Crofter's Barn

Lying just off the main Stow-in-the-Wold to Burford road, Nether Westcote is a peaceful and quiet village lined with pretty stone houses and an excellent pub. A five-bar gate leads to a private gravel driveway and the pale, time-weathered Cotswold stone of Crofter’s Barn.

The barn lies end on to the drive, and two stone steps lead up to a stable-hinged front door. Inside, the open-plan ground floor is spacious and filled with light from the dining room extension, which boasts huge windows on three sides and views of the garden. The cosy living area is warmed by a wood burning stove sitting within a beautiful original fireplace, and polished stone floors reflect the heritage of the building but ensure it also evokes a modern feel. There’s a compact but well-equipped kitchen and a ground floor cloakroom. Upstairs is no less enchanting with a spacious and supremely comfortable bedroom with views over the rear garden, and a generously proportioned shower room.

Crofter’s Barn enjoys the luxury of both space and privacy. To the rear of the barn, accessed from the driveway and the dining area is the garden which is enclosed by stone walls and laurel and conifer hedging. The patio area sits on one side and is surrounded by fragrant lavender bushes. Bordering the lawn is a long, trough-style stone water feature with fountains. Spend warm summer evenings enjoying the fresh air, with the sound of water trickling nearby and the echo of birdsong in the trees.

Ground Floor

Entrance:
From the stable-hinged front door, there are three stone steps which lead down into an open-plan living room and dining area. Stairs to the first floor rise from the right.

Living Room:
This charming living room is both cosy and light and airy. Original timbers and stone walls take centre stage, as does a wood burning stove that sits perfectly within a Cotswold stone fireplace. White shuttered windows grace three walls allowing the room to fill with light. Two comfy two-seater sofas, with cushions and soft throws, face each other in front of the fire, a wooden chest sits between them, ideal for card games, placing a drink or a good book. When it comes to reading there is plenty of choice, with two bookcases filled with a selection of novels. There is also a selection of board games, a TV with an integrated DVD player and Freeview. This is a calming and restful room, a lovely place for relaxing evenings after a day of exploration.

Dining Area:
The open-plan space flows into the dining area, which is a stylish extension of the original barn. With a vaulted ceiling, large windows on all three sides and two sets of double doors to the garden, this is an open and sunny room. The dining table seats four comfortably and there are two rattan occasional chairs where you can sit looking out to the water feature and garden. Underfloor heating keeps the polished stone tiles warm, whatever the weather.

Kitchen:
The compact but well-equipped kitchen has everything you need for a self-catering stay including a gas hob, oven, fridge-freezer, washer-dryer, and a full-size dishwasher. There is plenty of storage within the white, shaker-style cupboards and a variety of equipment for preparing delicious meals.

Cloakroom:
Behind the stairs, there is a ground floor cloakroom with a WC and a storage cupboard that houses the boiler and vacuum cleaner.

First Floor

The stairs are carpeted and lead to a galleried landing.

Bedroom One:
The lovely room is decorated in shades of pale grey, white and duck egg blue and is spacious and well-appointed. The comfy king-size bed stands against an exposed stone wall, which is a striking feature and is made up with soft white linen, soft cushions, and a cosy throw. There is plenty of storage with a wardrobe and a chest of drawers along with two bedside tables with reading lamps. The deep-set window looks out to the rear garden, with glimpses of the countryside beyond.

Bathroom / Shower Room:
A stylish and spacious bathroom features a large step-in shower cubicle, WC, and a vanity unit with storage. The large Velux window lets in plenty of natural light. The light switch is actually a pressure sensor tile in the same spot you would expect the light switch to be, just press the tile and there will be light!

Outside

One of the best aspects of Crofter’s Barn is the amount of privacy with the outside space. To the front of the barn is a spacious gravel drive with plenty of parking, to the rear is a fully private garden, enclosed by high hedging and a stone wall. A patio sits to one side, encircled with lavender and the little bistro table and chairs is a lovely spot for evening drinks. Beyond this, there is a lawned area, bordered by a long, stone water feature.