Dog-Friendly Holidays Cotswolds

A charming, detached cottage set in the gated village of Lower Mill next to the Cotswold Water Park, Gloucestershire. Woodburning stove. On-site facilities. Close to amenities. Cirencester 6.5 miles.

In the secluded valley of Woodbridge Brook, lies The Mill Lodge. This detached cottage is perfect for families, or those looking to enjoy a break away in the South Cotswolds on the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire border. The Mill Lodge is beautifully situated between the picturesque villages of Garsdon and Charlton and a short distance to the charming market town of Malmesbury. This stunning cottage is located off a tree-lined drive on the estate of a former water mill, where the owners reside. Surrounded by stunning views and beautiful countryside, this really is an idyllic base for exploring all that Wiltshire and the Cotswolds has to offer.
The recently renovated (2023) Mill Lodge has been lovingly furnished and equipped to a high standard throughout and includes fantastic indoor and outdoor spaces for relaxing and enjoying the wonderful surroundings. The living room features a Smart TV and comfortable sofas, as well as a wood burner for cosy evenings indoors. On the ground floor, you will also find a bedroom with a kingsize bed and en-suite shower room, whilst upstairs are two lovely bedrooms, with the first featuring 2 x single beds (6’6"long), the second bedroom being a kingsize, alongside a family bathroom.
The property has both front and back gardens with the front mostly laid to lawn. The back garden enjoys a south-facing patio and lawned area overlooking willow trees, parkland and the former Mill, which is ideal for outdoor dining or barbecuing. The detached conservatory offers a further seating/eating space. There is a private tennis court open all year round and bookable for a three-hour slot each day. There is a heated, outdoor swimming pool (open between the beginning of May until mid-October) which is also available for guests’ exclusive use for a bookable two hour slot each day. A footpath/bridleway runs past The Mill Lodge, which you can use to enjoy walks in the countryside and observe the abundant wildlife including numerous deer, pheasant and on most occasions, the owner’s flock of rare-breed Cotswold sheep.
The Mill Lodge is situated three miles from the charming and historic market town of Malmesbury. Here you will find a plethora of independent gift shops, restaurants and a stunning 12th-century abbey, as well as supermarkets and a town hall that shows recent cinema releases. Nearby, there are quintessentially English villages and lively market towns with breath-taking landscapes and scenic trails, gardens and bridleways waiting to be explored. It makes an ideal base for exploring a myriad of fascinating attractions including the elegant city of Bath, the Roman town of Cirencester, Westonbirt Arboretum and the antique shops of Tetbury. For those looking for watersports or lake walks, Cotswold Water Park is within easy reach, whilst Lacock Abbey, Bowood House and Dyrham Park are also well worth a visit. Closer to home, the local villages of Charlton (1 mile) and Lea (1.5 miles) both have fantastic play areas for children and boast country pubs for further dining opportunities. The location, scenery, facilities and luxury extras such as the heated, outdoor swimming pool and tennis court, make the Mill Lodge a truly fantastic holiday retreat.

Cuckoo’s Nest is an impressive four-bedroom terraced property directly on Clearwater Lake, within the award-winning Lower Mill Estate nature reserve in Somerford Keynes, perfect for a luxury holiday with family and friends. This contemporary waterside residence offers stunning lake views and is ideally located within proximity to the amenities of Lower Mill, such as a spa with heated indoor and outdoor pools, sports facilities, and a restaurant.
Cuckoo’s Nest is beautifully appointed throughout and well equipped to accommodate up to eight adults. The property is spread generously over three floors, with a large open plan and glass fronted living space and kitchen, with a balcony on the first floor to take advantage of the waterfront views. Each bedroom suite boasts quality linens and comfy beds for the perfect night’s slumber. The open plan living, kitchen and dining space makes for the ultimate social hub, perfect for wining, dining and gaming, be it board or electronic. With two terraces overlooking the lake, step out onto the ground floor terrace and enjoy the view. The upper terrace provides a great spot for dining alfresco with an aperitif or two. As the evening draws in, there is a feature wood burner for a toasty retreat inside.
Located on a private 450-acre natural reserve, the gated and managed estate comprises of woodland and meadows crossed by three rivers and surrounded by serene lakes. Several lakes can be used for water activities including kayaking and paddle boarding. The Activity Hub, which is located less than 10 minutes from the property, will hire equipment for water sports and bikes.
The ArtSpa is less than a 5 minutes’ walk from the property and offers an indoor and outdoor heated swimming pool, eco-pool, sauna, steam room and gym, as well as shower and changing facilities. Spa treatments are bookable via the spa.

Fabulously appointed over three floors, with a bathroom, 3 double bedrooms on the ground floor. The master bedroom suite has en-suite facilities, great for long soaks in the tub. Two of the bedrooms also have direct access to the lower terrace on the water’s edge, wonderfully relaxing at sunrise with a silky Nespresso. On the first floor you will find the utility room and the open plan social hub of the house. Bright, fresh, and inviting, it features impressive high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows that flood light throughout. The kitchen is well kitted out with everything you need, including an air fryer, for those days when you would rather kick back and relax with friends and family. The kids will love writing up the menu on the two giant chalk boards, and drawing pictures of the wildlife outside! When it’s time to dine, grab a bottle or two from your wine fridge and dine with the backdrop of the lakes. Should you want to make the most of your time with friends and family, why not call in the culinary help of a personal chef (at cost) from the Ballyhoo restaurant, to create a menu and serve you tastylicious plates whilst your pop the bubbles, chink the glasses and get competitive with the board games. Magnificent doors lead onto a raised terrace complete with rattan furniture. Be sure to grab the binoculars for a spot of lakeside wildlife spotting. On the third floor you will find a mezzanine bedroom, which is the ultimate den and sleeping space. All sleeping quarters offer guests fluffy bath towels, quality Egyptian linens and comfy beds.

In addition to the house facilities, guests can experience and enjoy the estate’s ArtSpa. Revive and indulge with indoor and outdoor heated pools, eco-pool, sauna, steam room, gym and treatments by arrangement. On the estate is a tennis court, nature trails, cycle tracks, playground, lake equipment hire and restaurant with farm shop for stocking up yummy produce. On-site are a pub and restaurant, and a shop for essentials (seasonal). A firm favourite with old and young is paddling across the lagoon to spot nocturnal beavers and otters on the Sunset Adventure Safari, rounded off with toasting marshmallows on the fire, total bliss!

Beyond your trendy retreat and within easy reach are many villages and towns such as Cirencester, Bath, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway and Cheltenham. The Cotswold Water Park just along the lane also offers a host of activities including water skiing, cable skiing, archery, shooting, paintballing, golf, aerial adventure, angling, horse riding, sailing, canoeing and rally driving. Cycle tracks, nature trails and fishing are all available locally. However you choose to spend your time at your stylish abode, whether it is kayaking the lake, jumping in and making a splash, relaxing with a good book, or simply spending that all important quality time making memories with friends and family Firecrest will certainly not disappoint.

Occupying a superb position with wonderful rural views, yet within a mile or so of Cheltenham’s elegant town centre, this delightful holiday cottage has been created from a range of 19th-century barns and is attached as part of a larger wing. The cottage is furnished and equipped to a high standard and enjoys a good choice of shared facilities including a covered heated swimming pool (available all year, weather permitting) , an all-weather tennis court and a croquet lawn. The cottage is well equipped, with an automatic washing machine, microwave oven and dishwasher, and has its own sitting-out area with patio and furniture.
All the fascinating corners of the beautiful Regency spa town of Cheltenham are immediately to hand. There is an art gallery, a museum, tempting boutiques, antique shops, plentiful restaurants and inns. Only a short walk away is Cheltenham’s racecourse, famous as the home of National Hunt Racing, which stages the Cheltenham Festival in March, as well as several other top quality race meetings between October and the end of April. The Pittville Pump Room, a magnificent Grade I listed building opened in 1830, has a museum on its top floor. In the ballroom it is possible to taste spa water from the original pump. Historic illustrations, photographs and small displays tell the story of Cheltenham from its beginnings in Anglo-Saxon times. The building is surrounded by attractive parkland with a lake and children’s playground, public tennis courts and golf course. Number 4 Clarence Road, built in 1832 by James Creed, is the house in which Gustav Holst was born on 21 September 1874, and where he spent the first seven years of his childhood. The Holst Birthplace Museum is a memorial to the composer and a rare treat for lovers of music. On the summit of nearby Leckhampton Hill above the Devil’s Chimney, a teetering rock column, is the site of an Iron Age fort and keen walkers can follow the Cotswold Way.
This is a perfect base to explore the beautiful countryside and villages of the Cotswolds as well as the attractions of the Heart of England. The Cotswolds cast their spell on artists, naturalists, walkers and everyone with a love for rural peace and tranquillity. Broadway, the ’Venice’ of the Cotswolds; delightful Chipping Campden; Blockley, described as the most beautiful village in England, and Stow-on-the-Wold boasting England’s oldest pub, are all within half an hour’s drive. The variety of attractions is almost endless. Exploring this region at any time of year is a rewarding experience, each season throwing a different light on the changing scene. Heritage attractions in the area include Sudeley Castle, 7 miles, once home of Catherine Parr, containing Europe’s largest collection of toys, arms and armour. The Forest of Dean is 23 miles away, while Birmingham, Bath, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon are all within one hour by car. Sailing and wind-surfing on 15,000 acres of lakes near the ancient Roman town of Cirencester are available within 30 minutes’ drive. Shop ½ mile, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

The Farmhouse occupies a superb position on the edge of Regency Cheltenham. With views across to the Malvern Hills and the Black Mountains, this 19th-century farmhouse has undergone major refurbishment to offer guests a beautifully appointed, well-equipped home with an extensive lawned garden. With plenty of living space with a large living room with wood burner and large bi-fold doors to spacious terrace with eating area, the rolling lawns, a private hot tub and a covered heated swimming pool (shared) can be pre-booked for private use, the Farmhouse adjoins another property and is an ideal location for a holiday or as a venue to celebrate a special occasion. This is a perfect base from which to explore the countryside and villages of the Cotswolds and the attractions of the Heart of England. Broadway, the ‘Venice’ of the Cotswolds; delightful Chipping Campden; Blockley, cited as the most beautiful village in England, and Stow-on-the-Wold boasting England’s oldest pub, are all within half an hour’s drive. Exploring this region at any time of year is a rewarding experience, each season throwing a different light on the changing scene. Heritage attractions include Sudeley Castle, 7 miles. The Forest of Dean is 23 miles. Bath, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon are all within one hour by car. Sailing and wind-surfing on 15,000 acres of lakes near the Roman town of Cirencester are within 30 minutes’ drive. Shop and pub ½ mile.