Sansome House Cottage
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About the home
Sansome House Cottage, in the courtyard of Sansome House, is in a very attractive peaceful setting on the edge of one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds. Converted from 18th Century farm buildings and recently refurbished and modernised, the aim is to offer a home away from home. It is ideal for a romantic break, a family holiday, for keen walkers (fabulous walks!) or just for friends wanting to relax together in comfortable surroundings.
The cottage is centrally heated but also boasts a open log-burning fireplace in the cosy and comfortable sitting room. The large sunny kitchen/dining room is extremely well-equipped and leads to a small private garden.There is both a shower room and bathroom. The main bedroom with dressing room off has a king-sized bed and the twin bedroom has singles. We feel this cottage combines the traditional with modern comforts and it is the sort of place we like to stay in ourselves -ultra clean and well-equipped. As long as I have them in the garden you will find freshly arranged flowers in nearly every room. The cottage is perfect as a base for exploring the wonderful countryside on the doorstep, by car, on foot, or by bike. We look forward to welcoming you and doing everything we can to make your stay a memorable one. Weekend: 2 nights, starting from £300, 3rd is half price. Midweek 3 nights (from £375), 4th half price.
| Size: | Sleeps up to 4, 2 bedrooms |
|---|---|
| Will consider: | Long lets Short breaks |
| Access: | Car advised Nearest amenities: 300m |
| Family friendly? | Suitable for over 5s only Unsuitable for people with restricted mobility |
| Notes: | No pets allowed No smoking at this property Self-catering |
Facilities
| Luxuries: | Log fire, Internet access, DVD player |
|---|---|
| General: | Central heating, TV, Video player, CD player, Table tennis, Wi-fi available |
| Standard: | Kettle, Toaster, Iron, Hair dryer |
| Utilities: | Clothes dryer, Dishwasher, Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer, Washing machine |
| Rooms: | 2 Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms of which 1 family bathroom and 1 shower room |
| Furniture: | Single beds (2), Double beds (1), Dining seating for 6, Lounge seating for 5 |
| Other: | Linen and towels provided |
| Outdoors: | Private garden, BBQ |
| Access: | Secure parking |
Further details indoors:
The centrally heated cottage is furnished in small country house style with a mix of contemporary and antique furniture and pictures. Persian rugs lie on wooden floors downstairs and it is carpeted upstairs. The owners (us) manage all bookings, cleaning and preparation of the cottage themselves so if something is not up to scratch we are here to make it right. We want you to have a holiday to remember but not to feel that you are in a typical 'holiday cottage' - more like an extension of your own home.
The kitchen is big and very attractive with an old pine country table and pretty painted dresser and is equipped as a home from home. It also has a small TV and video player and an ipod dock/iphone charger.
The sitting room, with open log fire, has two large sofas and a widescreen TV with the extra digital channels (but not Sky!). If you want to curl up with a good book in front of the fire, extra logs are available from the village shop. You can order from Tesco, M&S or Ocado (Waitrose) and get groceries delivered to your door ready for your arrival (I will put them in the fridge or freezer for you), or wander around to the excellent village shop which is well stocked with most of the things you might need. In the summer you can relax in the small cottage garden and cook your meals on the barbecue. There is a wide selection of books on the bookshelves as well as some DVDs, (hire shop is in Stratford for more) CDs, games and puzzles for rainy days . There is also a table tennis table in the adjacent garage with bats and balls provided.
The principal bedroom has a TV and small en suite dressing room with basin. The bathroom upstairs is not en suite but lies between the two bedrooms. It does not have a shower. The shower room is downstairs, off the hall. The bed is king-sized (American Queen). All beds have electric under blankets for the winter months.
We have equipped this cottage so it is like being a house guest where the owners have gone away and left everything ready for you. Although of course a self-catering cottage means you provide your own food and toiletries you will find small amounts of store cupboard basics( salt sugar, tea etc), shower gel in the shower etc. so you don't have to remember to pack initial supplies of things like loo paper and dishwasher powder - you will find 'starter' supplies already here to save you dashing out the moment you arrive but we just ask you to replace anything that you happen to finish. Every effort has been made to make it a really cosy comfortable and relaxing experience. When you arrive you will be greeted by us, the owners and will find a tea tray laid ready with home made biscuits. There is home made bread and jam also. If you are travelling from afar I can do a small amount of fresh food shopping for you with advance notice. A bottle of wine is left for your dinner and a small box of logs for your first fire - further logs may be purchased locally. The owners are available with help and advice, should you need it, during your stay.
The internet access is wi-fi Broadband so you need a wireless card in your computer to use this. There is no landline telephone in the cottage but I have a mobile phone which I can lend you for emergencies.
Further details outdoors:
This traditional stone-built cottage, converted from 250 year old farm buildings, is hidden away in the courtyard of Sansome House with its own small secluded garden and the situation is very quiet and peaceful although the bird song can be deafening in the spring! The cottage is completely separate but shares the courtyard with the owner's house with a lawn and tree in between the two and plenty of room for parking. The garden of Sansome House has wild residents who come and go on a regular basis - a pheasant sheltering from the local shoots who is tame enough to feed and sometimes visits the cottage garden, a pair of deer who raid the house vegetable garden in summer and a large variety of small birds including a green woodpecker and some goldfinches; also several grey squirrels (if it is not hibernation season) and a badger family who frequent us at dead of night to dig up our lawn for earthworms.
The hill above the village is the highest point in Warwickshire and there is wonderful walking country all around, the whole area being criss crossed with walking and bridle paths; you can wander through open fields, along escarpments and through wooded areas. You can start your walking right across the road from the cottage in our fields. Two notable trails are nearby: The Centenary Way which connects with the Heart of England way at both ends, starts a few miles away at Upper Quinton and runs through Ilmington (Kingsbury Water Park to Upper Quinton - 98 miles if you feel like a long walk!) and The Cotswold Way starts at Chipping Campden 4 miles from Ilmington and runs to Bath. By prior arrangement, I may be able to help you out by ordering a local taxi service to get you back home (I cannot give lifts as I am not licensed to do so, unfortunately, even if unpaid, unless it is an emergency). The cottage gets a mention in the the March 2012 issue of 'The Great Outdoors' (just out in the shops) as a base for doing an 8 hour circular walk if you fancy a full day out (this particular walker did it in November so returned after darkness fell!).
You are about 4 minutes walk from a well stocked village shop , a beautiful church and two good dining pubs, both with gardens - The Red Lion and The Howard Arms. There are other good pubs in the villages around. There is a Sports Club which has tennis courts (all weather surface) on which visitors can play, an artificial wicket and a skate board ramp. All of this within 3-4 mins walk of the cottage. Just 3 miles away, you can swim and work out at an excellent leisure centre. It is also wonderful cycling country with many marked routes and you can avoid hill riding if you want a flat route. Maps and route plans for both cycling and walking are available for borrowing.
Further details
Our terms and conditions (the Agreement) will be emailed to you for signature when you confirm the booking. For this, please supply your full name and address and a landline number please. A deposit is payable on booking, (£100 for a booking of a week or less) with the balance 8 weeks in advance of arrival. I can accept credit/debit cards through PayPal for payments from abroad although there is a surcharge (imposed by PayPal on us) for this. Xoom is a low cost way to do bank to bank transfer from North America and generally less expensive than PP if you want to pay by credit card.
THIS IS A NON-SMOKING COTTAGE. That means no SMOKERS AT ALL!! Unfortunately, although we are animal lovers, we have found that the vast majority of visitors prefer to stay in a pet free cottage so we do not have any pet visitors at all.
AND.... I have a second home, a large one-bedroom apartment in Dublin that I am now making available for occasional holiday lets. It is in Ailesbury Road Donnybrook. Please contact me for further details. Please remember that if you email through this site that you will get an email back from a new address - me! Therefore please check your spam/junk filter as I sometimes get caught up in there.
Conditions
Regrettably, I do not allow indoor animals in the cottage because of the allergy problems of many of our guests and the general preference to be in a pet-free zone. However, you are welcome to bring outdoor pets, such as rabbits, as we have ample room in our garden for hutches or runs. Please enquire if you would like to do this.
This is a non-smoking cottage for the comfort of all our future guests. I am afraid this even excludes smokers who smoke only outside as the smell on their clothes lingers and I sometimes don't have time (it can take several days of open windows and washing of cushions and covers) between lets to completely get rid of smells in wardrobes etc. Reluctantly, I must now say, if there is a smoker in your party, this is not the place for you.
There is quite a steep staircase, which we feel is unsuitable for the infirm. Because of this, and other safety concerns we no longer take bookings for the under-fives. However, all well behaved children over five are welcome.
Photos
The Central England / Cotswolds / Cheltenham / Gloucester region
The Cotswolds are a 50 mile long limestone escarpment, tilted up at its western edge and rolling into the green and wooded hills in the east. Shakespeare described it as a tract of "high wide hills and rough uneven ways". It extends from the area near Bristol and Bath in the south nearly to Stratford upon Avon in the north.
Here are just a few of the events within an hour's drive of the cottage in 2012
Exhibitions and events at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham (NEC) all year round. (This is about 40 minutes drive). Trains run from Stratford upon Avon to Birmingham Moor Street making events such as medical conferences at the ICC easily accessible from the cottage whilst staying out of the hustle and bustle of Birmingham.
Shakespeare plays are performed by the RSC at Stratford throughout the year.
There are Farmer's markets and Antique markets in the area year round.
2012 Events
FEBRUARY 2012
Blenheim Palace and gardens reopen 11th February ;11th Feb – 9th April John Piper at Blenheim Palace; Valentine's Day Magical Stratford Cruise; Hidcote Garden reopens (Sat and Sun only) 18th February; Half Term events at Ragley Hall, Sulgrave Manor, and at Shakespeare Houses and Nash's House in Stratford. Half term at Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon and at Warwick Castle Events at Stoneleigh, NIA and NEC. Julian Lloyd Webber and Orchestra of the Swan February 21st Civic Hall Stratford. Chipping Campden Country Market weekly on Fridays; Cheltenham Folk Festival 10th-12th Feb; Theatre tours and tower visits at the theatre Stratford continue all year.
MARCH 2012
Dog Show at N.E.C.Birmingham 8th -11th March; Blenheim Palace open for the season; Most National Trust Houses open; RSC plays in Stratford. Hidcote Gardens open for some weekdays as well now (see website for details); Cheltenham, the National Hunt Festival ; 11th March Le Corsaire: Live broadcast at the Picture House, Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow; Mothers Day Avon Cruise Stratford; Races at Stratford Race Course; Countryside Day - jumps at Warwick Racecourse 11th March and Jumps day 21st March; Emma Johnson and Orchestra of the Swan Civic Hall Stratford March 13th; New season's exhibitions at Compton Verney Art Gallery - reopens 31st March with The Image of a King (Van Dyck) until 16 September 2012, Into the light: French and British painting from Impressionism to the early 1920s 31 March-10 June 2012 and Gainsborough’s Landscapes: Themes and Variations 31 March-10 June; Blenheim Palace exhibitions; Swan Theatre Stratford;.Winter Tours and events at Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Garden; Courtyard theatre: Roberto Zucco 27th March -1st April 2012
APRIL 2012
British Open Show Jumping Championships at NEC (dates unknown?); Blenheim Palace events.Exhibitions at Compton Verney Art Gallery as in March above; Courtyard Theatre; Events at Hidcote.(Hidcote garden is 3 miles from the cottage); Farmers' Market Stow on the Wold; Shakespeare birthday celebrations in Stratford; Easter Egg hunts locally; Badminton Horse Trials ; North Cotswold Hunt Point-to-Point on Easter Monday;
Easter Weekend 6th – 7th April The Great Blenheim Palace Easter Egg Challenge; Farmers' Market Stow on the Wold; Stratford Literary Festival Blenheim events. Sunday 29 April The Bright Stream, Bolshoi Ballet, Live broadcast at the Picture House.
MAY 2012
Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2-7 May: Spring Bulbs at Hidcote; Beethoven's Pastoral, Orchestra of the Swan at Civic Hall, Stratford, May 8th; Food Festival, Tewkesbury; Stow on the Wold Horse Fair; May Malvern Spring Gardening Show; Badminton Horse Trials; Campden Literature Festival ;Chipping Campden Music Festival Blenheim Palace Events: Dragon Boat Racing, Stratford.; International Music Festival, Bath 30th May to 10th June; 28th May Cheese Rolling, Coopers Hill; Cotswold Festival of Steam at Toddington; Raymonda Bolshoi Ballet, Live broadcast from the Picture House.
JUNE 2012
Broadway Arts Festival ; Woolsack Races, Tetbury 4th June ; Cotswold Olympick Games, Dovers Hill, Chipping Campden Friday 1st June;The Scuttlebrook Wake Chipping Campden Town Square (floats, maypole dancing and street fair); Shakespeare Plays continue as in May; Food & Drink Festival, Fairford; The Times Cheltenham Science Festival 12-17 June; Bledington Music Festival 12-14th June; Outdoor summer Theatre by The Oxford School of Drama Classic Shakespearean drama set in the glorious surroundings of the Pleasure Gardens at Blenheim Palace13th - 23rd June (excluding 17th June). Longborough Festival Opera; June into July; Food & Drink Festival, Cheltenham; The Shipston Proms- Jazz, blues, folk, rock and classical 15th -30th June ; Steam Train events at Toddington; The Great Tew Estate horse trials ; Open Gardens at Chipping Campden; Wartime in the Vale - Ashdown WW2 Camp, Evesham 23/24 June ; Beaufort Polo Club Country Fair; Three Counties Show, Malvern 15th-17th June; 24th June Raymonda: Live broadcast at the Picture House, Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow
JULY 2012
HSBC Cheltenham Music Festival 4-15 July; Nibley Music Festival; Exhibition of crafts in Chipping Campden Town Hall; Longborough Opera Festival continues; At Sulgrave Manor American Independence Day Celebrations.Diesel Gala at Toddington; The Cotswold Show and Country Fair at Cirencester Park. Arena events, country pursuits, rural crafts, food village, trade stands; July Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, the world's largest military airshow ;Banbury Hobby Horse Festival; Medieval Festival, Tewkesbury;
Cheltenham Music Festival ; Racing, Stratford Racecourse; Events at Blenheim Palace: Battle Proms Evening Picnic Concert, ; July to September Hidcote Maize Maze; the Country Landowners Game Fair; Warwick Folk Festival
AUGUST 2012
The Festival of British Eventing, Gatcombe; Blenheim Palace events all summer -Jousting Tournament featuring "The Knights of Royal England" ; summer concerts at Blenheim Palace, Ragley Hall , Warwick Castle and Sudeley Castle events for children;The Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza at Kemble ; Wyck Rissington Village Summer Fete; Stratford upon Avon Vintage Steam Rally; Mitsubishi Motors Hartpury Horse Trials ; August Three Choirs Festival ; Evesham Vintage Steam Rally; Summer Organ Recital Series at St Mary's Church Warwick; Hartpury Horse Trials; Countryside and Food Fair at Stoneleigh;Special events at Warwick castle all summer ; Kite flying at Charlecote Park Bat walks here also and at Compton Verney. Classic car and Motorcycle Show at Blenheim Palace; Hidcote Maize Maze until September. Shakespeare plays continue; Ilmington Village Fete and Flower Show Bank Holiday Monday; Stoneleigh Park Country Festival; Festival of the Tree, Westonbirt; Upton Festival;Kemble Air Day Cotswold Air Show 26/27 August;
SEPTEMBER 2012
Labor Day at Sulgrave Manor. Free entry for US citizens on Holiday Monday ;Shakespeare plays continue in Stratford; ; Major one-day Agricultural & Horse Show Moreton-in-Marsh ; The Blenheim International Horse Trials Blenheim Palace ; Ilmington Music Festival;Discover Creative Campden Chipping Campden . Jane Austen festival Bath ; Hanbury Steam Rally ; Chippy Jazz- annual Jazz event, Chipping Norton,; Events at Toddington steam railway (1950's diesel as well); Races at Stratford and Warwick. Warwick castle events. ; National Dressage at Stoneleigh; Stratford upon Avon Food Festival ; events at Blenheim Palace ; Frampton Country Fair; The Cotswold Festival, Stow on the Wold; Food & Drink Festival, Tetbury; Malvern Autumn Show; Clypping Ceremony, Painswick;
OCTOBER 2012
Diesel Gala at Toddington ; Horse of the Year Show at NEC 3rd - 7th October; Music Festival; Apple & Ale Festival at The Fleece Inn, Bretforton; Bike Blenheim Palace ; Music Festival Stratford upon Avon ;Grand Designs Live at NEC; Horse of the Year Show at the NEC ;The Cheltenham Literature Festival, At Blenheim Palace events; Stratford-upon-Avon Mop Fair Charity Mop Main Mop - Runaway Mop;Cheltenham Literature Festival 5 - 14 October; Autumn Antique Sale Fortnight (Cotswold Antique Dealers Association Autumn Selling Exhibitions) spread across eight Cotswold towns ; Shakespeare plays at Stratford. Stoneleigh Abbey (with Jane Austen tours) open to the public until the middle of the month; All month, Stratford Original Halloween Festival with spooky things to do (www.seekthemagic.org) At Warwick Castle -Special events for Half-term week, also at Hatton Farm Village ; Warwick Racecourse – Race Meeting ; Jaguar International Spares Day at Stoneleigh; NEC The National Wedding Show ; Cheltenham Racecourse – The Showcase Meeting; Halloween events at Blenheim Palace ; Hidcote Manor Garden Autumn events and Sudeley Castle – Stratford upon Avon Racecourse – Race Meeting; NEC – Antiques for everyone ;27th October Ancient Cotswold Gypsy Horse Fair at Stow-on-the-Wold ; Ragley Hall Halloween Half Term Week-events and activities. half-term.Apple Weekend at Snowshill Manor ; half term week Spooky Shakespeare at Anne Hathaway's Cottage;
NOVEMBER
Batsford Arboretum Walk the Batsford ‘Golden Mile’. A trail around the arboretum following the best of the Autumn colour; Bonfire Night at Ragley Hall Park and Gardens Enjoy a bonfire beside the lake and a spectacular fireworks display set to music with refreshment stands and children's entertainment.; .Warwick Racecourse Race Meeting; Cheltenham Racecourse The Open Meeting; Classic Motor Show ;Living crafts for Christmas Fair at Blenheim Palace ; Racing at Stratford; Hidcote Manor Garden Winter events.; BBC Good Food Show at NEC ; Christmas at Blenheim Palace Victorian Christmas Market and Fayre at Ragley Hall. Christmas Market at Sulgrave Manor ;Cheltenham Christmas Market at Cheltenham Promenade - wooden chalets selling a huge range of newly designed wooden chalets selling a wide range of festive crafts and gifts; Oxford Christmas Market, OxfordCastle - German-style market with about 30 stalls selling handmade and fair-trade products, mulled wine, gingerbread and seasonal local food. Choirs and brass bands will perform carols throughout and there will also be a small Victorian carousel. At Stratford upon Avon Christmas Market and Fayre - craft and gift stalls and festive entertainment.
DECEMBER 2012
Christmas Fayre - Worcester December Over 130 stalls fill the atmospheric streets of Worcester's historic heart with the colours, sounds and smells of Christmas; Early December Chipping Campden - spirit of Christmas evening charity evening event December ; Christmas in Broadway late night shopping, stalls, band and seasonal hospitality. Entertainment for all the family. ; Victorian evening at Shipston on Stour; Hidcote Garden, special December events (visit their website for details) ; NEC Clothes Show Live; Broadway arts and Craft Market Handmade gifts and artwork from local designers and craftspeople.; Bourton-on-the-Water Victorian Evening ; Blenheim Palace concerts.
JANUARY 2013
Militaria at Stoneleigh Europe's Premier Militaria Show ; January Amateur Dramatics Pantomime in Chipping Norton. Cheltenham Trials Day end of January
some websites to get you started researching the area:
Chipping Campden
http://www.chippingcampden.co.uk/
Shipston on Stour
http://www.shipstononline.org/
Cotswolds villages http://www.cotswold.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=557&tt=cotswold
Hidcote
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote/
Kiftsgate
http://www.kiftsgate.co.uk/
Whichford
http://www.whichfordpottery.com/
Stratford
http://www.shakespeare-country.co.uk/
Warwick
http://www.rsc.org.uk/home/default.aspx
Royal Leamington Spa
http://www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk/
Cheltenham
http://www.cheltenham.gov.uk/libraries/templates/index.asp
Oxford
http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/
Rail services
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/JourneyPlanner.asp?&T2ID=3153_20065308316
The Chipping Campden / Ilmington area
Ilmington lies beneath Windmill Hill, the last northern bastion of the Cotswolds. It has been designated as an "an area of outstanding natural beauty" (AONB). The village lies in the southernmost tip of Warwickshire, very close to the borders of three other counties - Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire. As it is not on any main roads it is a particularly 'rural' village, off the tourist trail but very near to some wonderful places, not least the gardens at Hidcote, 3 miles away.
Ilmington was originally known as Elmington, it is said because the village was once well planted with elm trees. Unfortunately, since the onset of Dutch Elm Disease in England there are now no English elms left in the village, but that is not to say that the village is not well endowed with mature and beautiful trees, particularly on the Lower and Upper Green.There are many footpaths throughout the village, winding between the houses and gardens and some of the honey-coloured stone houses and cottages can only be reached on foot. I have compiled a slide show from photographs I took on a walk around the village in May which you can see here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89883730@N00/sets/72157603641017516/show/
There is a fine manor house which opens its gardens to the public several times a year. The parish church of St Mary the Virgin lies at the centre of the village and is reached by footpaths between the houses and cottages. The church has a fine Norman tower and the pews and pulpit were carved by a well-known Yorkshire craftsman, Robert Thompson in the 1930's. He left his signature carved mice on many of the pieces. Many happy hours are spent by visitors trying to find all the mice! The unusual lantern-like structure by the south porch is an early 19th Century monument to members of the Sansom family, late of Sansome House and Farm as it was then.
Apart from Ilmington there are dozens of beautiful villages around; most of the houses and cottages, often centred around a village green or a village pond, are built from locally quarried Cotswold stone which glows golden in the sunshine.
A five minute drive from Ilmington is arguably the most famous garden in England at Hidcote Manor (National Trust) and over the road from it, another lovely garden, the privately owned Kiftsgate. Both are open from Easter to October. You can have afternoon tea at Kiftsgate and at Hidcote there is a National Trust Shop, plant centre and both a restaurant and a cafe.
Ilmington is 4 miles from the old wool market town of Chipping Campden which boasts a wealth of antique shops, ancient buildings, the old market place and is great if you are into cream teas! 4 miles in the other direction is the historic town of Shipston on Stour. This is a good old fashioned town with 'the butcher the baker, the candlestick maker' mix of shops plus a small supermarket and two banks. It also has a fish and chip shop, a teashop, an Indian/Balti restaurant (bring your own alcohol!), and several good pubs for dining and drinking as well as a lovely shop where you can buy tasty freshly made meals to pop in the oven. Nearby Moreton in Marsh has a very big street market every Tuesday. There is a variety of eating places here. Stow on the Wold and Broadway are both within a 12 mile radius, Leamington Spa and Warwick, with its famous castle, 14 miles. Other castles to see in the area; Sudeley Castle at Winchcombe, Broughton Castle near Banbury and Kenilworth Castle ruins. National Trust houses abound and Blenheim Palace is under 30 minutes drive away.
This is Shakespeare Country - Charlecote Park, all the houses associated with Shakespeare, and the art gallery at Compton Verney are all within a 10 mile radius. Coughton Court ( a magnificent Tudor house associated with Guy Fawkes) is near Alcester. For all-round entertainment for all ages Stratford on Avon is only 15 minutes away. Stratford upon Avon offers the theatre (recently completely rebuilt) .boating, very good shopping, cinema and restaurants, plus varied attractions like a Butterfly Farm and the racecourse. You can wander through the gardens by the river, watch the boats coming through the locks on the canal, take a carriage ride or open topped bus to tour the town or visit the Leisure centre for its pool and gym. Apart from the theatres you will find street artists performing in the summer.
Exploring further afield
Oxford (33 miles) and Cheltenham are each only approx. 40 minutes by car. The station at Moreton in Marsh, 8 miles south, has frequent direct trains to Worcester (50 mins), Oxford (32 mins) and London Paddington (1 hour 20 mins). I frequently spend the day in London myself although the last train home is quite early (before 10 p.m.) so if you were planning a theatre visit, it would have to be a matinee. However you can take a coach from Oxford from the park and ride and come home whenever you want. Bath and Stonehenge, Salisbury and Marlborough (my favourite Wiltshire market town, with prehistoric Avebury nearby) are all within 2 hours drive so easily doable in a day. I have had a family stay who 'did' all the castles of North Wales in a day although I think that is pushing it and they were home very late (!)- Shrewsbury, or Ross and Wye and mid-Wales are an easier goal.
There is so much to see and do in the area within a short drive, or even walk, that you'll wish you could stay longer. In the cottage you will find plenty of information on attractions in the area from wildlife parks through Roman remains, art galleries, historic houses and gardens to walking tours, cycling routes etc.
Ilmington has its own village tennis club with two all weather courts and visiting players are welcome. They also have an artificial wicket which seems to be very popular with the cricketers and a skateboard ramp in the playground. There is a public swimming pool three miles away. Brailes golf club, 7 miles from Ilmington, welcomes visiting players as do the many clubs in the Stratford area. There are riding stables in the area and cycles can be hired locally and delivered to your door. There are many marked cycling routes (flat as well as uphill) around Ilmington so the cottage can be used as a base for a cycling holiday and we keep cyclists' route maps in the cottage, for your use (as well as driving maps and walking routes). We also provide a cool bag, thermos and picnic rug to take out with you. Further away, Cirencester water park, offering many different water sports, is about 40 minutes drive.
How to get there
Click map icons for more information
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| Nearest Travel Links | |
| Airport: | Birmingham: 43 km |
| Railway: | Moreton in Marsh: 14 km |
| Ferry: | Southhampton: 164 km |
BY AIR
London Heathrow approx 1 hour 30 mins drive to the cottage. If you do not have a car you can take a train or tube to Paddington Station and from there to Moreton in Marsh station which is 8 miles from the cottage. Taxis can be ordered in advance to pick up from the station. There are other airports nearby:
Birmingham Airport 45 minutes
East Midlands airport 1 hour 15 mins.
Bristol Airport 1 hour 30 mins.
BY TRAIN
Moreton in Marsh is 8 miles away. Trains to London take 90 minutes and to Oxford 30 mins. This is preferable to travelling to Stratford upon Avon as the trains from London take much longer.
BY ROAD
From London. Approximately a two hour journey via the M40 and Oxford.
Detailed directions given on booking.
Activities near Chipping Campden
Tennis in town
Horse Riding
Golf within 30 mins drive
Walking holidays
Rural / countryside retreats
Cycling holidays
Reviews
 05 Jan 2012 |
We recently stayed here (four adults) for one week and we were all very much agreed that Sansome Cottage is simply lovely. It was a wrench to leave! So many things made the stay enjoyable -... more |
29 Oct 2011 |
Our third stay at Sansome Cottage, this time lasting 4 weeks! That said, enough I should think. I agree wholeheartenly with earlier reviews.It is all true in my opinion-believe it ! We enjoyed many walks through the countryside( starts across the Lane) or visits to the well known surrounding Cotswold villages and attractions-was it to be just coffee/tea today or a pub lunch /sightseeing ?.Straford upon Avon is also only 10/15 minutes drive away. Alternatively we just relaxed at the Cottage enjoying both the setting and tranquility of it and small private garden . Stu Barlow from Sydney ( a mature bloke- age wise only) |
03 Aug 2011 |
We spent a week at the cottage and couldn't have been happier. From the moment we arrived and sampled the homemade raspberry jam, we knew we'd made the right choice. Our hosts were... more |
Guestbook for Sansome House Cottage
"Wow!!! Sansome Cottage has everything. Great location, fantastic accommodation, lovely host. It is a home from home (well better actually). We too have stayed in many self catering cottages preferring it to hotels. I can honestly say this is the best we have stayed in. Thanks!" G.M.
"Thank you for making this cottage such a wonderful and welcoming place to stay. We have enjoyed being here enormously and have very much appreciated your attention to detail and for making it such an exquisitely lovely place to be. We very much hope to come back again" A.G.
"I can honestly say that this was the best one (cottage) yet. The welcome was warm and friendly. As soon as I unpacked it seemed like home. ..... it was located far enough away from the hustle and bustle to unwind, but all the places of interest only being a short drive out. I have already recommended it to my friends. An all round 10 out of 10". N.P.
" What a lovely cottage. Felt at home within seconds of walking in the door. Lovely thoughtful and kind host who just wanted to please. What a pleasure to spend a few nights and days in this lovely house. Will be back I am sure. " R.B.
"Wonderful weekend. Lovely cottage. Nice and clean. Everything you could possibly need is here. Lovely tranquil surroundings". M.T.
Rental prices
| Rental prices originally quoted in: British £ | Convert to: |
| Prices for group size 4 | ||||||
| Period | From | To | Weekly | Nightly rate | Minimum stay | |
| Weekday | Weekend | |||||
| 3rd night 1/2 price | 9 Feb 12 | 16 Feb 12 | £ 570 | 140 | 150 | 2 Nights |
| 16 Feb 12 | 5 Mar 12 | £ 570 | - | - | 1 Week | |
| Mdwk 4th night half price | 5 Mar 12 | 12 Mar 12 | £ 570 | 125 | 150 | 2 Nights |
| *4day Cheltenham Festival | 12 Mar 12 | 19 Mar 12 | £ 600 | 150 | 150 | 3 Nights |
| 3rd night wkend 1/2 price | 19 Mar 12 | 6 Apr 12 | £ 590 | 135 | 160 | 2 Nights |
| **Easter Wk OR 7-14th | 6 Apr 12 | 14 Apr 12 | £ 640 | - | - | 1 Week |
| I week stays | 14 Apr 12 | 28 Apr 12 | £ 600 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Summer stays are 1 week^ | 28 Apr 12 | 26 May 12 | £ 610 | - | - | 1 Week |
| minimum except for gaps | 26 May 12 | 30 Jun 12 | £ 640 | - | - | 1 Week |
| or last min availability | 30 Jun 12 | 1 Sep 12 | £ 680 | - | - | 1 Week |
| & usually Sat-Sat | 1 Sep 12 | 30 Sep 12 | £ 630 | - | - | 1 Week |
| 4th night midwk 1/2 price | 30 Sep 12 | 3 Nov 12 | £ 600 | 135 | 160 | 2 Nights |
| w'end 3rd night 1/2 price | 3 Nov 12 | 22 Dec 12 | £ 580 | 125 | 150 | 2 Nights |
| Christmas Week | 22 Dec 12 | 29 Dec 12 | £ 875 | - | - | 1 Week |
| New Year See note below | 29 Dec 12 | 5 Jan 13 | £ 875 | - | - | 1 Week |
The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
Please be aware that the price that comes up for a non-normal start date for a break (say a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) in a date search will be most likely incorrect and appear to be more expensive than it is because of the way the system works so please enquire for the real price as one of your nights may be half price.
SHORT BREAKS and MINIMUM STAYS
WEEKEND breaks (in Mid and LOW season only) are Friday to Monday. MINIMUM STAY TWO NIGHTS The rate quoted above is per night for the first two nights at weekends, if you stay a third, for most dates, (not Easter week) it is half price.
Four night MID-WEEK BREAKS Monday to Friday (Mid and Low season only). MINIMUM STAY 3 NIGHTS. The fourth night is half price. These short stays are not usually available in high season periods but if I have gaps very close to the time (about 10 days ahead) then I do consider it so it is worth asking. If a break cuts across the two periods then there is no half price night. I can be more flexible about start days out of season so it is worth asking if you want a non-standard break.
WEEKLY STAYS
**EASTER Week can start on Friday 6th April or Saturday 7th April and is available as a full week only. If your arrival is Friday 6th April you can stay 8 days (leaving Saturday 14th) at a rate of £720 for your stay. See note on Bank Holidays below relating to Easter.
In the period from April to September weekly bookings of SATURDAY TO SATURDAY are the norm but we can sometimes be flexible on this. It is worth asking as I may have a longer 'non-normal' booking to fit around but I generally stick to whole week Sat to Sat stays. Mid and low season weeks generally run from FRIDAY TO FRIDAY or Monday to Monday so I can jigsaw in the short breaks. See note on 5 night stays below!
BANK HOLIDAYS in the summer and at Easter, if available as a short break, are usually based on a four night minimum stay at the price quoted per weekend night x 4. These are usually not bookable until 10 days in advance of a Bank Holiday and the price per night will be displayed then.
Normally, 5 NIGHT STAYS ARE THE SAME PRICE AS A WEEK because this upsets the balance of normal start dates making it less easy to fill odd spaces.
If you are staying over a week then the extra days are pro rata, not the more expensive short stay rates and the departure day does not have to be a set day of the week but the start day is normally Saturday in the summer. Sometimes, because of the way the chart system on Holiday Lettings works, the price for a particular period comes up as being considerably more than the actual price so please do question if something seems wrong.
SPECIAL NOTES ON PARTICULAR TIMES OF THE YEAR:
I do not usually book SHORT stays more than 10 days in advance, from April through the months of May, June, July and August to early September, as weekly stays take priority but if you see an odd gap on my chart that suits, feel free to ask!
Christmas and New Year 2012. Christmas week is only available as a full week, 22nd to 29th December at the 2011 price of £875. New Year week, also £875 for the week, runs from the 29th and may also be taken as a 6 day holiday @ £800.
RATES FOR 2012/2013
If there are no rates advertised yet for dates you require in 2013 then I will be selling advance bookings at the rate for 2012. I do not ask for a deposit more than a year in advance but can 'pencil' you in if you want to book further ahead than that.
PLEASE ENQUIRE ABOUT METHOD OF PAYMENT IF YOU ARE FROM ABROAD (PayPal is one option). FOR THOSE IN GREAT BRITAIN, EITHER CHEQUE OR BANK TO BANK TRANSFER PLEASE.
BOOKING When you indicate that you definitely want to book I will ask you for your address for the letting agreement which I will normally email to you right away. If I don't hear back from you with your address within 48 hours, I will assume that you have changed your mind and leave that period open to another booking. Having heard back from you with return of the signed agreement we then hold a booking provisionally for 7 days to allow time for receipt of bank transfer or cheque for the deposit (or full payment if within 8 weeks of arrival) but we respectfully ask that people communicate what they are doing.
A NOTE ON REVIEWS!!! Reviews have landed recently at Holiday Lettings through Trip Advisor (although I was not advertising on TA then but they have subsequently 'upgraded' me there for a brief period) and so my first ones arrived all at much the same time for stays over the previous year, and with no detail of origin on the HL site. On Trip Advisor the detailed ratings and country of origin are of course visible.
Availability
See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here
| Key: | 11 | 12 | Booked | 11 | 12 | Available | 11 | 12 | Unknown | 11 | 12 | Arrival/Departure dates |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | ||
| Feb 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||||||
| Apr 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||||||
| May 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||||||
| Jun 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||||||
| Jul 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||||||
| Aug 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||||||
| Sep 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||||||
| Oct 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Availability notes:
If you see greyed out areas these may be times when the cottage may be still available but some of these days are not possible changeover days i.e. we would have to discuss arrival days. Or, it may be that I am holding that period for a short time, pending a decision.
Please see under rental rates for details of short breaks and weekly lets.
In 2012, From Easter until the end of September the changeover day is normally a Saturday unless I have a booking for longer than a week in which case it might be free for a start on another day. The minimum booking period in the summer is one week except for last minute availability. Normal 'out of high season' starting days are Fridays or Mondays. Easter week can start on the Friday or Saturday.
Christmas week will start on 21st or 22nd of December this year and New Year week on the 28th or 29th December. Short stays in this holiday period are not available until very near the time if unbooked, although a six day stay is possible @ £800
Contact the owner
* Required fields Please check the following errors: | 5 years listed You are contacting Felicity Ausden
Payment accepted
Languages spoken   The owner is based in the United Kingdom and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2006. This cottage has received 20 reviews from previous guests.  |
Holiday homes in England (11679)
