Blake Cottage

Blake Cottage is one of twelve luxury holiday cottages set within the peaceful grounds of an historic country estate near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds. Built in the 19th century from traditional honey-coloured Cotswold stone, it formed part of the original manor house estate at the site. Set in its own apple orchard garden, Blake Cottage is an excellent choice for a family of six and dogs are welcome too. You’ll also have access to shared facilities including stunning estate gardens, an indoor swimming pool, gym and spa, as well as a host of children’s play areas. You’ll be made to feel like you are staying in a 5-star country house hotel, whilst reaping the benefits of independence and space like you would at home.

Open up the front door and step inside the drawing room which is a large space decorated in English country style, combining pretty soft furnishings and antique pieces. Relax on the Chesterfield or one of the smaller chairs in front of the welcoming open fire. Watch TV – there’s Sky, plus access to Netflix (own account details are required) to keep you entertained, or grab a jigsaw or card game to play. There’s also a desk where you can catch up on some work if you need to.

In the open-plan kitchen/dining room, there’s a cheery farmhouse style featuring a circular dining table to fit the whole family, while there’s also an antique pine dresser and corner cabinet filled with china and porcelain.

The kitchen area is well equipped with quartz worktops and a butcher’s block for prepping, along with an American-style fridge/freezer, a hob and oven, a microwave and a dishwasher. Off the kitchen, there’s a separate utility room with a washing machine and tumble dryer to help you keep on top of any dirty washing, while a useful cupboard offers space to store coats and boots. There’s also a WC.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms. The master bedroom is decorated with pretty fabrics that adorn the king-size, four-poster bed, the ottoman and the wardrobe, while the en-suite bathroom features a marble washstand, a WC and a bath with a shower over. The two twin bedrooms each have two single beds and feature bright, fresh decor. They share a bathroom that has decorative Delft tiles and a cast iron bath with a handheld shower.

Outside, there is a large, secluded garden that can be accessed via double French doors from the kitchen/dining room. Here, you can relax on the terrace beneath the pergola or cook up lunch on the barbecue to enjoy all together around the dining table. There is also a lawned area that is ideal for playing games like croquet and apple trees that are great for rigging up a hammock.

The garden is enclosed by yew hedges making it great for kids and dogs alike to run around in. There’s also a children’s play corner (shared with one other cottage) where little ones can burn off some more energy on the swings and see-saw.
You’ll also have access to the estate’s stunning gardens which feature a mix of formal and informal elements, the perfect place for a quiet stroll. There’s also access to shared facilities including an indoor swimming pool, spa and gym, as well as several children’s play areas and a games room that’s ideal for teens.

You will have access to a host of on-site leisure facilities that are shared by guests of all cottages:

Glorious gardens

Visit England has awarded the estate gardens top marks and it’s not hard to see why. A real labour of love, with a mix of formal and informal elements, highlights of the gardens include topiary, box hedges, lawns, an old walled garden, gazebos, orchards, statues, a wisteria tunnel, vast borders, an arched column of yews and a stream… the list goes on. This is English country garden style at its very best.

Swimming pool, spa and gym

The indoor, heated swimming pool is great for a refreshing dip and is edged with poolside loungers so you can relax afterwards. Doors open onto an Italian-style garden and a sun terrace with more loungers, which is a blissful spot to enjoy a drink or lunch on a summer’s day. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult, while floats and swim nappies are available for little ones. Why not make it a full day of indulgence and book a facial or a massage with an expert therapist? The spa treatment rooms here are calming spaces filled with soothing scents and relaxing music.

However, if you’re keen to keep up with your fitness routine, head to the gym which is equipped with a running machine, power plate, exercise balls, rowing machine, cross trainer, free weights and an exercise bike.

Children’s facilities

Children will love it here. There are three playgrounds, a two-storey Wendy house, bikes and a play cabin with dressing up clothes, art materials, toys and even child-sized croquet sets. Meanwhile, teenagers will like the games room which features a pool table, table tennis and table football, as well as a 75-inch TV with a PS4 and an Xbox 360. It’s the perfect place for a friendly competition with siblings, parents or new friends.

A member of staff from the cottage estate will greet you on arrival and show you to your cottage. The cottage has its own garden, but the estate grounds and gardens, the swimming pool, spa area, gym and play areas are shared facilities available to guests of all the cottages at the site.

Welcome hampers provided to guests include essentials and treats mostly sourced from neighbouring farms and local suppliers. Meanwhile, the all-natural toiletries supplied for you to use during your stay are from 100 Acres that donates a percentage of its profits to a rewilding Britain scheme. In addition, the estate gardens are a haven for wildlife. Shrubs and flowers have been planted to attract bees and butterflies, while flowers from the cutting garden are used in pretty arrangements in the cottages to welcome guests.
If you'd like to offset the carbon emissions from your trip, get in touch and we can arrange this for a small fee.

Own login details required for Netflix.
A camp bed the size of a 3ft single bed or a cot can be provided free of charge to accommodate an additional guest.

Check-in: from 16:00
Check-out: by 10:00

Deposit: Bookings are subject to a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the booking value plus applicable booking fees with the balance payable 60 days before the date of travel.

Accidental Damage Deposit: To maintain the highest standards in our properties, guests will need to pay a refundable Accidental Damage Deposit of £200 prior to their stay. An advance payment as detailed in the booking summary can be made to waive this requirement.

Book with confidence: If your booking is affected by new Government travel restrictions which were not known at the time of booking, and you're legally unable to travel, we will arrange with the property owner to refund 100% of your holiday cost.

• No smoking
• No parties and events
• Please keep noise to a minimum
• Up to 2 dogs are permitted at an extra £15 per dog per night. Dogs must be kept on a lead within the shared communal gardens