Manor Farm Cottage

Manor Farm Cottage is a roomy and modern cottage that has been perfectly designed for holidays. Set in an enchanting valley, this luxury holiday cottage makes for a welcome escape from the rigours of daily life! iManor Farm Cottage stands in a splendid raised position commanding distant views over gently sloping valley and rich woods. The village itself (with a population of just 35) is completely unspoiled by the modern world and offers joyous gardens, walks and peacefulness to create the perfect holiday experience for the incoming guest.

Fodor recently described the village as the ultimate Cotswold hamlet with its stunning scenery and views. Built in the traditional Cotswold style with gables and mullioned windows, Over Court Cottage is in a perfect position, commanding distant views over gently sloping valley and rich woods.

Downstairs a porch leads to the hall with a modern kitchen beyond. The light and spacious sitting/dining room has an open fireplace and is ideal for entertaining.

Upstairs there is a voluptuous 18th Century Hepplewhite four-poster bed in the main bedroom. The second bedroom has twin beds. There is also a shower room.

The Manor Garden. The present "Old English" garden has been recreated by the owners among open lawns and a field since 1980, with box hedges enclosing quarters of English parterres like those in the Stoke Edith tapestries, or Kip engravings. The planting is traditional, with herbs and aromatics, old shrub roses and garden favourites, and the box, holly, juniper and yew replanted, as well as formal features, a stilt hedge and pleached allee in lime and hornbeam, and sculpture by Simon Verity. The design makes use of old plans and records, suggesting an early garden re-ordered conservatively at the turn of the eighteenth century, just when the formal tradition was about to be swept away, in fashionable gardens, by the landscape garden. The mill pond walk recalls the early Georgian Elysium of rills and meandering paths. Two thousand young trees were planted as shelter belts to mark the millennium.

*Please note, locations shown on the maps are approximations only

The Manor estate is in the 'Royal Triangle', set in the heart of the Cotswold Hills. The historic cities of Bath, Cheltenham, Cirencester are all about 20 miles away, with their wealth of cultural and scenic attractions. Oxford, Blenheim Palace and Stratford-upon-Avon are popular day excursions. London is about 2 hours away; Heathrow Airport a little closer.

Whether your interest is the famous limestone villages of the Cotswolds, or prehistoric barrows, quiet lanes, antique shops, walking - from a gentle stroll round the estate trails to a 20-mile trek along the Cotswold Way - Norman churches, gardens, good food and drink, visiting friends, or more likely a combination of these, the choice is wide and you will barely scratch the surface during your stay.

Apart from the Cotswolds and their wool towns and villages, other touring regions include the Berkeley Vale, the Forest of Dean, the Wye Valley, the Welsh Marches, the Malverns, the Thames Valley.

Historic houses, besides the estate itself, include Berkeley Castle, Chavenage House, Dyrham Park and Sudeley Castle. Within walking distance is Woodchester Mansion, an unfinished masterpiece of the Victorian age. Tourist attractions include the American Museum at Claverton Manor and the Roman Baths at Bath, Gloucester Cathedral, Westonbirt Arboretum and the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge.

Gloucestershire is famous for its many gardens. They include Hidcote and Kiftsgate, Miserden Park, Painswick Rococo Garden, Rodmarton Manor, Barnsley House, Highgrove and Westbury-on-Severn. We are the ideal base for the Horse Trials at Badminton and Gatcombe Park, and for racing at Cheltenham.

The estate forms a wild and secret valley extending along the Ewelme stream under the Cotswold edge. It is accessible, yet far from the intrusion of public roads and the commercial farming of the Cotswold plateau. The extensive native beech woods are carpeted with bluebells in the spring. Richly varied walks lead the serious hiker or casual stroller over many miles of footpaths on the estate and beyond. Long-distance trails are well organised in the surrounding area of the Cotswolds.

Beyond the valley is an impressive group of archaeological sites. The Iron Age hill fort at Uley is the most impressive in the Cotswolds, commanding views over the Severn Vale to the mountains of Wales; neolithic long barrows and Roman settlements lie on the hills. The estate and its neighbouring valleys form a haven rich in wildlife, with wildflowers in the fields, protected butterflies, deer and badgers a common sight, and a rich variety of habitat for bird-watching – never forgetting the fabled owls.

As well as a traditional West Country livestock farm producing home-reared organic meat, this is a sporting estate perfect for all forms of country pursuits. There is fly fishing; rough shooting and clay pigeon lessons can be arranged. Riding, gliding and golf (with three courses) are all a mile or two away. Many activities are organized by us for corporate programmes or private parties. And there is plenty of room for those who want none of these, but simply to breathe in the peace and utter seclusion of a timeless countryside.

The Manor is a mile east of Uley, off the B4066. At the small Green past the Old Crown pub in Uley (just opposite the Church). Uley is a charming weaving village between Tetbury, Stroud (both 6 miles) and Dursley (3 miles west), signposted from the A 4135. The M5 Junctions 13 (north) and 14 (south) are a few minutes west: head for the B4066. The M4 is 12 miles south. Exit at Junction 18 and follow the A46 north in the direction of Stroud as far as the crossroads with the A4135. Then go west towards Dursley, turning second right after the Hunters' Hall pub in Kingscote down to village of Uley on B4066.

- Security deposit: This is paid on arrival and will be refunded in full after departure subject to damage inspection.
- Linen & towels: All linen and bath towels are included in the rental price.
- Energy costs: Included in the rental price.
- End of stay cleaning: Included. Please leave the property in the state that you found it.
- Arrival time: 4pm onwards.
- Departure time: 10am.
- Pets: Please enquire.
- Smoking: No smoking in the property.
- It is recommended that all guests take out insurance to cover against potential cancellation and any accidental damage caused during your stay at the property.