Lovely Cotswolds Holiday Home
About the property
- House1150 sqft
- Bedrooms4
- Sleeps6
- Bathrooms3
- Half Baths1
- Minimum Stay3 nights
Lower Mill Estate, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths. Sleeps 6 adults
A lovely Cotswolds traditional home re-imagined with modern amenities. 4 bedrooms including two double rooms with en-suite full baths, 2 bedrooms each with one twin bed and a family bathroom. Downstairs is a fully outfitted kitchen, dining room and lounge as well as a toilet and a utility room with washer/dryer and freezer. Outside deck overlooking a lovely lawn and the Mill Stream (part of the Thames) with outdoor seating for 8. Croquet set and boules set provided for outdoor games on the lawn. Great place for a family or adults, with ArtSpa passes included.
The award-winning on-site spa features Europe's first outdoor eco-pool as well as two 20M heated pools - indoor and outdoor, steam room, sauna, gym, a restful reading lounge and treatment rooms, where you can pamper and indulge yourself to your heart's content.
And in the great outdoors of the estate, you'll be able to ramble or cycle through secret woodlands and meadows which are rich in rare wildlife (including a protected colony of beavers) as well as enjoying more energetic days canoeing, kayaking, sailing or swimming in one of Lower Mill's eight lakes and two rivers. There's a world of adventure waiting to be discovered - a chance to experience a Swallows & Amazons lifestyle in a perfect, safe, secure natural playground for children of all ages.
Property Manager
Brian and Elisabeth Cross
- Response rate:
- 90%
- Response time:
- within one hour
- Speaks:
- english
- Calendar last updated:
- Apr 17, 2018
About Brian and Elisabeth Cross
We currently live in the United States, in California, but as one half of us was born in England and spent the first 35 years of life in England, we were endlessly planning trips to England and absolutely love the Cotswolds. It is a bucolic place and we felt so fortunate to have been able to purchase this lovely home on this beautiful estate.
Brian and Elisabeth Cross purchased this House in 2001
Why Brian and Elisabeth Cross chose Somerford Keynes
We have traveled all over Europe, but always come back to England. The Cotswolds holds us captive due to the beauty of every season. We love going to the local pubs whether it be to sit by a warm fire in the winter or spend a lovely Sunday having lunch outside in the gardens. We are avid walkers and have literally walked from our house to London along the Thames, staying in Inns along the way. We planned the walk ourselves and managed to walk between 12 -18 miles a day and at the end of each day, we were rewarded with a refreshing pint at some great Inn's. We loved the walk, but were absolutely happy to get back to Dragonfly at the end!
What makes this House unique
Old style thatched cottage with all mod cons.
Amenities
- Satellite or Cable
- Kids Welcome
- Heater
- Internet
- No Smoking
- Parking
- Swimming pool
- TV
- Washer & Dryer
Bedrooms
- 4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6
- Bedroom 11 queen
- Bedroom 21 queen
- Bedroom 31 twin/ single
- Bedroom 41 twin/ single
- 2 master bedrooms with Queen size beds, both en-suite. 2 single bedrooms each with a twin bed and sharing a family bath. All bedrooms are upstairs.
Bathrooms
- 3 Bathrooms, 1 Half Bath
- Bathroom 1toilet, combination tub/shower
- Bathroom 2toilet, combination tub/shower
- Bathroom 3toilet, combination tub/shower
- Bathroom 4toilet
- There are 3 full bathrooms in the house. The double bedrooms are both en-suite. There is also a family bathroom for the twin bedrooms. There is also a half bathroom downstairs.
Location Type
- Lake ViewViews of lakes from the cottage, and situated in the heart of the Cotswold Water Park.
- ResortThere are two large, luxury slate-lined, heated swimming pools With a fully equipped gym and full service spa, steam and sauna.
- RuralSituated in the heart of the south Cotswolds with bucolic villages & rolling hills. Only 4 miles from Cirencester, capital of the Cotswolds, with shops, restaurants, pubs and local markets.
- VillageModelled on the style of local villages, the honey coloured, Cotswold holiday cottages nestle around the lakes, small rivers and streams of the Lower Mill Estate. Set within the Cotswold Water Park.
Theme
- Spa
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Living Roomseats 7
- Fitness Room / EquipmentArtSpa passes provided during your stay. Fully equipped gym with weights, elliptical machines, rowing machine, stationary bicycles and treadmills. 2 heated pools, one indoor and one outdoors.
- HeatingUnderfloor electric heating downstairs and electric wall heaters upstairs.
- InternetHigh-speed ADSL modem/router with TV connection and WiFi.
- Iron & Board
- Linens Provided
- Hair Dryer
- Parking1 designated parking spot. Additional onsite car park within short walk from house.
- TelephoneLandline phones upstairs and downstairs.
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machinecombination washer/dryer
- Wood Stove
Kitchen
- Coffee MakerCafetiere (French Press) and Espresso maker available.
- Dishes & Utensils
- Dishwasher
- Kitchen
- Microwave
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- StoveDual oven, one fan-assisted, with glass/ceramic hob.
- Toaster
Dining
- Dininghigh chairs can be obtained from the local property manager. Please let the property manager know if you need a high chair.
- Dining Area
- comfy seating for 6 people
Entertainment
- BooksSmall selection of books
- DVD PlayerSmall selection of DVDs available.
- GamesBoard games, chess, playing cards, croquet set, boules set.
- Music LibrarySmall selection of CDs.
- Satellite / CableStandard TV channels plus FreeView.
- Television
- Video LibraryAvailable from on-site shop.
Outside
- BalconySmall Juliet balconies in upstairs double bedrooms.
- BicyclesFor hire locally.
- BoatBoat rentals available at many places at the Watermark.
- Deck / PatioWrap-around deck surrounds sides and back of house and overlooks large lawn area and the Mill Stream (the Thames).
- GolfGolf course in Oaksey nearby
- Kayak / CanoeRentals available in the Watermark
- Lawn / GardenLawns on both sides with room for outdoor boules and croquet.
- TennisAvailable on the estate.
Suitability
- wheelchair inaccessible
Pool / Spa
- Communal Pool
- Heated Pool
- Indoor Pool
- Sauna
Onsite Services
- Massage
Attractions
- museums
- arboretum
- festivals
- health/beauty spa
- library
- live theater
- churches
- playground
- recreation center
- restaurants
- ruins
- water parks
Leisure Activities
- paddle boating
- antiquing
- boating
- eco tourism
- horseback riding
- outlet shopping
- bird watching
- photography
- scenic drives
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
- wildlife viewing
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- fitness center
- groceries
- massage therapist
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- hiking
- cycling
- fishing
- fly fishing
- freshwater fishing
- golf
- equestrian events
- kayaking
- sailing
- swimming
- tennis
- water skiing
- wind-surfing
Notes
- The estate offers private in-home dining through McBailes. A private chef will prepare a meal for you. Please ask for details and I will send you a PDF of the services.
House Rules
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 14 days before arrival date. You must contact the owner directly to request cancellation.
7 Reviews
Latest reviews
Beautiful and quiet retreat in a great location
Perfect for our short family break in the art of the Cotswold lakes. Great location for cycling which are kids love, as well as for tennis and swimming. Great walks and not far from Cirencester or Swindon. The property was wonderful too, although due to the fact the weekend we stayed turned out to be the hottest May Bank Holiday weekend for 60 years, we did find sleeping challenging in the heat, given the thatched roof, which clearly acted as an excellent radiator, absorbing the heat during the day and kicking it out at night time when we least needed it! But otherwise it was a truly excellent property in a great location and even the awesome weather was efficiently organised for us too... thanks be to God!
We had a lovely time, well equipped house with ample room for 3 adults and 2 children.
Dragonfly was a great base for our holiday. The kitchen was well equipped but lacked space for dry food storage - we used the utility room but it was too warm and melted the kids chocolate!! Lower mill estate has a brilliant outdoor pool, plenty warm enough on overcast days. Regretted not taking tennis rackets, bikes or table tennis rackets as it was expensive to hire equipment. Lots of lovely walks nearby and helpful staff on site. The ice cream from Ballihoo restaurant got the thumbs up from the kids and adults! Would happily return again.
good location, well appointed property
Even in the winter there was lots to do, both in the immediate area of the property and surrounds. The facilities on-site were great (pool, spa and gym), plenty of walks, a local pub and church in walking distance (great carol service taken by a funky vicar!). The village management were most efficient and quickly attended to any queries. We enjoyed the log fire and a cygnet floating up and down the stream outside our lounge windows. Everything we needed was provided-we were able to cook a full Christmas lunch.The only irritation was that the water pressure kept dropping, but even on Christmas Day management were available to provide us with a solution to over-ride the system.
What a fabulous place to stay !!
My wife and I came to England to renew our vows in a tiny little church in Wales. We stayed three nights in this wonderful home. If you want a centrally located house that is beautifully built, has 4 bedrooms, and is located in a fabulous vacation resort community, you can't ask for better.
This house is an easy drive from London. It is close to so many historic sites, towns, restaurants, etc. The house has a full kitchen, dining room, living room and laundry. This is truly a home away from home.
Harry,
We are so pleased you enjoyed our house so much. We love to have you back any time.
Best, Elisabeth and Brian
Classic setting, modern amenities
This is an peaceful, idyllic place for a family or group of friends to use as a "home base" for touring the Cotswolds or just to relax and enjoy the wildlife. It's a semi-detached home in a modern development of buildings built in the traditional style of the Cotswolds, providing a nice balance of classic English beauty with the reliability of good plumbing, electricity, and (of course) Wi-Fi. The kitchen and bathrooms were immaculate, and there was even a small washer/dryer (with excellent instructions!). The property management is extremely responsive and helpful, even late at night. The location couldn't be better: a short bike ride lets you explore the Cotswolds' natural beauty. A few minutes by car brings you to Cirencester, which was the second most important city in Roman Britain, and boasts an impressive historical museum for kids of all ages (or history buffs!). Most of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds are within a half-hour drive, and within a two-hour radius by car are Oxford, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, Blenheim Palace, Bath, and the Morgan Car Company, where you can see how they make these classic cars by hand. Our only wish was that we could stay there for longer!
Comfortable Classic Charming Cotswolds Home
This was the quintessential place for four of us to experience a home-away from home Cotswolds week. I enjoyed the ‘classically English’ decor, modern appliances and convenient layout. The "village" development location adds to the charm as there's an easy to access trail for a nature walk that loops the area and a convenient on-site grocery store. I highly recommend this property as the perfect base camp for discovering the Cotswolds.
Location
The Estate
• 550 acres of private nature reserve, including seven lakes and three rivers
• Traditionally styled Cotswold stone holiday cottages
• Outdoor, heated pool (Open Easter to the end of October and over Christmas and New Year)
• Excellent and varied fishing
• Tennis court
• Children’s play area
• Trampoline
• Table tennis
• Close to Cirencester and convenient for exploring the Cotswolds
• Good transport links (approx 1.5 hours from West London)
• No large single sex parties are permitted on site
• Somerford Lagoon, being an internationally important site for wintering wildfowl, can only be used for non-powered water sports between 1st April and 30th of September. The footpath to the Southern and Eastern edge of Somerford Lagoon is not accessible from the 1st of October to the 31st of March, in order to minimize disturbance to the wintering wildfowl.
Spinney Lake is available for non-powered water sports throughout the year.
Spa
• There are two large, luxury slate-lined, heated swimming pools together with the UK's first Eco-Pool; a freshwater swimming pool purified entirely by water lillies! With a fully equipped gymnasium, a steam room, Scandinavian sauna, library, treatment rooms and a wonderful restful resident's lounge, the luxury health spa facilities will leave you spoilt for choice.
• The beautifully landscaped private gardens provide a peaceful haven to relax, chill out and watch the world go by, complete with sunbathing decks and hammocks! The spa is literally just a few minutes stroll from Mill Village 43.
• As part of your holiday package, you will receive a temporary membership to the spa, so that you can take full advantage of all of the amazing facilities during your break.
Fun for all the Family
• Children of all ages are very welcome and there is plenty to do for the entire family.
Rates & Availability
Additional information about rental rates
There is a $300.00 refundable deposit for damages