Coniston House: The perfect Cotswold cottage base in Stow-on-the-Wold
Hands up who else is excited that we can finally start travelling within the UK again?! I can’t tell you how good it felt to be getting out of Warrington after such a long and miserable winter in lockdown for a break in a gorgeous little Cotswold Cottage in Stow-on-the-Wold.
We were kindly hosted by Cotswold Cottage Gems in Coniston House, one of their fully furnished self catering cottages. Coniston House is ideally located right in the centre of the idyllic little village of Stow-on-the-Wold, just minutes walk from quaint shops, cafes and miles of countryside walks.
In this post I’ll be telling you everything you need to know about Coniston House and what there is to do nearby.
Disclaimer: Although I stayed at the property for a PR trip, all opinions expressed in this blog are 100% my own.
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About Cotswold Cottage Gems
Cotswold Cottage Gems offer unique staycation experiences where guests can make the most of their time together, whether that be with family, friends or even a four legged friend or two. The company owns a hand picked selection of self catering cottages, dotted around some of the most picturesque areas in the Cotswolds AONB.
What I really liked about Cotswolds Cottage Gems was the attention to detail that they had put into showcasing the best things to see, do, eat and buy in the immediate area. I felt as though I was getting personalised recommendations from a local, which really addded to that ‘home away from home’ exprience that staycations are all about!
As well as Coniston House, which is in beautiful Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswold Cottage Gems also have properties in these locations:
Bourton-on-the-Water
Cold Aston
Lechlade-on-Thames
Moreton-in-Marsh
Stow-on-the-Wold
Inside Coniston House: A Cotswolds cottage tour
So, I’m sure you’re all wondering what it’s actually like inside this luxury Cotswold Cottage. Well, I’m happy to take you on a tour and show you around! But first here are a few quick facts about the cottage:
- Up to 6 people can stay here, making it perfect for families and getting together with friends (when restrictions allow it of course!)
- The kitchen comes fully stocked with utensils and everything you need to cook up those home comfort foods whilst on staycation
- The building is over 300 years old and had plenty of rustic features such as exposed brickwork and wooden beams
There is also a video tour of the cottage that you can view on my Instagram highlights here.
The living area
When you enter the cottage, the first room you come into is a cosy living area. The furnishing feels warm and homely and there is plenty of seating for everyone to gather around the TV for a family night in.
The kitchen and dining area
Now this is a real cosy country cottage kitchen! As I mentioned above, the kitchen is stocked with all the crockery, utensils and cookware you could need for whipping up a great family meal.
There’s a nice big oven, microwave, full size fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. Things like dishwasher tablets and laundry detergent were all there in the cupboard ready to use too.
Cotswold Cottage Gems also left a few essentials such as milk, tea and coffee, which was so welcome after a long drive down to the Cotswolds!
The dining area featured more of that cosy exposed brickwork and an additional fireplace. The little seating area by the window is also the perfect place to people watch with a coffee in the morning, as you have a view right into the main street.
The table seats 8 people, so it’s a great place to set up for a board game night!
The outdoor space
Another nice little surprise, that I totally was not expecting, was the huge garden area to the rear of the cottage! This is a great spot to unwind with a glass of wine and enjoy the sound of the birds singing. It’s also ideal if you’ve brought a four legged friend along for the trip.
There’s also a bit of a BBQ patio area which is perfect for enjoying some burgers in the summer months.
The bedrooms
Just like the rest of this cosy Cotswold cottage, the bedrooms feature modern but homely decoration, and offer plenty of space.
Coniston House has four bedrooms in total, two king rooms, one twin room, and a smaller room with a seating area that converts into another double bed.
I also need to mention the bed too, because it was SO comfortable. I almost always have issues getting to sleep in hotels and apartments, but I honestly got a great night’s sleep here.
The bathrooms
Saving the best until last (IMO anyway!) is the gorgeous bathroom in Coniston House. I am a sucker for a relaxing soak in a roll top bath, so you can imagine my excitement upon seeing this fine example!
The main bathroom, which sits on the first floor of the cottage, feels like a truly luxurious space. As well as the roll top bath, there’s a double sink and more gorgeous Cotswold cottage features such as the wooden floor and a window that floods the room with a lovely natural light.
There are also two additional bathrooms, one is an en suite on the top floor with a bath/shower, and the other is a small WC opposite the small room also on the top floor of the cottage. Both are light and airy, and great for avoiding a queue outside the bathroom in the morning!
What facilities can you expect in a Cotswolds Cottage Gems property?
Cotswold Cottage Gems are all about providing great experiences with a local touch for their guests. So as well as a beautifully presented place to stay in the Cotswolds, expect lots of thoughtful little touches too!
Welcome hamper
When we arrived at Coniston House there was a lovely welcome hamper waiting for us. The hamper contained some really well thought out gifts that showcased the local produce of the Cotswolds, with things like Cotswolds Lavender bubble bath and tea towels, a handmade candle (add the roll top bath and you’ve got a perfect night in there already!). There was also some local fudge and a nice bottle of bubbly which we used to toast to the ending of lockdown!
I should also add that the hamper wasn’t there because this was a PR trip either, this is something that Cotswold Cottage Gems do for each and every guest!
Local recommendations
My favourite thing about staying with Cotswold Cottage Gems was the attention to detail that they’d put into their welcome pack. They put together a really useful folder that contained everything from how to work the heating to local walking routes.
The local recommendations for restaurants came in really handy too! It can be difficult to choose a restaurant at the best of times, especially with many restaurants having to remain shut until indoor dining is allowed again, so it was really useful to have a list of places to eat locally that were recommended by a local.
We booked into Daylesford Farm for a meal thanks to the handy guide and we were absolutely blown away by the food and the service there, so that one gets the thumbs up from me too! We also did the recommended walking route around Stow-on-the-Wold and really enjoyed it.
What is there to do near Coniston House?
The short answer to that question is LOADS! You’ll find plenty of activities not only in Stow-on-the-Wold, but also in the surrounding Cotswolds AONB area that can easily fill up a long weekend or even a week or two.
Here are a few highlights that we enjoyed whilst staying in our Cotswold cottage.
Stow-on-the-Wold
Whilst Stow-on-the-Wold may only be a small village, there is plenty to see and do here that can fill up a day without even having to get in a car! Some of our favourite things to do in Stow-on-the-Wold were:
- Exploring the local walking routes – There’s miles of stunning scenery surrounding Stow, head out early to enjoy the footpaths to yourself.
- Afternoon tea – There are a number of tea rooms in Stow-on-the-Wold. Lucy’s Tearoom was all set up with Covid-safe outdoor seating and the scones were divine!
- Local shopping – Step inside the little boutique shops selling locally produced gifts or head to the local butchers for something to cook on that BBQ.
- The fairy door at St Edward’s Church – The photo spot that everyone who visits Stow-on-the-Wold has to visit.
Nearby towns and cities to explore in the Cotswolds
A staycation in the Cotswolds is a great idea because there is simply so much to do in the local area! If you’re thinking of staying in a Cotswolds cottage there will be plenty of delightful towns and villages to explore nearby.
Some places that are a short drive away from Stow-on-the-Wold that I would recommend visiting are:
- Bourton-on-the-Water
- Burford
- Moreton-in-Marsh
- Upper & Lower Slaughter
- Cheltenham
- Cirencester
If you’re looking for day trips to do whilst you are in the Cotswolds check out my blog post for some ideas!
Final thoughts - Would I staycation with Cotswold Cottage Gems again?
It will probably come as no surprise that I would absolutely book a self catering cottage in the Cotswolds through Cotswolds Cottage Gems in the future. The quality of the accommodation and the extra care that went into making our break feel like a home away from home really stood out.
There were a few small things such as the parking situation in Stow (you have to find on the street parking outside the cottage, which can be difficult at certain times of day). overall there really wasn’t anything that I’d change!
For large families or groups especially, I think you would struggle to find a cottage that was this spacious and brilliantly located in the Cotswolds.
How to book your luxury Cotswold Cottage break with Cotswold Cottage Gems
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