Fauna & Sauna

Fauna & Sauna: Gloucestershire

Despite its location on a five-hundred-acre nature reserve on the outskirts of the Cotswolds AONB, this lakeside home is delightfully modern thanks to its boxy shape and heavy use of glass on the exterior.

The interior is equally contemporary in style. Upon entrance, guests will be greeted by an open-concept living space with stark white walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and a Scandi-style log-burner. Just around the corner is a sleek kitchen finished in muted grey that is plenty big enough for preparing family-sized feasts, while the bedrooms and bathrooms also live up to the high expectations set by the communal space.

To top it all off — quite literally — there's a roof terrace complete with seating and an alfresco dining area, which has a lovely view of Swillbrook Lake, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. If you're a fan of heights, there's also a private terrace back down at ground level.

What really sets this home apart, however, is the communal amenities available in the wider estate. There are heated swimming pools both inside and out, as well as a gym, spa facilities and even restaurants. Add in tennis courts and an activity hub that will let you try your hand at watersports, and it becomes a question of how you will possibly fit everything in.

Home truths:
*All-adult groups and day visitors are not permitted
*Two of the bedrooms can be configured as king-size beds or twin singles (with one even able to fit in a third single bed, too) — guests need to inform the hosts beforehand of their preference
*Although there are two storeys, there are bedrooms and bathrooms on the ground floor
*The home has a dedicated parking space for one car, although there are extra spots in the visitor and overflow car parks
*A high chair and cot can be provided if required, although guests will need to bring their own linen
*Guests get free access to the spa facilities and swimming pools