Picture of Broad Campden
Caption: Inglenook
Cottage The Cotswolds, Part One
Caption: Four years ago, before Harris came along, we visited the Cotswolds. Richard was studying horticulture at the time so we took the opportunity to visit some fantastic gardens including Hidcote and Rousham. We always said we'd go back, but we'd do a few things differently.
Firstly, we said, we'd choose a village location, as last time we stayed in a rural spot where we had to drive everywhere. The Cotswolds is filled with the most beautiful villages and, given that we live in Edinburgh's city centre, we wanted a taste of village life.
And, thanks to Harris, we wanted a cottage with a garden.
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Caption: I found Inglenook Cottage on Rural Retreats (ruralretreats.co.uk), and it couldn't have been more perfect.
Located in the village of Broad Campden, and within walking distance of Chipping Campden - that is, down a lane, along another lane, up a tiny lane, through someone's garden, past some sheep in a paddock, and then over two fields - this one bedroom cottage is pretty much what I'd have drawn if someone had said: think of your perfect thatched cottage with roof beams and an open fire and leaded glass windows.
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Caption: We got lost on the drive south. Well, not so much lost as we had to leave the motorway because of a diversion, only the route wasn't clear, so then we got lost, spent a few hours getting back on track, and then arrived in Broad Campden late, after eleven.
At which point we looked at each other and realised that neither of us had printed off a map showing the location of the cottage. Not a problem, we thought, as we'll just look up the website, right? Right?
Only there was no reception. "Maybe we just get out the car and try and find the cottage?" Richard suggested. It was dark, because we were in a village lit only by starlight. Romantic, huh? Less so after 11 hours on the road, when you're walking along dark lanes, trying to find the one thatched cottage that looks like it might be yours.
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Caption: Definitely not this one, discovered the next day. What a beauty.
Caption: But we found it, because we found a pub (closed) with a wifi connection (active!) that I could access from the car park.
"There it is!" I said.
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Caption: And so we arrived at Inglenook Cottage, in the pitch dark, and Harris was fascinated by something opposite, over a wall, as we gazed into the enveloping blackness.
We saw what our home for the next week looked like the following morning.
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Caption: I didn't mean to be in this shot.
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Caption: Harris spent the first morning exploring the garden and grouching at the neighbouring dog on the other side of the wall.
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Caption: This 300 year old Grade II listed cottage used to be the village smithy. As soon as we walked in we were struck by the roof beams - sometimes literally! - and the giant inglenook fireplace and ancient wooden floorboards.
With the small windows and low beamed ceiling, this interior offered a fantastically different living experience to the bright top floor flat we're used to. On a hot day, the spaces felt cool behind their thick stone walls, while at night, with the fire lit, it was toasty.
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Caption: Needless to say perhaps, there were no right angles. Anywhere. Walls, windows, doors - the interior was delightfully wonky.
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Caption: Even the bathroom had these leaded windows.
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Caption: Do you find yourself doing things on holiday that you wouldn't do at any other time?
Like when you discover a stack of jigsaws in the upstairs study.
And quickly discover that you're really hopeless at jigsaws!
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Caption: By the end of the week, we all felt at home, including Harris.
In fact, particularly Harris, who loved having a garden.
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Caption: Harris also discovered what was in the field opposite the cottage.
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Caption: And naturally we explored the village. And I took photos of buildings and doors.
Like the Quaker Meeting House...
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Caption: Here's that lovely thatched house again from page 7 - from the other side.
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Caption: Of all the grand houses we saw on our trip, the smaller, simpler buildings always caught my eye. The cottages and sheds. The combinations of stone and timber and slate.
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Caption: Inglenook Cottage, it was a pleasure getting to know you.
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Caption: instagram.com/thecopperline All photos edited on #VSCOcam
Caption: #spaces
#interiors
#seewhatisee
#goexplore
#stelleruk
