Mead Cottage

It’s hard to believe that somewhere as peaceful and picture perfect as Castle Combe is little more than an hour away from London. With its historic pubs, tranquil water meadows and charming cottages, this quintessential Cotswolds village is the ideal place for a quiet and intimate weekend away with friends. Oliver Cromwell chose well when he holed up in the Castle Inn during the Civil War. Mead Cottage lies behind an ancient church, within the immaculate grounds of the Manor House Hotel and is the image of an idyllic rural retreat.

Yet step inside and you’ll instantly find that the warm, honey-coloured stonework and ancient timbers have been expertly blended with the chicest of contemporary interiors. The main living and dining area is snug with deep, comfortable sofas and two fireplaces, whilst the clever open-plan design creates a sense of space. Unexpected quirks such as hay bale seats and Aboriginal art (of which the owner is a real aficionado) add flair and character.

The atmospheric dining area is set in a vaulted alcove and is skilfully lit with moody spotlights. Again combining the old with the new, the ancient stone walls complement the customised dining table by Stefan Bench. The cottage also features several works by other leading British designers. On a warm summer’s evening there’s no better place to relax than in the little suntrap garden at the back of the cottage; perfect for a barbecue.

Both double bedrooms are irresistibly cosy; one has an open-plan en suite and the other has a spacious bathroom with freestanding bath. There’s a real old-world charm about the wonky wooden floors and higgledy-piggledy layout. If you fancy a lie-in, Mead Cottage’s proximity to The Manor House Hotel means you can order an indulgent breakfast in bed. In fact, you needn’t use the fully equipped kitchen at all; the hotel caters for everything on request. Mead Cottage’s perfect combination of privacy and the option of first-class service is a real bonus. Guests at the cottage can also use the Manor House Hotel’s excellent golf course, designed by Peter Alliss.

There is a whole range of ways to explore the beautiful Cotswolds scenery, including horse riding, hot-air ballooning and country walks; you certainly won’t run out of peaceful picnic spots, either. The area has excellent transport links which mean that you can easily dip into the delights of Bath, Bristol or Oxford. And if you want to really blow away the cobwebs, you can follow in the tyre tracks of Stirling Moss, and race a Ferrari around Castle Combe’s famous racing circuit.

Reviewed by Jim Whyte