castle - a gorgeous example of 15th century architecture. You also might want to consider moving to Winchcombe for its tranquil natural environment and close-knit community. It has an amazing array of walking paths and is in close proximity to Cheltenham with all it has to offer. If you’d ever like to visit, Unique Cotswold Cottages have their The Bolt Hole cottage in this stunning location.

  3. Broadway – this pretty Cotswold village lies at the base of the Worcestershire hills and has many local attractions to enjoy like The Heritage Railway or The Broadway Tower. Relocating there wouldn’t be a bad idea either! You’d have dreamy cottages and postcard-worthy landscapes right outside your doorstep.

  4. Chipping Campden – visitors love this market town’s elegant, terraced high street and charming buildings. It’s also worth moving there so you can enjoy their cosy tea rooms and pubs all year round. If you’d ever like to visit Chipping Campden, we have a lovely cottage retreat in Stow-on-the-Wold, The Loft that is only a short drive away.

  5. Cirencester – labelled “The Capital of the Cotswolds,” Cirencester is a popular tourist town for its historical ties to the Romans - having once been a Romano-British settlement! With its bustling shopping areas and good commuter links, it’s a great place to move too as well.