Asphodel Cottage, Cirencester

Holiday cottage/Self catering

Dating back to 1624 and immaculately restored this beautiful little one bedroom designer cottage simply oozes character. Perfect for a romantic break or a secluded get-away it is located in an idyllic and peaceful village whilst being close to chic Cirencester and Prince Charles’ Tetbury. It is suitable for one or two adults. No extra beds and no children (except infants in arms - bring your own cot) or pets please.

The owners – an art advisor and writer – have taken great care in creating a unique interior of great style and quality. There are Neff appliances in the hand-made kitchen, fine art hangs on the walls, beautiful oriental carpets sit on the floor, classic books rest on the shelf. Only the best products have been used - the bed for example is by Laura Ashley, paint by Farrow and Ball, bedding from John Lewis. Lighting is discrete and atmospheric.

Your arrival will be easy and trouble-free. The power will be on with heating (if required) already on and the hot water ready for use. The bed will be made up, towels warming (if necessary) and toiletries supplied. A supply of logs plus kindling, matches and fire-lighters will be ready (all year, extra supplies at cost).

The kitchen will for example have items like tea towels, bin bags and dishwasher tablets plus cooking essentials like salt, pepper, oil plus a modest supply of tea bags, sugar and coffee. You will be given an emergency telephone number.

But remember this is not the Holiday Inn. Mind your head on the beams, small door-frames and the low thatch outside whilst treading carefully on the steep, uneven stairs and garden steps. Dust will fall from the lime walls and ceilings and you may be surprised by pheasants and deer in the garden.

Once home to a ‘tall shepherd’ (the beams are relatively high) – all the original features have been retained. There is stone (underfloor heated) and wood flooring, lime walls, fabulous beamed ceilings and an inglenook fireplace with log stove (logs supplied). 

Dine on the farmhouse dining table off vintage, mis-matched, Victorian china using silver-plate, bone-handled cutlery and enjoy champagne from vintage cut crystal glasses. Naturally there is a tea pot with vintage cups and saucers. Everything else is new - the kitchen is very well equipped from Bodum, John Lewis and Ikea and includes a roberts radio and a dish-washer (but please hand-wash the crystal!).

The bathroom features a Venetian mirror, stripped wood floor, deep-pile John Lewis towels and of course a big free-standing claw-foot bath – with country views! Loads of hot water and complimentary Molton Brown toiletries and accessories are supplied.

There is MP3 docking, unlimited free wi-fi is available. Mobile phone reception is good. The very latest in LED televisions, with freeview, is located upstairs in the bedroom (not available downstairs - no space, no aerial) together with a DVD and a supply of about twenty varied DVD’s which will include classics both old and new plus subtitled foreign films and music.

Outside there is off-street parking for two cars and a big garden carefully designed to feature a range of environments:  an area of lawn edged by shrubs gives way to a formal box-lined path with scented plants, there is a walled ‘orchard’ area with cast iron table and chair and where wild flowers are encouraged together with a fabulous sheltered patio with deep designer rattan sofas, parasol and up-lights. All have open country views. Help yourself to apples, pears, walnuts, plums, rocket, parsley, mint, sage, rosemary and thyme.

Kemble station, mailine direct from London, is about 3 miles away and taxis are available if you should not want to drive. Want to fly your chopper in? Cotswold Airport is about 10 minutes drive away.

The cottage is named after a pretty plant of the lily family, long beloved of writers and poets and symbolic for example of longing and desire. Oscar Wilde for example ‘buried his romance in a bed of asphodel’ whilst Virginia Woolf’s tragic Orlando owned a soul struck by ‘a germ bred’ of its pollen.

In this idyllic rural spot Asphodel Cottage is a perfect retreat to get-away from it all. Enjoy the peace and perhaps be inspired to pen a poem of your own?  

BOOKINGS: Any arrival and any departure date, over two days, upon request . Rates from appx £80 per day, more for short durations, at weekends and main holidays. Visit the website for full details and up to date prices and availability.  www.asphodelcottage.com

Check in: 4:00pm
Check out: 11:00am