Staying Put

Staying Put

A change is as good as a rest, they say.  So why not think about a break closer to home, but somewhere that’s completely different from a hotel or B&B?  We’ve found some quirky places all within easy reach throughout the South West.

The Temple At Stancombe

The Temple at Stancombe in the Cotswolds has been voted the most romantic destination in Britain by the Independent Magazine, and with just cause.

Temple ext 2
The Temple

A beautiful neoclassical hideaway in 20 acres of greenery, set by a tranquil lake: inspiration for romantics, poets – and wild swimmers.  The Folly Gardens of Stancombe in Gloucestershire were the creation of Reverend David Purnell-Edwards who was married to a portly lady.

Tempe Budda view copy
The Temple

As legend has it, aided by her large dowry, he embarked on the idea of an idealised walk which would encapsulate all the important civilizations around the two acre lake; including Chinese, Egyptian and Greek architectural styles.

Sta Temple copy
The Temple

He devised a series of tunnels to reach the garden which were too narrow for his broad wife to pass through; she must have been quite a size some of the tunnels are at least three feet wide! With the help of a team of soldiers back from the Napoleonic Wars, the Reverend designed a walk which circled the lake and lead to The Temple and created for his love trysts with a local beautiful gypsy.

Temple interior copy
Interior of The Temple

The Grade I folly was beautifully restored by English Heritage, sleeps 2 and is £300 per night (minimum 2 night stay). Included in the cost is a lavish welcoming pack consisting of a bottle of champagne, fine wines, everything for breakfast, fruit, chocolate and more. WiFi enabled Fast Broadband Internet is installed.  The Temple

The Majestic Bus

_MG_2893
The Majestic Bus
_MG_2954
Interior of The Majestic Bus
_MG_2946
Interior shot of The Majestic Bus
house pictures, tildas birtday july 13 139
Sitting area outside The Majestic Bus
majestic bathroom april 13 002
Bathroom for The Majestic Bus

The bus is a lovingly converted Bedford Panoram and has a beautiful wooden floor, painted pine boarding and a well thought-out dining/kitchen area.There’s a cosy double bed and a wood-burning stove together with an L-shaped sofa seat that folds into a further double bed.  Solar panels on the roof power the lights and a socket to charge phones, laptops etc.Outside there’s a decked area on two levels, a fire-pit for open air cooking and two level platforms to act as tent-pitch areas, accommodating up to a further four guests if needed.  A few metres away lies a purpose built wooden bath house, containing a flushable toilet and a luxurious roll-top bath with shower above.

house pictures, tildas birtday july 13 132
The Majestic Bus
majestic bathroom april 13 008
The Majestic Bus

winter-june 2013 097

A second wood-burner is installed for those chillier nights and the room comes complete with tea-light candles for the ultimate romantic bath experience.The Majestic Bus is located on the edge of the Radnorshire Hills, 5.5 miles away from the famous book town of Hay-on-Wye.  Wild and open hills contrast with wooden valleys and green pastureland.Wildlife is abundant and a myriad of footpaths and quiet country lanes link everything together.  The well-trodden Offas Dyke footpath lies just a few fields away and the sites of ancient encampments dot the surrounding hilltops.

_MG_2802
The Majestic Bus

Prices vary from £90 – £145 per night depending on time of year.  These prices are based on 2 persons sharing, there is a supplement for any extra guests of £5 per night for children and £10 per night for adults.  The Majestic Bus

 

The Orangery At Frampton Court

The exquisite 18th century Orangery sits in the grounds of Frampton Court, not far from Stroud and is the perfect place for discerning holidaymakers seeking elegance within an idyllic setting.

orangery
The Orangery

It sleeps up to eight people and has been described as “the prettiest garden building in all England”.  It sits just off the village green in a secluded corner of the gardens surrounding Frampton Court with views across the park to the lake and woodland beyond.  Converted to provide quirky but cosy self-catering accommodation, the main rooms are octagonal with arched windows.  The stone and tile floors are original and the spiral stone staircase is stunning.

sitting room 1
The Orangery

The kitchen is fully equipped to cater for any occasion and the octagonal dining room with its ornate fireplace and views of the Dutch ornamental canal provides an ideal setting for a special meal or a simple family get together.  The octagonal sitting room is cosily furnished with sofas with an open fire for winter days and chilly evenings.  There is a TV, a DVD player and WiFi.

dining room 2
The Orangery
upstairs double
The Orangery

The two double bedrooms have an ensuite bath or shower whilst the twin rooms have their own basins.  There’s also a large family bathroom with a magnificent double-ended roll-top bath and large shower cubicle is downstairs.

Prices vary throughout the year.  The Orangery

 

The Rocket – Brooks Guesthouse

Brooks Guest House Bristol is a contemporary boutique guesthouse in central Bristol bang in the heart of the old town next to St Nicholas Market.  What makes this place unique are the four Airstream caravans on the roof of the guesthouse, where you can also stay.

roof garden with city centre view
The Rocket

The 20ft Rocket is the largest and has a 5ft double bed at one end and a seating area at the other which can convert to two single beds, ideal for two children up to 12 years old.

roof garden trailer park
The Rocket

They come with all mod cons including flat screen TVs with built in DVD, retro Roberts radio and Designer’s Guild curtains and cushions.  There’s also a hospitality tray with tea and coffee making facilities and biscuits too.  Each one features Eco heating with individual room temperature control and Eco LED and low energy lighting.

rockets with strip lighting
The Rocket
rockets interior shot
The Rocket

The Rockets also have a small bathroom with Hans Grohe Eco showers and fluffy white towels.  The Rockets have beautiful rooftop views of Bristol and each one has Free WiFi.

rockest interior bathroom
The Rocket

Prices range from £99 to £149.  The Rocket

 

BESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswy

BESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswy

 

Our latest articles...

Post Tag: South West

Pot Luck with Herbs
Container gardening provides instant results and is often a lot easier to manage. It’s also a grea [more]
From Bulging Burgers to Boozey Lollies – great BBQ recipes for the great British summer
The UK has just celebrated National BBQ Week, although someone forgot to tell the weather. We have t [more]
Bringing the Indoors Outside
We get so few days of endless blue skies and bright sunshine, that when the good weather does put in [more]
Say Cheese
Something rather odd happens to the good folk of the Cotswolds and its neighbouring counties around [more]
Healthy Herbs
It doesn’t matter if you live in a flat or a house with acres of garden, anyone can grow herbs; fr [more]
Go Wild in The Country
The Cotswolds and its surrounding counties are renowned for being a foodie paradise. Here at Hoot, w [more]

© 2016 Clutton Cox Limited. All rights reserved. Tel: 01454 312125 Fax: 01454 324682 Email: info@cluttoncox.co.uk

Clutton Cox Limited registered in England No 08848760. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA ID: 612324 Registered office: Parliament House, 4 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol, BS37 6AH

Legal Disclaimer | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy