Picture Book

Picture Book: Oxfordshire

With ivy climbing up the honey-brown stone and wisteria arching over the forest green door, this Cotswolds cottage looks like it was taken from the pages of a storybook. The interior is brimming with rustic charm, retaining many of its original features from timber beams to the spiral staircase. We especially love the fireplace in the sitting room hearth, which adds a little warmth to the flagstone floors. The window seat makes for the perfect reading nook, especially with flames crackling in the grate. A skylight floods the kitchen table with morning light, making it a lovely place to start the day with tea and toast. However, if the weather's on your side, why not eat alfresco on the stone patio surrounded by greenery? There are plenty of rural walking routes to embark upon in the nearby Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and you can reward yourselves for going way over your step count with a visit to the village pub five minutes on foot from your front door.

Home truths:
*The cottage is split across three floors with steep staircases, so it might not be suitable for guests with reduced mobility
*The third bedroom contains bunkbeds and is only suitable for children
*Those over six feet beware, as this home has traditional low ceilings
*If you are arriving by car, there is road-side parking at the front of the cottage
*You're welcome to bring up to one dog for an additional fee of £40
*There is a travel cot and highchair available on request, although you will need to bring your own linen
*A starter supply of wood is provided for the fire from October to April only
*Events and same-sex groups are not permitted
*The maximum occupancy of six can be exceeded by two infants