Westley Farm

With walled gardens, views of the Golden Valley and a backdrop of trees, the cute stone cottages of Westley Farm have a fairytale appeal. But this isn’t Narnia; it’s The Cotswolds, and jolly nice it is too! Halfway between Cirencester and Stroud, Westley Farm is two hours’ drive from central London and less if you come by train. It’s close enough for a weekend away and far enough for a week – which will give you just enough time to get a taste for the good life that’s on offer here. There are cross-country walks to beamed Cotswolds inns, farmer’s markets groaning with seasonal produce, and then there’s life right here on the farm.

Westley Farm is sensitively managed and it shows. It’s part of what makes the place so special. Cows and sheep graze the fields, kestrels hover overhead and rare butterflies occasionally flit by. For your chance to see them, book a stay in one of the three dog-friendly cottages or in the glamping accommodation that’s tucked away in the farm’s ancient woods in the summer – five beautiful yurts and cabins that they offer every year between spring and autumn. Each of the accommodation options here has its own charm but it’s the cottages we’re interested in here. While farm cottages are often clustered together, these ones are flung far and wide.

Jackdaw is the most romantic and secluded of the three with a warm feel from Mexican, Moroccan and Native American arts and crafts, a log burner and the hot tub outside. Meanwhile, Cockshutt has a more typically English country cottage appeal thanks to flagstone floors and an open fire. And then there’s lovely Hornstone, the biggest of the three, with space for six guests. Each cottage has amazing views, but Hornstone perhaps has the best of the lot from the outdoor seating on its deck.

The abundance of great quality local food and drink is likely to be a highlight of your stay and you can book hampers of goodies for your arrival between April and October. Otherwise, stock up at the farm shop down the road or take a trip to the market in Stroud. The 20-minute cross-country walk to The Crown Inn at Frampton Mansell is a must, and, if you want a longer adventure, carry on along the canal to The Daneway pub. Roman Cirencester, its open-air swimming pool and the castles at Berkeley and Sudeley are all worth a visit and none are too far from here. You may not have time to see them all – but don’t fret, if you’re anything like previous guests, you’ll probably be back next year.