Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds

[SaveScrabulous]

I'm looking at a rental property on the Lower mill Estate in the Cotswolds. Does anyone know the estate? Is it as nice as it looks or all clever marketing!?

The people we would go with like the countryside, jogging trails would be good.

Are there restaurants nearby and is there a babysitting service so we can actually get to them!!?

[WendyWeber]

We're going to one of them in May (although ours is off the main park I think - it's this one)

If you find anything out I'd like to know too

[PrincessPeaHead]

I live nearish there.
I haven't been on the estate but I drive through the cotswolds water park all the time and have seen all the houses go up etc
Can't tell you about jogging trails but I can tell you that any shops restaurants etc would be a good car journey away, there is really nothing around there. Although there is a v nice cafe with cakes and homemade soup etc in the visitors centre of the cotswold water park, but it shuts at 6 or something.

That probably doesn't help at all, sorry!

[WendyWeber]

Oh really, PPH?

May I call (and leave my card on your silver tray?)

The stuff I've seen implies that the "Spa" isn't too far from where we're staying...I think the rest of the facilities prob are miles away though.

We will have a French exchange student with us on our weekend, from SW France, he's going to find it a bit chilly I suspect!

[Furball]

List of local restaurants

[PrincessPeaHead]

the top two are the only one within the park. (coots cafe is the one I was talking about). Cricklade is a good 10 mins drive away. Somerford Keynes probably a 5 min drive

wendy - of course!

[SaveScrabulous]

Have decided against this as we want to be within walking distance of things. The house did look lovely so a shame but it is too out of the way from the 'real Cotswolds'.

[audreyraines]

Hi Rachael, I saw your website a while ago. The place looks very nice. Do you offer any discount for mumsnetters or anything?

[rachaelmd]

we would be happy to offer a small discount for mid-week bookings outside of school holidays - perhaps a chance for a group of mums and little ones to get together and share babysitting while you take relays to the spa for some much needed pampering!

We provide two travel cots (with additional mattresses) and two high chairs free of charge as well as toybox, bath mat, potty, steps, blender, steriliser, bottle warmer, baby and toddler carriers, child table and chairs and children's cutlery and plates all free of charge - as a mum of two myself I know that you don't need to take all that paraphenalia when you go away!!!

[cbeadle]

Hi
I went on holiday to the Lower Mill Estate a year ago and we loved it so much we ended up buying the house we stayed in.

The are is great for children, walking, and just getting out and about. My three year old daughter loves it and we spend hours in the play park, swimming and fishing in the streams.

We actually rent our house and there are baby sitting services out there - all the sitters are checked so we do get to go out in the evening.

Our house is www.cotswoldholidayhomes.com and there is loads of local info so do take a look and if we can help please do let me know.
Caroline

[diaz]

To anyone thinking of staying at the Lower Mill Estate or booking with Luxuryholidays.co.uk, THINK AGAIN!!!
First of all when we booked the house we were told it was £999 for the long weekend, which is a lot of money! I paid the £600 deposit. However, when we received the invoice there was an extra £85 charge for high occupancy for 8 or more people, although we were only 8 people in the house and it was a 4 double bedroom house!!! We also got charged an extra £30 booking fee, which we had also NOT been made aware of when we booked!! So read the small print! The company we booked with were also NON flexible on this when I brought it up!
As for the estate, it is extremely strict with some ridiculous rules! They let you rent a 4 bed house knowing there will be 8 people staying in it and then expect you to make NO noise!
In short, I would NOT recommend the estate or the company we booked with to ANYONE, with or without children!

[thegrammerpolice]

Diaz - did someone complain about noise?
We didn't have any problems whilst there but did find LME Luxury Hols somewhat unprofessionl during the booking process.
Also the shop was a bit rubbish compared to the description.

[jingo]

I am another owner of a house at Lower Mill Estate and just wanted to say that there are noise restrictions in place but these are largely to deter hen and stag parties,and to prevent late night noise from large groups. The Estate rules are designed to keep the place peaceful and family-friendly. I haven't heard of anyone being told to make NO noise at all though... I'd be interested to hear how they expect that to happen!
I can't comment on booking through any agents, but a number of owners rent their houses out privately (including me and the ladies below) and I know we all aim to make it a more 'personal' experience with no hidden extras!

[BubbaAndBump]

I've been to rachaelmd's place at Lower Mill Estate - Goosenest and it was gorgeous! Went with my 2 DDs, and with two girlfriends and their 4 DSs. Lots of room, really well equipped for the wee ones and we mums took it in turns to go to the spa for massages etc while the kids played at the playground. Was lush

[crazybobbie]

Hi people

Just saw this thread and thought I would put my views accross.

I have also booked a Cotswold holiday at the Lower Mill Estate and can't wait to get there.

Who knows I might twist my husbands arm to buy one of the properties as many of you seem to have done!

[HallnotOates]

You all knwo you arent supposed to advertise on mumsnet without paying dont yoU?

[HallnotOates]

you are charging SEVEN HUNDRED POUNDS for two nights?

fucking hell! its not that nice!

[HallnotOates]

ah

a week

ahem.

slinks off

[rachaelmd]

ok, somehow I am failing all mumsnet rules so my posts keep getting deleted even though I wasn't advertising! Still, all I'm saying is that if you are interested in renting property there you can google the usual holiday rental websites as lots of different companies and individuals rent out there and prices and what is offered varies. Not quite sure why saying that gets a message deleted so trying for a third time.

[Rockinghorsekid]

Just returned from a week here and wish I could of found some reviews before I went.

Arrived to discover one parking place allocated for 2 cars and not near property either so disabled parent had to walk to and from car park - second car had to be left in overflow car park miles away and ended up getting its door knocked by careless owner next to it. Space was fine during week but at weekend when full it was impossible to open doors when parked the spaces are so small.

Fridge was iced up and dirty so we had to deal with it as food was warm. Broken dishwasher runner. Dirty oven, pans dishes and cutlery. 2 Dining chairs were unsafe to use. Broken blinds to bathrooms that you could see in at night when the lights were on. Broken lock to bathroom window. Broken Hoover. Dirty outside furniture. Stained carpets. Tired decoration and cracks throughout. Key kept jamming to front door and would of been unable to open if a fire had broken out during night. We waited four days for the handyman to come and look!

Balcony had a table and chairs but was too small to eat outside.

Some residents enjoyed sitting out until well into the early hours of the morning night after night laughing and shouting so we either closed the windows and baked or were kept awake by the noise. Security came and advised us it was against the rules to hang towels on the balcony even though we hadn't though.

Internet appeared to be included when we booked but was actually extra and once paid discovered only one device at a time was allowed to use and kept having to log back in every 10 minutes due to constant loss of connection.

Site roads are very narrow with boulders either side which resulted in chaos unless you could back up - when you couldn't you ended up wedged and risked scratching your car.

The estate shop had a sign advising when open but this was a complete waste of time as it opened when they wanted not when advertised.

The Spa and estate were more like a kids playground than a relaxing retreat - I have 3 (now teens/20's) but they would not have been wandering around on bikes and in the pools unattended when they were as young as the many we saw.

This is described as "NATURAL, RELAXING, LUXURIOUS - THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY ESCAPE" but I found it completely the opposite.

I spoke to one owner who has been there 8 years and she was far from happy with the place now.

Customer service ends the minute you pay the balance I'm afraid. I did not use a credit card due to the surcharge but kicking myself now!

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

You sound quite vile, local resident.

What a nasty thing to say about someone.