Appletree Cottage

Appletree Cottage is the middle property of three, terraced, 18th Century Cotswold stone cottages, just a minute’s walk from the beautiful and bustling centre of Bourton-on-the-Water. The front entrance of the cottage is on Victoria Street, with the front door and porch framed by a rambling rose and ivy. To the rear, accessed via Bow Lane, is private parking leading to the back garden, patio and an entrance into the cottage through the kitchen.

Perfectly located for easy access to the centre of this popular Cotswold village, yet away from the well-trodden tourist trail, Appletree Cottage is surrounded by some of Bourton-on-the-Water’s most attractive architecture. Guests can set out from the cottage’s door to explore a wonderful circular village walk or head off into the surrounding countryside following the River Windrush and Gloucestershire Ways for four miles to the villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter.

The cottage has been thoughtfully modernised, while preserving its 18th Century features, including an inglenook fireplace, exposed beams and impressively thick walls. It is decorated in a style that perfectly suits its age, with a touch of opulence and Rococo style in its lighting, furniture and finishes.

Ground Floor

Entrance Hall:
Step through the front door into the sumptuously decorated and furnished living room and dining area, with its welcoming off-white walls and accents of blue and warm orange. Thick, full length curtains can be drawn to screen the pretty half-pane front door (Note: the back door into the kitchen is used by most guests as the main entrance).

Living Room-Dining Area:
The original 18th Century stone wall surrounding the inglenook fireplace and exposed beams are the statement features of the living room, which are perfectly complemented by the Rococo-style furnishings, including two large sink-in sofas, an armchair and large square coffee table. Light from the front of the house is reflected into the room by two, sculpted mirrors sitting on ornate tables with decorative lamps. Within the inglenook fireplace is an electric woodburner-effect fireplace, which creates a lovely cosy atmosphere on a winter’s evening. A pretty window seat is the perfect place to sit and read, or while away the time watching the world pass by the front of the cottage though not many of the village’s visitors do explore further than the High Street, yet they really should as this is where the architectural gems of the village can be found.

Georgian features and character meet 21st Century in Appletree Cottage’s living room with a flat screen TV, with Sky and Freeview, a DVD player, Blu-Ray player and Pure Contour i1 Air wireless music speaker. On the bookshelf beside the fireplace is a good choice of novels, DVDs, local guidebooks and leaflets.

Opposite the fireplace is the dining area, tucked under the stairs yet with adequate room for five guests to dine, and conveniently situated next to the kitchen for ease of serving. A handy under-stairs cupboard houses the vacuum cleaner.

Kitchen:
The bright, modern and fully equipped kitchen, with spacious white units and grey-blue tiles, is at the back of the cottage, overlooking the garden. The kitchen has all the appliances you need for a self-catering holiday, including electric hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and fridge-freezer, plus all the crockery, glasses and cutlery for six guests. A pretty, half-paned door opens into the living room, and a second door next to the sink leads directly out to the patio and garden. A blue sideboard serves both as a pretty centrepiece as well as useful place to sit a cook book and store house equipment manuals, lightbulbs and other household items. Just off the kitchen is a large storage cupboard, housing cooking equipment and the washing machine/tumble dryer.

Family Bathroom:
The family bathroom is attractively decorated with white tiling, blue-grey panelling and terracotta floor tiles. It features a full-size bath with over-bath shower, toilet, sink, a heated towel rail and a large ornate mirror. There is plenty of space to place your personal toiletries, and hooks to hang clothing and towels while you bathe. (The corner cupboard houses the cottage’s boiler and main water stopcock).

First Floor

Bedroom One:
The master bedroom features a king-size double bed and ensuite shower room with a large walk-in shower. This sumptuously decorated room overlooks the rear garden and is decorated in an inviting combination of white, greys and hints of purple. It features a tall button-back headboard over a king-size bed with fabulous Egyptian cotton bed linen, a large ornate mirror, bedside tables with large reading lamps and a double built-in wardrobe.

En-suite Shower Room:
Bedroom One’s en-suite shower room features a large walk-in power shower (small step up), toilet, sink with mirror, wood-effect flooring, plenty of space for personal toiletries, a heated towel rail and hooks for towels and clothes.

Bedroom Two:
The second double bedroom overlooks the front garden and is furnished with a king-size bed with soft Egyptian cotton bed linen, a tall button-back headboard, a large ornate mirror and beautiful mirrored bedside tables and reading lamps. The room has a double, built-in wardrobe with plenty of hanging space and a single corner cupboard with shelving. (The travel cot and highchair are stored here).

Bedroom Three:
The third bedroom overlooks the front garden. Though the smallest bedroom, with one single bed, this is an inviting room for children and single guests. From the restful white, taupe and grey colour scheme to the deluxe Egyptian cotton bed linen, button-back headboard, large over-bed mirror, bedside table and lamp, built in wardrobe and storage cupboard, as the double bedrooms, nothing has been forgotten.

Outside

To the front of Appletree Cottage is a small, typically English cottage garden, with a lawn bordered by flowers and a gravel path leading from the garden gate to the front door with its porch and red letterbox. A rose and ivy climb the front of this 18th century property, making this a welcoming view of the front entrance. To the rear, accessed through the kitchen, is a large patio with a table and seating for 6. (A BBQ is not supplied but guests are free to use disposable BBQs which can be purchased at local supermarkets.) Extending from the patio is a stylish, gravel, Mediterranean-style garden. The rear garden is secure for children. A gate opens from the garden to the parking area behind.