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The Hay Loft Eden Retreats

UK England South West England Gloucestershire Stroud

Sleeps 6
Cosy Rural Retreat

Stunning family holiday cottage in a converted Cotswolds hay loft, with sensational views

This is the sort of property of which estate agents say "has to be seen to be believed", an absolutely stunning family-sized holiday cottage fashioned from a slate-roofed farmhouse hay loft. Although the accommodation is all on one level, you have spectacular countryside views below and beyond, with balconies and patio doors opening onto terraces to make the most of the elevated location.

Don't think loft, think lofty – there's plenty of height and space under the steeply pitched roof. Inside, it's one long run, with bedrooms at either end – two with king-sized double beds and two single rooms for the children. The open-plan living space is in the middle, with a fully fitted kitchen, dining and lounge area. The master bedroom has an en-suite that's nice and spacious, and there's a bright, well-appointed family bathroom too. But really, the bare description only scratches at the surface of how special this place is. The interior is a gorgeous, light-filled space that makes full use of the original, exposed oak beams, the gleaming wooden flooring, and bespoke doors and furniture. Offset in whites, browns and creams, with complementary bed linen, curtains and furnishings, it's a really stylish one of a kind – not to mention charming, quirky and unique.

Outside, it's just as attractive. There's a big, sweeping terrace with outdoor dining and not just a barbecue but also a sheltered, outdoor pizza oven. A garden and seventeen acres of land provide plenty of space for kids and their games (there's a tennis net on the lawn too), and there are two good pubs a scenic walk away. A lovely canal towpath runs the five miles to Stroud for shops, cafes and restaurants, and the whole area is a walkers' delight – in one of the nicest parts of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Nailsworth and Tetbury are only a few miles away each, both charming old market towns with more of the delightful buildings and genteel shops and restaurants that you expect in these parts. Don't know the area? Well, just like the Hay Loft, it's beautiful and you have to see it to believe it.