where in the cotswolds?

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we're looking for 4 nights accommodation, self catering would be fine, location very important, we'd like to to be idyllic, good for walking and bike rides as well as visiting nice villages and towns. Any suggestions for specific areas/b&b's? cheers

Painswick would tick all the nice and idyllic boxes. Cotswold way runs through it so good walks. Pretty central so can access north and south Cotswolds as it is a pretty big area.

Painswick is lovely

Minchinhampton, sapperton, chalford. All low tourist very nice Cotswold areas. Some of other Cotswold towns are over rated and you can't move for tourists.

Thank you so much, it's good to have some recommendations when looking for accommodation as reference isn't it? Painswick really does look amazing! I'll look into the other places that have been suggested. Thank you.

Hope you've got plenty of gears on the bikes in Painswick! Nice level cycle path through Stroud by old canal.

Northleach might be worth a look.

Yes great flatish canal cycle path between chalford and Cirencester.

Thank you all
I am still looking. Unfortunately I am really struggling to find decent accommodation for a family of 4. We don't want to stay in a B&B, a nice hotel would be okay but I can't find one that accepts children. Self catering cottage would be okay but I can't find a good looking one .

Would you consider a yurt?

If you've got the money, you can rent a house at the lakes by yoo. It's not cheap (set you back about 2k for a long weekend) and it is right on the very edge of the Cotswolds (near Fairford). But it is what you describe; smart, suitable for children, has bike rides and easy access for going to see different towns etc... It also has the added bonus of lots of celebrities owning homes there. You may even get to bump into someone famous :-)

www.cotswoldluxuryrental.com

You can get cheaper than this if you look around - but this is the general idea.

Hi lechers, yikes, that's way too pricey, I mean, £500 for 4 nights would be okay but any more than that... no, I don't think so...
Barbara we would consider a yurt but there does't seem to be any availability

We stayed in the White Heart in Moreton in Marsh. The rooms are large and they don't mind children. There's an owl sanctuary close by (but it's not a 10 minute walk) and there's a lovely little toy shop. There's a children's play area a minute outside the town.

There are yurts at a place called Wesley Farm just outside Chalford. Close to Minchinhampton, Sapperton, The Daneway and Cirencester.
They come highly recommended by friends.

I recommend the Egypt Mill hotel in Nailsworth. It's a beautiful little town with a long flat cycling path and great walks all over. The Egypt Mill is lovely, child friendly (they have family rooms) and the food there is great!

I've heard about the those yurts pat. Also you can hire a company locally to put up yurts at thistledown campsite which is amazing!

I think Egypt mill is a bit over priced for what it is. Maybe try jigsaw Cotswold holidays. We have used them twice so far

Ps westley farm looks great! And it's in the undiscovered part of the Cotswolds. Really stunning and lots of woodland. Close by you have lavender cafe which has the best cakes. Morton in marsh is v touristy.

Really easy to get onto the cycle track canal path from there

Westley Farm has no availability

Just looked online - on the thistledown website they state that bell tents can be hired in from a recommended rosebay bell tents

Hillcrest cottage near minchinhampton/brimbscome (close to westerly yurt) looks nice and its child friendly.

Oh shame about Westley farm. Good to see Lavendar bake house mentioned though......it is amazing!

I've not stayed at Thistledown but have visited a few times and its a lovely site, very 'back to nature' and you would be close to Nailsworth, Woodchester mansion, Cotswold way, Owlpen Manor, Coaley Peak, Westonbirt Arboretum to name a few things to do!

Hillcrest is not availably but Ambrose is: www.hillcrest-cottage.co.uk/ambrose_cotswold_holiday_cottage.html
What do you all think about the cottage and the area?
You might have just saved us from spending the whole Easter at home (again)

You can come and stay with me

Ambrose is very, very close to us, and a lovely spot. Do check what the parking situation is, and you would probably need to drive out to go to a decent pub.

Otherwise, fab.

Ooh pookamoo then perhaps you could recommend good places to have dinner and where to go so that I can buy vintage nick nacks like lovely teacups and saucers.

Up on the common, the Amberley Inn is really lovely (how old are the DCs? might be better suited to older ones) or the Black Horse at Amberley.

As someone mentioned above, the Lavender Bakehouse has vair nice cakes as well as tasty lunches. Child friendly but right on the main road and very limited parking.

If you're here over the weekend, the Stroud Brewery does pizzas on Friday and Saturday evenings - very relaxed and low key, they start serving at 5pm and you want to order as soon as you arrive. Brilliant for the kids, plenty of toys to play with, even a dressing up box! They do free teas and coffees, hot waterbottles and blankets too for the undercover outdoor seating area!

Also on the weekend, you'll need to see Stroud farmers' market, really lovely.

For your knick-nacks, hop over the valley to Tetbury, for some really brilliant antique/ brickabrack shops, such as "Top Banana". Nailsworth is similar but not quite so many shops there, although they do have the FAB toyshop in the old bank "Enchanted Childhood" and "The Canteen" which is nice for a relaxed lunch. Check out their home made marshmallows on sticks!

Look out for the Winstones Icecream parlour up on the common, a stone's throw from where you'll be staying.

Sorry, I've not provided links, but everything will be on google.

Have a lovely stay and wave as you go past!