Murray's Cottage
Perched high above the Windrush Valley in the peaceful hamlet of Clapton-on-the-Hill, Murray’s Cottage is a Cotswold dream with panoramic views and timeless charm. Just three miles from Bourton-on-the-Water, this beautifully curated home pairs soft, elegant interiors with characterful touches: exposed beams, a woodburning stove and a sunlit kitchen-diner made for gathering. Three serene bedrooms offer restful retreats, including a master with its own balcony for morning coffee with a view. Outside, a south-facing terrace invites you to linger over long lunches or watch the sunset in perfect peace.
Overview
Perched on the edge of Clapton-on-the-Hill, Murray’s Cottage enjoys one of the most breathtaking outlooks in the Cotswolds. This elevated hamlet, just moments from ever-popular Bourton-on-the-Water, offers sweeping views across the Windrush Valley that are captivating in every season.
Inside, the cottage unfolds with a soft, timeless charm: chalky tones, warm woods, and exposed beams combine with contemporary comforts to create a home that feels both grounded and uplifting. The heart of the home is the elegant kitchen and dining area, where windows frame the views beyond and create a seamless connection to the outdoors. A sitting room with a woodburning stove and window seats offers a warm and inviting space to unwind, while the bedrooms, three in total, are cocooned in calming tones with a mix of vintage accents and fresh linens that echo the natural setting. The master bedroom is a particular delight, with a private balcony where uninterrupted views of rolling green hills stretch as far as the eye can see.
Outside, the terrace garden is nothing short of enchanting. Facing south and bordered by countryside, this spot is ideal for long lunches or a slow morning coffee with only birdsong for company. This is a garden made for golden evenings and starlit suppers. With private parking and scenic footpaths straight from the gate, Murray’s Cottage makes the most of its idyllic location both inside and out.
Ground Floor
Kitchen
The kitchen is warm and welcoming with its country-style cabinetry, wooden worktops, and cheerful tiled splashback. Thoughtfully equipped with everything you need, it’s as practical as it is charming. Open shelving displays colourful crockery and playful touches, while the dining area at the far end is light-filled and sociable, with space for leisurely breakfasts or evening meals with family and friends.
Living room
Soft white tones, gentle lighting and wooden details make this living room irresistibly cosy. Two deep sofas invite you to curl up by the woodburning stove, while the charming window seat is perfect for morning coffee or a quiet read. Thoughtful touches, from sheep-print cushions to the warm glow of the fire, add character without fuss. It’s a space designed for unwinding whether you’re watching a film, playing cards, or simply soaking up the cottage calm.
Shower room
The downstairs shower room includes a WC, basin and shower and is bright and welcoming. It is accessed through the living room.
First Floor
Bedroom One
The master king-size bedroom is fresh and calming, with soft textures and playful pops of colour. French doors open onto a private balcony where the countryside rolls out before you, perfect for peaceful mornings and dreamy stargazing.
Bedroom Two
This room is a cosy twin with sunny yellow cushions and soft white bedding, creating a cheerful and welcoming feel. This a lovely space for both children and adults to unwind.
Bedroom Three
Bedroom three is a light and bright single, simply furnished with soft tones and plenty of natural light. It’s a peaceful, cosy space that feels just right for a quiet night’s rest.
Bathroom
The bathroom is sleek and fresh, with clean white tiles and plenty of natural light. It features a shower over the bath, a modern sink, and a WC: everything you need in a calm, uncluttered space.
Outside
The outside space at Murray’s Cottage is nothing short of magical. A stone terrace opens out to uninterrupted countryside views, with a dining table perfectly positioned for relaxed meals under the open sky. Enclosed by dry-stone walls and surrounded by wild beauty, it’s a peaceful haven where you can sit for hours, soaking in the rolling hills and ever-changing skies.Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - King-size
Bedroom Two - Twin
Bedroom Three - Single
2 Bathrooms - 1 Bathroom With WC, Shower, Bath And Basin, 1 Bathroom With WC And Basin
Hairdryer
Fire - Logs Provided For Initial Fire 01 October To 31 March
Oven
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge
Freezer
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 6
Washing Machine
Tumble Dryer
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed
TV - Smart
Travel Cot (cot Linen Not Provided)
Highchair
Outdoor
Garden
Outdoor Dining Area
No BBQ Available
Parking - Driveway Parking For 1 Car
On your Doorstep
Farm shops, delis, and shopping:
The Sherborne village shop is close by (2.5 miles) to pick up any necessities and Bourton-on-the-Water is a short drive (3 miles) where you can browse the bakeries, coffee shops and small boutiques. Daylesford Organic (10 miles) is a hub of locally grown and sourced ingredients, homewares and gifts. Pick up some delicious ingredients for that evening’s meal or a picnic hamper to take with you on your day out.Cafes, pubs, and restaurants:
- The Lamb Inn, Great Rissington – A homely pub and restaurant serving classic pub grub (2.5 miles)
- The Wheatsheaf, Northleach – 17th century coaching inn serving a seasonal menu (4.5 miles)
- The Fox Inn, Oddington – A beautiful country pub with décor inspired by the area (9 miles)
- The Feathered Nest Inn, Nether Westcote – Offering a tasting menu with a focus on exceptional food (6 miles)
Walks:
Places to visit:
- National Trust Lodge Park and Sherborne Park Estate – tranquil estate with 17th century grandstand (2.5 miles)
- Bourton-on-the-Water – unmissable picturesque Cotswold village (3 miles)
- Stow-on-the-Wold – a beautiful town and a foodie hot spot (6.5 miles)
- Cotswold Farm Park – Adam Henson’s farm park where you can see the live lambing in Spring (7.4 miles)
- Burford – well-known for its popular garden centre and pretty streets (8.5 miles)
- National Trust Chedworth Villa – the remains of a Roman villa with mosaics (9 miles)
Train - Kingham railway station (10 miles) has a frequent and direct service to London Paddington and Oxford.
Taxis - Bourton-on-the-Water, Bobby private Hire, Jays Taxis
There is so much to discover in the Cotswolds, why not have a look at some of our favourite Bolthole Experiences
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 16:00 and a check-out time of 10:00
- Please note that additional guests above the maximum capacity are not permitted.
- Murray's Cottage is one of our pet-free properties and therefore dogs and other pets are not permitted.
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Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- A thoughtfully styled hideaway where period beams and stone meet soft, elegant interiors, feeling both timeless and fresh.
- Tucked away at the end of a no-through lane in Clapton-on-the-Hill, it’s wonderfully peaceful with walking trails from the door.
- Just minutes from Bourton-on-the-Water, The Slaughters and Stow, it’s a spot locals love for exploring without the crowds.
Discover more
The Location
Clapton-on-the-Hill is a wonderful retreat in the Cotswolds overlooking the Windrush Valley. It is reached along quiet country lanes and Murray's Cottage sits at the end with no through access making it a peaceful, quiet location. Trails for ramblers criss-cross through the village and it is ideally placed for some of the highlights of the Cotswolds including Bourton-on-the-Water, The Slaughters and Stow-on-the-Wold. It's central location also lends itself to great days out at Cotswold Farm Park, Cotswold Water Park and the larger towns of Cheltenham and Cirencester.
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Read our reviews
The views from the cottage are stunning. The village is beautiful too, very peaceful. The cottage itself is lovely, beds are really comfortable.
Niveditha
Beautiful comfy cottage with amazing views! Totally recommend
Lucia
The cottage was just in the right place, easy travelling to different villages and also easy walk to bourton on the water. The views were beautiful sat out on the patio you could see beautiful country for miles. Also a bonus is the balcony upstairs from the main bedroom overlooking the country.
Alison
Great stay in a lovely cottage
We had a fab weekend in Murrays Cottage !
The cottage was immaculate and had everything you need. Beds were comfy and we had a great stay !
My only negative was the late check in time and the early check out time.
Warren
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us on your recent stay at Murray's Cottage. We’re very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We appreciate your comments regarding the check-in and check-out times, we can confirm that these are in line with standard practice across the majority of holiday properties in the Cotswolds. We hope to see you in the Cotswolds again soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 2nd January 2026
Lovely cottage in a quaint spot in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Robert
Review for Murray's Cottage
The house overall was very cool. At first it seemed cleaned. Once we were there, I started noticing bugs creeping in through the cracks of the floor trimming. This happened every night. There were dead bugs scattered throughout the carpet in the house. Also, my friend was trying to wash his clothes in the washer/dryer and the washer had mildew and mold growing in the soap tray. It also did not dry his clothes after 3+ hours of being on the dry cycle. Everything else seemed to be clean including the bed sheets, dishes, towels, etc. The scenery behind the house is gorgeous. This house is also ideal for four people or less.
Dylan
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the house overall and appreciated the beautiful setting, as well as the cleanliness of the bed linens, towels, and kitchenware. We’re sorry to hear about the issues you experienced with bugs and the washer/dryer. Your feedback has been passed on to the owners and housekeeping team, who are now looking into these concerns to ensure they are addressed.
- Bolthole Retreats, 14th October 2025
Beautiful views and cozy home
We really enjoyed our stay and found the house to have everything we need. Comfy beds, well equipped kitchen etc. The view from the main bedroom and balcony is stunning. We couldnt get the downstairs shower to work unfortunately and although the sofas look great they are actually tiny and very uncomfortable to chill out on. But it is a stunning property in a beautiful location.
Cheryl
Thank you for your feedback. We're very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay. However, I'm sorry to hear that you couldn't get the shower to work. We've shared your feedback with the owner who is looking into this. We hope to see you again in the Cotswolds soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 30th September 2025
Gorgeous, tastefully decorated cottage. Views are amazing. We had a lovely girlie weekend.
Jo
Lovely stay
This was a nice clean, quiet cottage and we had a lovely stay. However, there were a few things that could be improved upon. The cottage generally was quite sparse with only the bare necessities left for us. I would recommend you provide the following to make guests' stays more enjoyable:
- oil for cooking
- coffee maker / cafetiere
- cheese grater
- more than 2 rolls of toilet paper
- soap / shampoo / bubble bath/salts
- ice tray
Rachel
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us on your recent stay at Murray's Cottage. We’re very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Your valuable feedback has been shared with the property owner who has taken these points on board and are looking into them. We hope to see you in the Cotswolds again soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 11th September 2025
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Experiences designed to make your stay unforgettable
We have curated not only a portfolio of properties, but also a portfolio of experiences we recommend everyone try the next time they visit the Cotswolds and surrounding counties. This selection of ours is constantly growing as we discover more hidden gems and local stars. Many of the experiences are incredibly popular, and we encourage booking in advance because these little extras can turn your everyday holiday into a fantastic, fond memory, one you aren’t soon to forget.
