Bursting with Bloom

This cute-as-a-button cottage in the beautiful village of Poulton is the ultimate Cotswolds hideaway. Think honey-brown stone walls with an A-frame doorway, and a private garden bursting with bloom fit for the Chelsea Flower Show. Spend sunny days gathered together on the lawn, listening to birds sing and breathing in the fresh and flowery scent of the cottage garden.

Inside, it’s an ode to cottage-core living, with wooden beams running along low ceilings and the old stone bread oven in the living room harking back to the cottage's 400-year history. Plush sofas are made all the more cosy with Angora throws, and there’s a small selection of books at the ready for those quieter moments. In the dine-in kitchen, a wood-burning stove and flagstone floors whisper of a bygone time.

Your hosts take great pride in their home, and it shows, with a high level of attention and care evident down to the last detail. Upstairs you’ll find two tastefully coloured bedrooms alongside a gorgeously bright bathroom with a tadelakt finish. Downstairs to the rear of the cottage, inspiration has been drawn from the Japanese onsens, manifesting in a garden spa bathroom complete with cedar shingles and exposed brick, which opens out onto a private courtyard. Outside, your hosts’ passion shines through even more, with handmade willow fences and sunshade. To the front of the cottage is a herb and flower-filled garden in which you can spend summer days dining alfresco or lazing about on one of two deck chairs.

Set in the centre of the Cotswolds, you are perfectly positioned for exploring the north and south of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at your leisure. The picturesque town of Bibury is just a ten-minute drive away, while Roman ruins lie six minutes in the other direction in Cirencester. Closer to home, why not take a stroll to The Gilbertine for a spot of brunch, or try out the Village Inn at Barnsley, or The Crown at Ampney, both just a five-minute drive away.

Home truths:
*This is a characterful historic home, so you may encounter some uneven surfaces
*The cottage can accommodate four adults and up to two children over age six
*There are some low oak beams above doorways (5'5' is the lowest), a steep spiral staircase and sloping ceilings in the bedrooms
*The access path to the cottage is shared with another home but the garden is private
*There is street-parking at the end of the cottage pathway
*There's a security camera on the porch facing the front door – it records image only
*Your host requests that shoes be removed in the hallway upon entry
*The dining table doubles as a laptop-friendly workspace
* Those who prefer larger and firmer beds may want to look elsewhere