Birds & Bees

Birds & Bees: Oxfordshire

Situated on a working farm, this home is the perfect getaway for those wanting to kick back and relax in the fresh air. Inside, the design is teeming with character – picture exposed stone walls, flagstone flooring, wooden beams and a wood-burning stove that's just the ticket on chilly evenings. The roomy kitchen lends itself to family dinners and entertaining – why not open the bi-fold doors and let the sunshine in? Meanwhile, warm weather calls for long days in the garden with a glass of wine in hand, ending with a soak in the bubbling wood-fired hot tub under the night sky.

And there's plenty to keep you busy on the grounds. Little ones (and the young at heart) can play a game of five-a-side on the shared football pitch, bounce on the trampoline or get competitive with a game of table football and table tennis on the communal facilities. For a slower pace, don your wellies and spend your days wandering the farm, where the River Thames trickles through the rolling fields. Continue along the Thames path towards the riverfront pub – about a twenty-three-minute walk away – or for a change of scenery, hop in the car and explore the chocolate-box villages in the Cotswolds, many of which are a half-hour drive away.

Home truths:
*A maximum of six adult guests and three infants can stay here
*A cot and high chair are available on request – please bring your own cot linen
*Bedroom two can be arranged with single beds on request
*There's a ground floor bedroom and bathroom for those with limited mobility
*This home is on a farm and there are several cottages close by – some amenities are shared with other guests
*You'll need a car here – there's parking for three cars in the driveway
*The smoke and CO detectors operate on a sound-only basis
*The garden isn't properly enclosed, so pets will need to be watched
*Logs for the stove are only supplied between 1st October and 30th April
*Barbecue charcoal is only supplied between 1st April and 30th September