cmcfong

Has anyone visited the guest accomodations at Owlpen manor lately? There are very mixed reviews posted here and on TA. I also checked slowtravel.com and found little info. We are considering the Grist Mill. Thank you.

cmcfong

ttt

hopingtotravel

topping for op
When we drove by it in 1998, I thought it looked so fascinating. So, I'd be curious too if it's getting bad reviews. FWIW, I haven't seen it in any travel magazines lately.

janisj

OK -- 1) W/ all the hundreds of self catreing places in the Cotswolds, why are you choosing Owlpen Manor?

and 2) I assume you noticed the really scathing review on TA was posted in 2006 about a 2003 visit? LOTS can change in 3 years (not saying things HAVE changed - just that that review was pretty stale when it was posted)

Toss out that one and you get 1 bad review, 1 so so, and 2 glowing. Just another reason I don't use TA.

Now - about Owlpen. I have not stayed there but do know the property. I personally wouldn't stay there because the cottages are VERY expensive, and it is quite far west to make a good base for the Cotswolds.

cmcfong

Thank you for your responses.
Janis, we have not settled on any house yet, but one of our party saw the Grist Mill and was enchanted by it. My scan of the TA reviews was enough to give me pause. I did note the dates of visit and post.
We want to visit Bath, Stonehenge, Avebury, Stratford and Oxford on day trips. Evenings we want to be in a relatively safe area within walking distance of pubs and restaurants. Our group is three adult women and two 14 year old girls (one Harry Potter fan and one Stonehenge focused). I had received recommendations for this area and a couple of others. Is there a particular area or cottage you would recommend?
I have ordered catalogues from companies which you have recommended on other posts.
Thank you,Janis and hopingtotravel for taking time to respond to my post.

flanneruk

We don't do unsafe (in the sense of being mugged or pickpocketed) in the Cotswolds. But walking on unlit roads in the dark - or possibly worse, twilght - is unsafe, because drivers often can't see you till it's too late.

Owlpen manor is two-thirds of a mile unlit road walk from Uley, whose range of pubs is underwhelming (though the staff are friendly) and I've not spotted a restaurant there (though my sight might have been defective)

So, whatever the reviews may say, Owlpen Manor seems to fail your criteria.

You need to limit yourself to cottage-like properties within the built-up areas (for safe and short walking) of the more picturesque larger towns (for a choice of eateries). This comes down to (and I've probably forgotten one or two, but other posters will fill the gaps in):

Burford
Northleach
Stow on the Wold
Chipping Campden
Winchcombe
Moreton in Marsh
Tetbury

Try to ensure you've got the full postcode of any property you're considering, enter it into multimap.com, zoom to 1:25000 and you'll see how close it really is to the town centre, where most restaurants and pubs will be.

cmcfong

Thank you, Flanneruk. I appreciate your suggestions.

janisj

I agree w/ most of tyhe villages/towns flanner recommends. Maybe w/ the exception of Tetbury. It is a nice village but just a bit too far SW to make a good central base. But Burford, Stow on teh Wold and the others he mentions would be great.

These 2 sites are really good agencies w/ properties throughought the Cotswolds/Thames Valley and w/ many just as good or better than Owlpen for less $$ (or £&pound

www.cottageinthecountry.co.uk/
www.manorcottages.co.uk/index.html

cmcfong

Thank you, Janis. I will check the sites out.