Aylworth Manor Granary

As you drive down the country lanes towards the tiny hamlet of Aylworth and then turn down the drive to the Manor House, you’ll feel the pressures of everyday life melt away as the beautifully tranquil scene unfolds in front of you. To one side is the Manor House while across the gravel courtyard is The Granary, which if you arrive in late spring or early summer will be covered in the delicate, mauve flowers of a rambling clematis.

Inside this spacious, converted barn are two ground-floor, en-suite bedrooms sitting beside a large open-plan kitchen-dining area and living room, with a hugely impressive, original timber A-frame soaring above. The room is made cosy in the winter with its open fireplace and airy and fresh in the warmer months by throwing open the French doors to the courtyard. A wooden staircase rises beside the kitchen to a mezzanine study.

The Granary is set in the grounds of Aylworth Manor - lovingly restored by the current owners to their breathtakingly beautiful state. Guests have shared use of a BBQ area (with the Manor’s B and B guests), which is situated on a lawn across the courtyard, and is surrounded by borders bursting with lupins, peonies, lavender and many more insect-loving plants with a towering walnut tree to sit under on hot days. In the far corner of the Manor’s garden is an all-weather tennis court available for guests’ use, and perfectly concealed behind a thick screen of climbers.

Ground Floor

Entrance Hall:
Large double doors open into a light and welcoming hallway where there is a large mirror and antique chest of drawers – handy for storing maps, gloves and hats. The barn has beautiful wooden flooring throughout with rugs for extra cosiness and comfort.

Living/Kitchen/Dining Room:
This super-spacious and open-plan room forms the main body of the barn and has a striking, double-height ceiling featuring the original exposed timbers of the barn’s A-frame. At the near end is a well-equipped kitchen, with every appliance needed for a self-catering getaway, and a circular dining table comfortably seating four guests. To one side of the kitchen is a small sofa, providing a lovely spot to sit and chat to the chef of the group while they busy themselves in the kitchen.

At the far end of the room is the living area furnished in a cosy, country house style, with two large sofas, a footstool and a coffee table in front of a large open fireplace. To either side of the chimney breast is a smart TV and a chest of drawers full of games, jigsaw puzzles, books and local information.

Utility Cupboard:
The space below the mezzanine area is home to a handy cupboard housing a washer-dryer, iron and ironing board and coat hooks.

Bedroom One:
This delightful, en-suite double bedroom is furnished with a king-size double bed on a pretty, Victorian-style brass frame, with bedside tables and reading lamps. To one side is a wardrobe with hanging space and shelves and a full-length mirror. The window is framed with flowering climbers and overlooks the courtyard.

En-suite Shower Room:
The shower room includes a step-in cubicle shower, a washbasin, WC and heated towel rail. Guests are provided with a vanity kit, shower cap, and White Company shampoo-conditioner, shower gel and body lotion.

Bedroom Two:
The spacious but cosy en-suite twin room is furnished with two single beds, with bedside tables and reading lamps, a wardrobe and a full-length mirror.

En-suite/Family Bathroom:
Here you’ll find an inviting, extra-deep bath, with central taps and a hand-held shower. Alongside the bath, there is a washbasin, WC and heated towel rail. Guests are provided with a vanity kit, shower cap, and White Company shampoo-conditioner, shower gel and body lotion The bathroom has Jack and Jill doors, making it accessible from Bedroom Two or the back hall.

Mezzanine Floor

Study:
A wooden staircase rises from beside the kitchen to a mezzanine area that looks out over the open plan area below through the fabulous, ancient timbers of the A-frame. The mezzanine is furnished with a large desk, a chair and a small sofa (and has a double power point), making this an ideal workation location.

Outside

The Granary is in the grounds of beautiful Aylworth Manor, which dates back five centuries and is located in a secluded Cotswold valley surrounded by 165 acres of its own farmland. Guests staying at The Granary have shared use (with the Manor’s B&B guests) of the Manor’s enchanting gardens, a BBQ area and an all-weather tennis court, cleverly screened by a rugosa rose hedge and a mix of pretty climbers. In addition, the surrounding farm is home to numerous animals that guests may enjoy, including dogs, ducks, chickens and horses. There is direct access from the grounds to many bridleways and footpaths leading to local villages, the local pub at Naunton and many footpaths, including The Windrush Way.