Owls Barn
Immerse yourselves in nature with a stay at Owls Barn. Set in the heart of the Chimney Nature Reserve, it offers big views, fresh air and walking routes right from the door. Inside, the open-plan living space is made for spending time together. Bring your friends, family, and the dog for home cooked meals, time spent reminiscing and making new memories and countryside walks to the pub. Owls Barn works brilliantly year-round. The wood-burner keeps things cosy in winter, and the dining terrace is ideal for relaxed summer barbecues.
With five bedrooms across two floors, there’s plenty of space for groups, and each room has its own simple, stylish character. Original beams and exposed Cotswold stone give the barn plenty of charm, balanced with modern comforts.
You’re also just ten minutes from the village of Bampton, one of the key filming locations for Downton Abbey. Wander the village and you’ll recognise St Mary’s Church, the library, and several streets used throughout the series. You’re also close to Burford, the gateway to the Cotswolds, with lots to explore nearby.
Overview
Get away from it all at Owls Barn, an immersive countryside retreat that you won’t want to leave. Hearing owls and seeing deer in the surrounding fields, exploring the walking routes, dining at the fabulous local pubs, and resting before the nature reserve views it is hard to drag yourself away from such a perfect holiday home.
Showcasing open plan living spaces, wooden beams and glorious outside space Owls Barn has been carefully considered. Eye-catching details from artwork to exposed stone add character and make you feel more at home. The large living space will be the hub of your stay where you can all relax, dine and cook together. Flooded with light you can step straight out into the garden, expanding the space on sunny days. Five bedrooms, designed with your ultimate comfort in mind, are spread across the ground and first floor. Three double rooms and two twins are sure to suit your group, and there are four bathrooms. With a luxurious freestanding bath in the room and beautiful views over the nature reserve, the master bedroom is a special room for the guests of honour.
Outside the details continue. A dining terrace with a BBQ is made for summer feasts and the bath house is a hidden retreat. Fill the copper tub with bubbles and drift away in this moment all for yourself. An enchanting garden gives you the perfect space for letting the dog out, and there are endless walks that can be followed through the nature reserve and beyond.
Ground Floor
Entrance Hall and Cloakroom
Stepping into Owls Barn there is plenty of space for taking off coats and shoes. You can walk straight through into the garden. Just off the hallway is a cloakroom with basin and WC and a laundry cupboard with a washing machine and tumble dryer.
Open Plan Kitchen/Sitting/Dining Room
The spectacular open plan living area is light and bright, overlooking the surrounding water meadows. French doors open at each side letting you step straight out into the garden. The kitchen has a range cooker, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and a coffee machine, everything you could need. A splash of pink highlights the breakfast bar which seats three. At the centre of the room is a dining area. A long wooden table seats 10 and there are a couple of armchairs creating the perfect spot for your morning hot drink. The sitting area hugs around the woodburning stove, a wonderfully cosy place to put your feet up and relax, watching TV or chatting with your friends and family. The stove is surrounded by a stone fireplace and there are wooden beams above you.
Bedroom Five
A ground floor bedroom with a super king-size bed is handy for any guests who aren’t as confident with the stairs. Pops of bright colour and artwork fill this room with personality.
En-Suite
The en-suite has a shower, WC and basin.
First Floor
Bedroom One
Relax in the beautiful master bedroom, a tranquil setting with exposed wooden beams and a freestanding bath. Take a moment to yourself to draw a bubble bath and read, curl up in the armchair and in the mornings enjoy a lie in in the super king-size bed.
En-Suite
With a bath in the bedroom, the en-suite has a WC and basin.
Bedroom Two
Bedroom two has a super king-size bed so you have space to spread out. Wake to countryside views and end your day with a wonderfully uninterrupted sleep.
En-Suite
The en-suite has a shower, WC and basin.
Bathroom
Primarily for use of those staying in bedrooms three and four, the bathroom has a bath with a shower over, WC and basin.
Bedroom Three
Sitting beneath the shaped roof with wooden beams, bedroom three has two single beds. One has restricted space above.
Bedroom Four
Mirroring bedroom three, bedroom four also has two single beds, one of which has restricted space above.
Outside
The gardens at Owls Barn are spectacular, walk over the bridge to reach the meadow with a picnic bench hidden away in the willow trees at the bottom and toast marshmallows at the firepit. Just outside is a private dining terrace with a table and chairs and a charcoal barbecue. Retreat to the bath house for a long, lingering soak in the copper tub with a glass of champagne and peace and quiet. Follow the footpaths into the nature reserve and you’ll discover bird hides, picnic benches and big swings.
Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - Super King-size
Bedroom Two - Super King-size
Bedroom Three - Super King-size
Bedroom Four - Twin
Bedroom Five - Twin
4 Bathrooms - 2 X En-suite Shower, 1 X En-suite Bathroom, 1 X Bathroom
Hairdryer
Fire - Logs Provided For An Initial Fire 01 Oct To 31 March
Oven
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge
Freezer
Coffee Machine - Nespresso Pod And Sage Bean To Cup
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 10
Washing Machine
Tumble Dryer
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed
TV - Smart
Board Games
Travel Cot (cot Linen Not Provided)
Highchair
Outdoor
Dog Friendly - 1 Well-behaved Dog Welcome For An Additional Fee
Garden - Not Enclosed
Outdoor Dining Area - Seats 10
BBQ - Please Provide Your Own Charcoal
Fire Pit - Available In Summer, Please Provide Your Own Logs
Parking - Off-road Parking For 2 Cars
On your Doorstep
There is a community shop in Aston (2 miles), a Co-op in Bampton (4 miles), an Aldi, small Waitrose and a Tesco in Farringdon (8 miles) and larger supermarkets in Witney (7.5 miles).
The One Elm Farm Shop (6 miles) stocks a range of fresh meats, vegetables, bread and deli items. Nearby, visit Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm shop (20 miles), Upton Smokery (14 miles) or Daylesford Organic (25 miles) for locally sourced produce and a visit to their cafes. Burford Garden Centre is a popular destination, much more than just a garden centre there is a gallery and a huge range of homewares, gifts and more. Further afield, visit the city of Oxford (22 miles) for a wonderful day out seeing the sights and sounds and browsing the unique shops.
Eating Out:
- The Trout at Tadpole Bridge, Faringdon – classic pub food with a riverside view (2.5 miles)
- The Double Red Duke, Clanfield – fantastic choice for a special occasion known for its steaks (6 miles)
- The Mason’s Arms, Clanfield – traditional pub with a great atmosphere, oyster bar and good beer (6 miles)
- Lynwood and Co, Bampton – pick up some freshly bakes bread and delicious treats along with a great cup of coffee (4 miles)
- The Maybush Newbridge – Thames View pub serving freshly prepared meals (6 miles)
- The Farmer’s Dog, Burford – Jeremy Clarkson’s country pub serving local produce (10 miles)
Surrounded by the Chimney Nature Reserve, Owls Barn is the perfect spot for walkers. From your doorstep you can follow a bridleway down to the Thames Path to enjoy riverside strolls or continue on through the fields spotting wildlife along the way. Find a map of the nature reserve here.
Places to Visit:
- Bampton - stroll the scenic streets which you may recognise as a location from Downton Abbey (3.5 miles)
- Crocodiles of the World – dedicated to the conservation of these creatures you can see 17 of the 24 species currently found in the world (4 miles)
- Diddly Squat – Jeremy Clarkson’s farm shop selling locally grown produce (20 miles)
- Cotswold Farm Park – much-loved rare breeds farm park, owned by TV presenter Adam Henson (30 miles)
Train - Charlbury railway station (9 miles) has a frequent and direct service to London Paddington and Oxford.
Taxi - Brize Norton Taxis, Faringdon Cars
There is so much to see and do in the Cotswolds, why not have a look at some of our favourite Bolthole Retreat Experiences.
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 15:00 and a check-out time of 10:00
- Book with us to get exclusive discounts to top attractions and experiences.
- 1 well-behaved dog is permitted at the cottage for an additional fee.
- Unfortunately, this property does not permit hen and stag parties, party groups, or all adult groups under the age of 25. This property is ideal for family groups.
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Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- In the Chimney Nature Reserve with countryside views and walks from the door
- Spacious barn with five bedrooms, open-plan living, woodburner, and dining terrace
- Near Bampton, Burford, and Cotswolds highlights, pubs, shops, and historic sights
Discover more
The Location
Staying at Owls Barn you could not be in a better location. Immersed in nature with owls and deer as your neighbours, riverside walks and quaint villages it is a wonderfully peaceful place to stay.
Staying here a walk to the pub, bird spotting and countryside walks are on the cards. There are spectacular choices for meals out with The Double Red Duke serving spectacular steaks, Lynwood and Co known for its freshly baked bread and treats and The Trout at Tadpole Bridge with riverside views.
Just a twenty minute drive and you arrive in Burford, the gateway to the Cotswolds. Discover the quaint streets of honey-hued cottages and boutique shops, exploring further into the spectacular area of outstanding natural beauty. If you’d like to head into the hustle and bustle the dreaming spires of Oxford are just 20 miles and a visit Blenheim Palace is a must do.
and relax
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Read our reviews
A long weekend at Owls Barn
A well designed barn conversion in a beautiful setting. Lots of outdoor space to use and works well with children.
Booking and dealing with queries was easy with pleasant and helpful people to deal with.
Highly recomended.
Guest
The pictures dont do it justice!
We stayed here with a group of friends over the weekend and it was absolutely gorgeous. We had lots of nice things booked in the area, and a few of us hadnt been to the Cotswold so its a perfect introduction into this little piece of heaven. The cottages are well managed and fully kitted out. Beautiful garden and very comfortable beds. We had an amazing time and will definitely be back.
Nafiseh
Thank you. We had an amazing time. Wonderful time.
Forlit-Hashimshony
Thank you so much - we had the best time! Such an incredible barn and beautiful stay xx
Anon
Thank you! We had such a lovely time. The barn, the gardens and the nature walks are absolutely amazing. The zoo was fabulous too.
Ribeiro
Beautiful house in stunning location
We loved our weekend stay at Owls Barn. The house was immaculate and the beds and furniture were spotless and so comfortable. The kitchen was very well equipped and we really appreciated the welcome basket and all the toiletries in the bathrooms. The gardens/grounds were beautiful and right in the middle of a nature reserve so it was super tranquil and full of wildlife. The outside bath was the cherry on top!
Claire
A wonderful property in an excellent location
Located close to the Thames Path it is very easy to walk straight from the door. Owls Barn has some lovely outdoor seating from which we saw Deer, many birds and even heard a cuckoo.
The property itself was clean, comfortable and spacious.
Guest
Excellent place to stay
The Barn had everything we needed, lots of space and fantastic surroundings. Excellent service too from Bolthole Retreats.
Richard
Owls Barn is new to Bolthole Retreats - be the first to stay and leave a review.
Bolthole
Create Memories
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.
