Best Company for UK Holiday Home Rentals

Win an unforgettable getaway

 

This message will not appear again for another 24 hours
Cotswolds
Forest Of Dean
Herefordshire
View all
Cotswolds
North Cotswolds
Bourton-on-the-Water
Broadway
Burford
Charlbury
Chipping Campden
Chipping Norton
Nr Oxford
Nr Worcester
Stow-on-the-Wold
Stratford-upon-Avon
Winchcombe
Alcester
Alderton
Aldsworth
Aston Magna
Bidford-on-Avon
Blockley
Bourton-on-the-Hill
Bourton-on-the-Water
Bredons Norton, near Tewkesbury
Bretforton
Broad Campden
Broadway
Broadwell, Stow-on-the-Wold
Burford
Charlbury
Chipping Campden
Claverdon
Cold Aston
Coln St Aldwyns
Crawley
Ebrington
Gotherington
Great Rollright
Great Tew
Great Wolford
Hailes
Kingham
Longborough
Lower Slaughter
Lower Swell, Stow-on-the-Wold
Mickleton
Minster Lovell
Naunton
Near Bampton
Near Bourton-on-the-Water
Near Broadway
Near Charlbury
Near Oxford
Near Shipston-on-Stour
Nether Westcote
Northleach
Ombersley
Paxford
Sandford St Martin
Shipston-on-Stour
Shotteswell
Southam
Stow-on-the-Wold
Stratford-upon-Avon
Temple Guiting
Todenham
Upton Snodsbury
Weston Subedge
Winchcombe
South Cotswolds
Bath
Cheltenham
Cirencester
Cotswold Water Park
Marlborough
Stroud Valleys
Tetbury
Badminton
Batheaston
Cheltenham
Cold Ashton
Cowley
Dyrham
Eastcourt
Euridge
Frampton on Severn
Harescombe
Isis Lake, Cotswold Water Park
Kingscote
Lake Pochard, Cotswold Water Park
Lower Mill Estate, Cotswold Water Park
Malmesbury
Marlborough
Meysey Hampton
Minchinhampton
Nailsworth
Near Andoversford
Near Cheltenham
Near Cowley
Near Painswick
Near Stroud
Painswick
Poulton
Slad
Tarlton
Tetbury
Woodmancote
Wotton-under-Edge
 
View all Cotswolds
Forest Of Dean
Forest of Dean
Chepstow
Longhope, Forest of Dean
Lydney, Forest of Dean
Soudley, Forest of Dean
Staunton, Forest of Dean
Viney Hill, Forest of Dean
 
View all Forest Of Dean
Herefordshire
Hay-On-Wye
Hay-on-Wye
Kentchurch
Kentchurch
Near Kentchurch
Ledbury
Near Ledbury
Symonds Yat
Symonds Yat
 
View all Herefordshire
 
Clear Filters
Clear Filters
 

Filters

 

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

 
 
Clear Filters
Clear Filters
 

Down Farm Manor

Slad

Sleeps 7
Bedrooms
4
Bathrooms
3
Dog Friendly
3
Close
Sitting above the Slad Valley with far-reaching views that will steal your attention, Down Farm Manor is an inspiring place to stay in the heart of Laurie Lee’s ‘Cider with Rosie’ country. Set on a working farm you are surrounded by rural countryside with many picturesque Cotswold towns and villages within easy reach including Stroud and Painswick. As you explore Down Farm Manor you will find spacious rooms with original tiled flooring, comfortable sitting rooms, impressive fireplaces and four charming bedrooms. This is the ideal place to gather family for a special occasion, host feasts in the dining room and enjoy drinks with a backdrop of sweeping valleys.
Full Description
Down Farm Manor is hidden along a winding country lane before suddenly appearing, sitting proudly above the Slad Valley, perfectly positioned to gaze across the picturesque Cotswold countryside which so inspired the author, Laurie Lee. You are immersed in the setting of Cider with Rosie and walks from the door take you out to discover the landscapes described in this famous novel. Holding over 300 years of history, arriving at Down Farm Manor will take your breath away. The house sits on a working farm, but you are secluded in this rural location with only livestock for neighbours.

Inside Down Farm Manor you feel welcomed by the comfortable sitting rooms, one with a wood burning stove and the other with a large open fire. You can choose your favourite spot and relax with a good book or evening drink while taking in the country inspired artwork. The spacious kitchen, equipped with an electric AGA, is made for preparing decadent meals, perhaps even hiring your own private chef, to be enjoyed in the elegant dining room. High ceilings, wooden beams, stone floors and mullioned windows add grandeur to this property letting you feel like the lord or lady of the manor. Upstairs are four comfortable bedrooms sharing three bathrooms. The master suite with a spacious dressing room has fantastic views across the valley to wake up to. Each bedroom has its own character with decorative fireplaces and antique furniture.

On fine days, you will find yourselves spending most of your time outdoors. The covered cider press to the rear provides a charming space to enjoy meals outside in a unique setting. There is a side lawned garden and the front sweeping green is yours to enjoy. Take a book and your morning coffee outside, serve meals here in the evening, or wander the grounds with a glass of champagne in hand, truly relishing this special place that will live long in the memory.

Ground Floor

Kitchen:
This spacious room is a true country kitchen with tiled flooring, wooden beams and an inglenook fireplace which now houses the electric AGA. Alongside the large central island is a dining table, perfect for a quick breakfast. There is a 5-ring gas hob, Nespresso coffee machine, kettle and toaster, microwave, 2 dishwashers, and 2 fridges to ensure you are not missing anything in this well-equipped property.

The freezer can be found in the external cider press opposite the kitchen and the washing machine is the basement which is accessed from the rear patio garden.

Dining Room:
Serving your meals in the dining room adds elegance to your occasion. Set the table, adding the silverware and some fresh flowers before enjoying conversations over home-cooked dishes long into the evening.

Sitting Room:
Gather in front of the large open fire and enjoy its atmospheric crackle from the sink-in sofas. This warm room is incredibly homely and you will feel at ease here. There is a 3-seater sofa, armchairs and additional space for the whole group to gather. You are surrounded by stone flooring and antique wooden furniture with beams above, filling the room with history. Behind a disguised bookshelf is a wine fridge from which you can serve your favourite chilled drinks.

Snug:
Here you can catch up on your favourite shows making use of the Sky Glass TV. A wood burner keeps you warm on cooler evenings and the walls are panelled giving this room the feeling of a gentleman’s country club. There is comfortable seating for six.

Cloakroom:
From the hall off the dining room is a cloakroom with WC and sink.

First Floor

Bedroom One:
This master-suite at the front of the house looks across the spectacular tree-lined valley. There is a super king-size bed, bedside tables, chests of drawers, a sofa and a decorative fireplace. This is a lovely room to wake up in, opening the curtains to the Cotswold countryside beyond.

From this room is a large dressing room, perfect for additional storage and ideal for a travel cot. This is also accessed from the first-floor landing.

Bathroom:
The bathroom acts as an en-suite to the first bedroom and has a large double ended bath, with a handheld shower, WC and sink. This room also has a decorative fireplace adding character to the room.

Bedroom Two:
At the rear of the house along a separate hallway, is a second super king-size double room. Overlooking the farmyard there is a window seat and decorative fireplace and a dressing table for storage.

Bedroom Three:
Next door, this colourful single bedroom would be ideal for a younger member of the family, perhaps with parents sleeping in the double room. There is a chest of drawers and bedside table with lamp.

Bathroom:
The second bathroom is handily positioned for the second and third bedroom to share. It has a bath, WC and sink.

Bedroom Four:
The final bedroom is a spacious twin with two single beds sharing a bedside table. There are two armchairs and a chest of drawers and the window seat enjoys a view of the surrounding hills.

En-Suite:
Through a hidden sliding door, the en-suite shower room has a rainfall shower, twin basins and a WC.

Outside

The outside space around Down Farm Manor makes this a magnificent place to stay. The large sweeping front lawn is perfect for letting the dogs out and there is a separate side garden. Enjoy picnics, garden games and simply sitting in the fresh country air. Behind the house is a covered cider press with space to dine in a unique, rustic setting. There is off-road parking for five cars and many walking routes pass close by.

Full List of Facilities

Indoor

  • Bedroom One - Super king-size
  • Bedroom Two - Super king-size
  • Bedroom Three - Single
  • Bedroom Four - Twin
  • 3 Bathrooms - 2 bathrooms with bath, WC and sink, 1 shower room with shower, twin basins, WC
  • Hairdryer
  • Fire - Open fire and wood burner - logs provided for initial fires 1st October to 31st March
  • AGA - Electric
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Toaster
  • Kettle
  • Fridge - 2
  • Freezer - In the external cider press opposite the kitchen
  • Wine fridge
  • Coffee machine - Nespresso
  • Dishwasher - 2
  • Dining table
  • Washing machine - In basement
  • Iron
  • Drying rack
  • WiFi *Please note that speeds are for guidance only and are not guaranteed - 1-11 Mbps
  • TV - Sky included
  • Travel cot (cot linen not provided) - 1
  • Highchair - 1

Outdoor

  • Dog friendly - 3 well-behaved dogs welcome for an additional fee
  • Garden - Fully enclosed when gates closed
  • Outdoor dining area
  • BBQ - Charcoal
  • Parking - Off-road parking for 5 cars
On your Doorstep
Supermarkets and Shopping:
The closest supermarkets are in Stroud (3 miles) including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and a Waitrose. Most major supermarkets will deliver. There is an award-winning farmers’ market in Stroud every Saturday 9am-2pm. Down Farm Manor is in a beautifully rural location and the picturesque towns and villages nearby offer independent shops and delis. Stroud (3.5 miles) is a cultural hub with many galleries, boutique shops and delis. The village of Painswick (3 miles) is a lovely small village to browse the tea rooms, shops and famous St Mary’s Churchyard.


Eating Out:
  • The Painswick Restaurant, Painswick – decadent meals and afternoon tea (2 miles)
  • The Falcon, Painswick – a seasonal menu served in their charming dining room (3 miles)
  • Woolpack Inn, Slad – atmospheric pub that was Laurie Lee’s favourite haunt (1 mile)
  • Butchers Arms, Sheepscombe – welcoming, traditional village pub with enjoyable pub classics on the menu (4 miles)

Walks:
Walk in the footsteps of Laurie Lee and follow the five-mile circular Laurie Lee Wildlife Way. Covering the Slad Valley it passes through the village and can be joined from Down Farm Manor. The trail takes you to Snows Farm, Swift’s Hill, Laurie Lee Wood and Frith Wood. The whole of the Painswick Valley offers wonderful walking and both the Wysis Way and Cotswold Way are within easy reach. The Painswick Beacon is just a short drive away, where you can join a 2-mile circular walk, which takes in part of the Cotswold Way.


Places to Visit:
  • Painswick and the Rococo Gardens - visit the beautiful village and the only Rococo Gardens in the UK (4 miles)
  • Stroud Farmers Market - award-winning market every Saturday 9am-2pm (3 miles)
  • Miserden Estate and Garden – walled garden overlooking a deer park (5.5 miles)
  • Painswick Golf Club – an 18-hole course high above the Cotswolds atop the Painswick Beacon (4 miles)

Travel:
Train – Stroud railway station (3.5 miles) has a frequent and direct service to London Paddington.
Taxis - A&A Taxis, Wonky's Wheels

There is so much to discover in the Cotswolds, why not have a look at some of our favourite Bolthole Retreats Experiences.
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 16:00 and a check-out time of 10:00.
  •  3 well-behaved dogs are permitted at the cottage for an additional fee.
  •  Please note that additional guests above the maximum capacity are not permitted.
  •  This property has a strictly no-smoking/no-vaping indoors policy. If you do smoke outside, please extinguish properly and respect future guests by removing cigarette litter.
  •  The garden is fully enclosed when all gates are secured. Children and dogs should be supervised as there is livestock in the surrounding fields and areas of the garden are uneven and steep.
  •  Please follow the Countryside Code of Conduct when walking dogs in the surrounding area.
  •  There is stabling and kennels on the farmyard and at certain times of year there may be more activity from farm vehicles and tractors.

Reviews

This was our second family visit and we will return! Amazing house, views and location. Relax and unwind!

|
Denise
| 19/09/2025

I booked Down Farm Manor for a celebration of my husband's birthday with family members. The location is delightful with amazing views and the Manor is comfortable and very well equipped. We loved the elegant, spacious rooms, the large windows, the comfortable beds, the big kitchen warmed by the AGA and the peaceful, tranquil ambience. Plenty of parking space. A special treat was to be able to walk to The Woolpack - the pub in Slad where Laurie Lee (of 'Cider with Rosie' fame) was a regular customer. We loved our stay and were very sorry when it was time to leave.

|
Sandra
| 10/09/2025

So happy with our stay. The house is well equipped and was great for a larger group. The surroundings are beautiful, with sheep grazing and horses everywhere. We enjoyed the local pub and town as well. Hope to be back one day.

|
Irene
| 21/07/2025

Down Farm is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen! The space is full of character and the views from the house are stunning. I would highly recommend this property for anyone looking for an oasis in the Cotswolds.

|
Hannah
| 05/07/2025

The house has everything you need. Plenty of space, but there was only 2 of us plus our 2 labradors staying. Very peaceful, we saw only a few people and lots of horses and red kites. Stunning views. Excellent AGA in the kitchen.

|
Wayne
| 28/06/2025

A wonderful experience all round - thank you. What a view!

|
Amit
| 25/06/2025

We stayed at Down Farm Manor for a family wedding and it was the perfect choice. The setting is magical, with stunning views and a peaceful atmosphere. We held a function on-site (at additional cost), and it made the celebration feel truly special. The grooms party was also able to get ready at the manor, which was a lovely touch. It’s a great property for a large family group, with plenty of space. The tour of the horses was a fantastic extra – a real highlight for everyone!

|
Meredith
| 16/06/2025

Beautiful, picturesque home. Comfortable furnishings. Great place to unwind and enjoy the Cotswolds.

|
Carolyn
| 09/05/2025

Just returned from a long weekend at Down Farm Manor. The location is lovely and house is wonderful - even better than the pictures on the website. We’ll be back.

|
Andrew
| 12/04/2025

Great house. Amazing location with proximity to fabulous walks and a perfect pub! The house was beautifully decorated and fully stocked with all the necessities. We loved it.

|
Jess
| 04/04/2025

Location

The village of Slad holds an important part of Cotswold history. It is here that the author Laurie Lee grew up, went to school, based his novel Cider with Rosie, and ended his days being buried in the local church. The spectacular valley scenery can be explored on foot, or enjoy a drink or meal at The Woolpack where Lee spent many an hour. There are a number of nature reserves to explore here, and circular routes, including the Laurie Lee Wildlife Way, are fantastic ways to immerse yourself in nature. From Slad you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Rural countryside is on your doorstep and you can discover the picturesque towns and villages of Painswick, Stroud and Nailsworth. Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cirencester can all be reached in around 30-minutes and make lovely day trips.
 
 
Your widget will appear here.
Check Availability
Arrival
Available
Departure
Unavailable
Selected
Guests
Max Adults:
7
Max Children:
3
Max Infants:
2
(Under the age of 2 and sleeps in a travel cot)
Note: Sleeps 7 in 4 bedrooms across 2 super king-size, 1 twin and 1 single
Maximum number of adults and children is 7
Previous
Next
Select an arrival day to begin
Please select a departure day.
Select a new arrival day or continue to summary..
Loading Getting availability
 
Summary
Nights
From
To
For
Total Cost (inc booking fee)
Sorry, but your searched dates are not available for this property
This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. We use necessary cookies to make sure that our website works. We’d also like to set analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. By clicking “Allow All”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
These cookies are required for basic functionalities such as accessing secure areas of the website, remembering previous actions and facilitating the proper display of the website. Necessary cookies are often exempt from requiring user consent as they do not collect personal data and are crucial for the website to perform its core functions.
A “preferences” cookie is used to remember user preferences and settings on a website. These cookies enhance the user experience by allowing the website to remember choices such as language preferences, font size, layout customization, and other similar settings. Preference cookies are not strictly necessary for the basic functioning of the website but contribute to a more personalised and convenient browsing experience for users.
A “statistics” cookie typically refers to cookies that are used to collect anonymous data about how visitors interact with a website. These cookies help website owners understand how users navigate their site, which pages are most frequently visited, how long users spend on each page, and similar metrics. The data collected by statistics cookies is aggregated and anonymized, meaning it does not contain personally identifiable information (PII).
Marketing cookies are used to track user behaviour across websites, allowing advertisers to deliver targeted advertisements based on the user’s interests and preferences. These cookies collect data such as browsing history and interactions with ads to create user profiles. While essential for effective online advertising, obtaining user consent is crucial to comply with privacy regulations.