A half-hour drive from the bustling city of Cheltenham, where you can savour champagne brunches or spend a day at the races, this home is deep in the heart of the ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. One of only forty-six regions awarded this title, The Cotswolds offer a very special environment for walking, horseriding, or visiting the quaintest villages in England. But of course, you need a country manor where you can kick off your hiking boots. Built in traditional Cotswold stone, this honey-coloured house exudes rustic warmth even from the outside. In these peaceful surroundings, breathe in the fresh, country air as you admire the exteriors. Mullion windows and a peaked roof add yet more character to the architecture, which continues as soon as you step inside. The dining space is flooded with sunlight from enormous French doors. We love the length and size of these glass partitions, meaning you can see right through to the lush greenery of the landscaped garden. It creates a stronger connection between the indoors and outdoors, bringing the natural world to your wood-panelled lounge. In this perfect mixture of traditional and modern design, light up the log burner and get cosy – a pot of Earl Grey is a lovely way to start your stay. Home truths: *A travel cot, toddler seat, and two high chairs can be provided on request – please bring your own cot linen. *The entrance is private to your home. *At full capacity, two guests will sleep on a double sofa bed in the study (available upon request) *You'll need a car to explore further afield – there's private parking for up to six cars. *Your host provides a starter supply of wood for the log burner from October to April, but you'll need to provide your own barbecue charcoal. *Take care on the stairs – the bottom step of the staircase is shorter than the others. *You won't find a welcome hamper or basic essentials here. For longer stays, you will need to buy additional toilet paper, dishwashing tablets and toiletries.