Amber Cottage

The cottage is approached along a winding lane surrounded by woodland, which follows the edge of Crickley Hill. Turn off the lane into a green oasis created at the end of the 19th Century by the then owner Sir William Thistleton-Dyer, who was a director of Kew Gardens. The sloping land to the side of the cottage has been well looked after for well over a hundred years and was planted with many rare and unusual plants, which the current owners of Crickley Court – Jasmine Cottage’s parent location – continue to maintain with great care.

The accommodation is arranged over two floors. The ground floor has a hallway with access to two comfortable and simply decorated bedrooms (one twin and a super-king, the latter can be twin on request), and a bathroom with a separate shower and bath. The contemporary open-plan sitting-dining area and fully equipped modern kitchen is on the first floor, accessed by a wide and open, spiral staircase. The living area has a log burning stove, Smart TV, DVD player and sound system, ideal for cosy winter evenings.

To the rear of the property is a private garden, which is accessed via a gravel courtyard to the side and up four stone steps. Here you’ll find a charming, west-facing lawn, planted borders and mature trees. A paved area, with a round, wooden table, four chairs and a parasol, makes this a lovely spot to catch the afternoon and evening sunshine. There is a separate outdoor swimming pool (open 10am-2pm), children’s play area with swings, a slide and a trampoline, which is shared with guests at neighbouring Jasmine Cottage.

Ground Floor

Entrance Hall:
Step through the double front doors into a spacious hallway, with hooks to hang your jackets and coats and plenty of room to leave boots and shoes. Here you’ll find an open, spiral staircase with wooden treads leading up to the open-plan kitchen and dining-living area.

Bedroom One:
This pretty, dual-aspect bedroom, with its original exposed beams, has a view out over the garden and gravel courtyard. It is furnished with a super-king size double bed (which can be made up as a twin on request), a bedside chest of drawers and reading lamps and a chest of drawers with a mirror over. A large, walk-in wardrobe has a hanging rail for clothes and provides space for a floor fan and vacuum cleaner. A rug is provided over the wood-effect floor to keep toes cosy.

Bedroom Two:
The second bedroom has a lovely view out to the garden and is furnished with two full-size single beds, with a central chest of drawers and a reading lamp. At the foot of the beds is a double wardrobe with sliding glass doors and plenty of hanging space and internal drawers. Exposed timbers provide a reminder of the property’s original 18th-century stable block history. A rug is provided over the wood-effect floor to keep toes cosy.

Family Bathroom / Shower Room:
The bathroom has a full-size bath and a separate shower cubicle, with a detachable showerhead, a WC, a washbasin with a mirror and shaver point, a wall-mounted hairdryer and a heated towel rail.

First Floor

A wide, spiral staircase with wooden treads and a handrail leads up to the first floor.

Open-Plan Living-Dining and Kitchenette Area:
The stairs lead up to a welcoming, dual-aspect room that covers the whole first floor, with light pouring in through three Velux windows. The living area is furnished with a three-seater sofa, an armchair, coffee table and a wood-burning stove, with a log basket and fire tools. For evening and rainy-day relaxation, there is a Smart TV (32”) DVD player, with a wide choice of films, local maps and guidebooks, and a stereo system with a CD player and aux/USB points.


The kitchenette runs most of the length of the first floor and is equipped with a double oven and grill, with an extractor fan above, a dishwasher, washer/dryer and all the crockery and cooking equipment needed for a self-catering stay. At the opposite end of the room to the living area, there’s a wooden dining table and four chairs, plus a fridge, freezer and sideboard with crockery, glassware and a microwave.

Outside

The cottage has a private, west-facing garden to the rear, with a patio area and a table and four chairs, a parasol and a charcoal BBQ. To one side is the owner’s immaculate, raised-bed vegetable garden while to the other side, separated by a high fence, is the garden belonging to adjacent Jasmine Cottage. Guests have use of a shared outdoor swimming pool (open mid May to mid September 10am-2pm - weather dependant), separate children’s play area with swings, slide and an enclosed trampoline, which is shared with the adjoining Jasmine Cottage. There is parking for two cars to the side of the cottage and secure bike storage.