Pilgrim Cottage
Amongst the glow of Cotswold stone buildings lies Pilgrim Cottage, a Grade II listed country escape with outstanding views. Keeping its traditional beauty the cottage has exposed beams, original flagstone floors and fireplaces, making you feel as if you are stepping back in time. Staying here you are in the heart of Bourton-on-the-Hill, a peaceful village which embodies the Cotswold way of life. Amble to the local pub, the award-winning Horse and Groom, explore the neighbouring market town Moreton-in-Marsh and make the most of being so close to the highlights of Batsford Arboretum, Cotswold Farm Park and Sezincote House and Gardens.
Overview
Feel on top of the world at Pilgrim Cottage, high above the Cotswolds with beautiful sweeping views. The village of Bourton-on-the-Hill overlooks Moreton-in-Marsh and you can see the church tower from the garden. Just down the hill from the award-winning Horse and Groom pub this is an enviable place to stay.
Take a break away from modern life and spend time in rooms with exposed wooden beams and original stone flooring. The traditional kitchen is waiting for you to rustle up meals made from local produce and features some exposed Cotswold stone behind the range cooker. Choose between the two charming sitting rooms, one of which has table football with a pool table hidden beneath, and the TV to make rainy days more exciting. The second is where board games beside the fire is a great way to end the day. This is the oldest part of the cottage dating back to 1640 and you’ll see the oak beams of the old cruck barn frame. You can see it best in the master bedroom above, one of four bedrooms at this welcoming family home.
During your stay make the most of the gorgeous south-facing garden where the views will stop you in your tracks. Planted borders and mature trees create a secluded spot for al fresco dinners and garden games. A table and chairs seats eight and there is a BBQ available.
Ground Floor
Family Room:
Step through the duck-egg blue front door to the family room. Your first impressions of the history of this cottage are made here with original flagstone flooring, a feature fireplace and beamed ceiling. The pretty window seat is ideal for reading and flicking through the provided maps making plans and there is plenty of sofa space to curl up. This is a great space for the children to pay table football or put on their favourite DVD.
Utility Room:
Originally this room served as the cottage’s kitchen but is now the utility room with plenty of storage units. This is an extremely useful area with a second large fridge-freezer and oven, as well as home for the iron and ironing board, clothes airer and cleaning equipment.
Kitchen-Dining Area:
Pilgrim Cottage’s large, beamed, farmhouse kitchen is full of light from the dual-aspect windows to the front and rear gardens - one with a window seat. It’s a great dining and entertaining area with a large country-kitchen table, seating eight, as its focal point. The kitchen has a range cooker with electric ovens and 8 gas burners. The cream-coloured, shaker-style kitchen units and wooden worktops compliment the original, 1840’s flagstone flooring. Well-equipped with everything you should need during your stay, in here you’ll find an integrated fridge-freezer, dishwasher, microwave, and toaster; along with plenty of crockery, serving ware and a retro radio!
Cloakroom:
Tucked away at the end of the hallway is the cloakroom, complete with hand basin and toilet.
Living Room:
Head through a traditional latched door into Pilgrim Cottage’s main living room. The first thing you’ll notice is the remarkable original oak beams of the Cruck-frame barn – dating back to 1640. This large, beamed room with lots of natural light is perfect for relaxing. There are two large sofas and several comfy chairs arranged around the Cotswold stone fireplace with its large log burner. The living room has a smart TV and lots of family board games, plus a poker set. French doors open out onto the beautiful walled garden, and a further two more windows overlooking the garden make the room light and airy.
First Floor
Bedroom Two:
This super-cute yet spacious twin bedroom features two wooden sleigh beds, suitable for adults and children, with views to the front and Bourton-on-the-Hill. The bedroom is also equipped with a fabulous retro wooden wardrobe with original shelving labels, chest of drawers and bedside lamps on a shared wooden table.
Bedroom Three:
Entered through a latch door from the first-floor landing, this is a very spacious double bedroom with views to the front of the cottage. A cast-iron bed, antique wardrobe and a very large chest of drawers furnish this bright and airy room.
Bedroom Four:
Next to the family bathroom is bedroom four, the smallest bedroom, with a double bed, cupboard and gorgeous views of St. Lawrence’s Church and the Cotswolds.
Family Bathroom:
The main bathroom has a bath with a shower over, WC and basin.
A short flight of stairs lead to a second-floor landing:
Bedroom One:
The master bedroom with king-size bed - is the cottage’s ‘show-stopper’ – a very spacious room and the upper floor of the Cruck-frame barn, with a vaulted ceiling that beautifully shows off the huge original oak beams. Two windows overlooking the rear garden flood the room with natural light.The room is furnished with a rattan king-size bed, very large wooden double wardrobe, with drawers for plenty of storage, a colourful chest full of extra blankets, plus a full-length free-standing mirror and several chairs - still leaving ample space in this bedroom if you have anything left to store or need to use a travel cot.
En-suite:
Within the bedroom, through a latch door, is the cleverly designed en-suite, with a large, walk-in shower, beautiful stone floor and wall tiles, a sink, toilet and shower unit and heated towel rail.
On the small landing outside this bedroom is a large storage cupboard where the garden furniture seat covers are stored.
Outside
Pilgrim Cottage’s garden is a delight that really has to be seen to be believed, with fantastic views across the hills and Bourton-on-the-Hill. There is a gorgeous herbaceous border, mature trees, including a huge horse chestnut tree, and a patio with table and chairs for eight and a BBQ for cooking and entertaining outside. The fully enclosed stone-walled garden is perfect for younger guests and is a suntrap on sunny days.
Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - King-size
Bedroom Two - Twin
Bedroom Three - Double
Bedroom Four - Double
2 Bathrooms - 1 En-suite, 1 Family
Fire - Logs Are Provided For An Initial Fire (1st October - 31st March)
Oven
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge - 2
Freezer - 2
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 8
Washing Machine
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed - 200+ Mbps
TV - Smart
DVD Player
Travel Cot (cot Linen Not Provided) - 2
Highchair - 1 High Chair And 2 Baby Seats Which Attach To A Dining Chair
Games Room
Pool Table - Children's
Table Football - Children's
Outdoor
Garden
Outdoor Dining Area
BBQ - Please Provide Your Own Charcoal
Parking - On-street Parking On Lane Opposite
On your Doorstep
Blockley Village Shop & Café, which sells a wide range of groceries, basics, and local produce is less than 2 miles away. Moreton-in-Marsh, 2.5 miles away, has several small supermarkets, including a Co-Operative Food, Tesco Express and Aldi. There is a butcher and bakery on the high street also.
Eating Out:
- The Horse & Groom – described in The Times as ‘almost certainly the best pub in England’, a visit to the Horse and Groom can’t be missed (2 min walk)
- Coach and Horses, Longborough – welcoming traditional country inn, with good pub food (0.1 miles)
- The Great Western Arms, Blockley – inviting pub in a beautiful Cotswold village (2 miles)
- The Old Butchers, Stow-on-the-Wold – popular, family run restaurant with a nose to tail dining ethos (3 miles)
The renowned Batsford Arboretum is a short stroll from the cottage and offers 56 acres to walk around at your leisure. You can even stop at the Arboretum’s Garden Terrace Café for a spot of lunch.
Places to Visit:
- Batsford Arboretum (1 mile)
- Cotswold Farm Park (8 miles)
- Cotswolds Distillery Visitor Centre, Shop and Café (10 miles)
- Train - Moreton-in-Marsh (2.5 miles), with a direct service into London Paddington
- Taxis - AAA Station Taxis, North Cotswold Taxis and Tours
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 16:00 and a check-out time of 11:00
- Book with us to get exclusive discounts to top attractions and experiences.
- It is the policy of this property not to take bookings for groups where the majority of guests are under the age of 25, or single-sex group celebrations, including stag/hen parties. This property is ideal for family groups.
- Please note that additional guests above the maximum capacity are not permitted.
- Pilgrim Cottage is a Grade II Listed period property, with most parts built between 1640 and 1840. This means the cottage has some beautiful character features, including original flagstone flooring, low exposed wooden beams, steps, and a low ceiling here and there. Due to these unique features, we would not recommend Pilgrim Cottage for people who have restricted mobility
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Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- A Grade II listed cottage with bags of character and charm.
- Take a walk to the award-winning Horse and Groom for dinner and drinks.
- Footpaths lead straight to Batsford Arboretum and Sezincote.
Discover more
The Location
Bourton-on-the-Hill is between the famous Cotswold market towns of Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway, and is ideally located for travelling to Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford and Sudeley Castle. There are footpaths directly from the cottage out across the Cotswolds, including the Moreton Eight Trail, which takes in Batsford and the Cotswold Falconry, Bourton House Garden and Sezincote Gardens (see the ‘Guidebook’ for more details). Batsford Arboretum – home to one of the UK’s largest private tree collections (and where the Mitford sisters spent part of their childhood) – is a stone’s throw away from Pilgrim, as is the beautiful Norman Church of St Lawrence and the award-winning Horse and Groom pub.
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Read our reviews
May half term stay
We had a lovely week at Pilgrim Cottage. We were a family of four and 2 sets of grandparents and there was plenty of room for us all. The kitchen was well equipped, lovely garden and character features throughout the house. The bedrooms were comfortable and the utility was an added bonus for extra space. It was in an ideal location for some lovely day trips.
There was an issue with lots of ants. I think attempts had been made to get rid of them but unfortunately there were so many all outside each door and they made it into the living room and en suite shower.
Overall, a lovely stay and would recommend to others.
Guest
The property is a beautiful traditional Cotswold home that has kept its original charm by not being over modernised internally but still providing comfortable modern facilities. The location is perfect and the garden provides an amazing secluded space for a family. We were very lucky to have beautiful weather for our stay so were able to be in the garden for most of the time, however the internal space would have given enough space for the family to enjoy if the weather had been poor.
Martin
Walking in the Cotswolds
Superb location and size of the property was perfect for four of us that needed separate bedrooms.
The garden is amazing with panoramic views into the distance.
The host Kay, was very informative and bolthole retreats were excellent in their communications.
Everything you need is in the kitchen to make a hearty meal if you dont want to eat out.
We were so lucky with the weather four days of clear Blue Sky really helped with us being able to enjoy the garden every day after walking.
The only bug bear is that the shower will only just about get you wet and need changing/upgrading
The kettle could also do with changing. !
Thanks Kay
Stephen
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your recent stay at Pilgrim Cottage. We are delighted to learn that you enjoyed your visit. We have shared your kind comments and valuable observations with the property manager, who has since arranged for a new kettle to be purchased and the shower to be renewed. Thank you once again for bringing these matters to our attention. We very much hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to the Cotswolds in the future.
- Bolthole Retreats, 29th April 2026
Stayed at Pilgrim Cottage for the weekend with friends. It was very comfortable, spacious and clean. The garden is beautiful. The location is knock out - there's a pub that does excellent gastropub food just 2 mins walk away and the cottage is on a public footpath - we walked for miles in the sunshine through green fields full of blossom tress and cute lambs, ending up in Moreton-in-Marsh where we had a delicious lunch. The owners very promptly posted back a small item that we had accidently left behind too. Lovely weekend.
Kirsten
Lovely place for a weekend away with friends or family
Ben
A wonderful weekend stay
We stayed as a group of friends and found the cottage had everything we needed. Communication over our booking was excellent. There was parking outside, the pub a couple of minutes away, and everything else we wanted to do/see within a short drive away.
Guest
Very well prepared. Great country cottage experience. Just around the corner from the Horse and Hound which has terrific food.
John
Lovely cottage
This cottage is lovely and so traditional. Plenty of room for our family of 6 adults and 2 children. Fabulous views and great pub right round the corner. Close driving distance to lots of lovely villages. Kay was so nice and friendly and very kindly allowed us to check in early.
Andrea
A family Xmas in the cotswolds
We had a lovely stay as a family of 8 adults at pilgrim cottage. The building is full of character will low beams & slate floors. It was comfortable for the 8 of us with plenty of living space & a large kitchen diner. It was well equipped, although we struggled with the aga style ovens & the heating had a mind of its own! The wood burner was very effective & we were never cold. The village is in a great central location for exploring the Cotswolds & a great pub around the corner.
Kym
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us on your recent stay at Pilgrim Cottage. We’re very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Your valuable feedback has been shared with the property owner who wishes that you had contacted them during your stay as they would have been very happy to assist you with the ovens and the heating. They've confirmed that the heating has been checked and is functioning as it should. We hope to see you in the Cotswolds again soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 3rd January 2026
Lovely house, great communication with the host. Very comfortable, clean house. The pub is a couple of minutes walk away and the food and drink was excellent. Highly recommend this house.
Andy
We had a lovely long weekend at Pilgrim Cottage! Beautiful location, and delicious pub food at the Horse and Groom just up the road. We especially loved the garden with its beautiful view and the peacefulness of slow mornings in the cottage!
Georgia
The house is very spacious and clean, the garden is beautiful with a barbecue, and the location is perfect.
Emma
Lovely long weekend with friends in the Cotswolds! The house has lots of space for 2 families of 4, and the garden was just beautiful to sit and relax in after a day out. Bourton-on-the-Hill is really well located for all the great villages, and you are a 5 minute drive from Moreton-on-Marsh which has everything you need! Thank you for a great stay!
Maggie
The cottage was superb, an excellent property with fantastic facilities. The rooms are large and there was more than enough room for all the people staying. Would highly recommend to anyone.
Simon
We stayed in a quality property that was better than advertised. Helpful communication along the way.
Bradley
Charming Cotswolds Stay
Pilgrim Cottage is very true to the photographs. Very comfortable beds, good hanging space, well equipped kitchen. Easy parking on the road. Separate living rooms excellent for children. It would be helpful to note where the en suite shower is turned on in the information pack and as there is no shop in the village a welcome pack of milk, bread, cheese and wine, as I have encountered in other Bolthole properties, would make staying in this cottage even more special.
Julie
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us on your recent stay at Pilgrim Cottage. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Your valuable feedback has been shared with the owner who has taken these points on board and is looking into them. We hope to see you in the Cotswolds again soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 7th June 2025
Our stay at the cottage was lovely. The space itself is gorgeous and the garden in particular with amazing views. Location is ideal for exploring the Cotswolds and the local town is just a short drive. Our host had great communication with clear instructions and lots of info about the property and things to do during our stay. Would 100% recommend.
Emily
This is a really great place with a fantastic garden to come with family and enjoy a peaceful time. Would highly recommend.
Paul
Property update
Communication great, property met our needs, well equipped kitxhen (could do with a large mixing bowl!). Cleanliness in general good, downstairs loo needed the skirting boards and towel radiator cleaning. Shower good. Would be good to oil the door of the first bedroom at the top of the stairs.
Lucy
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us on your recent stay at Pilgrim Cottage. We are delighted to hear that you liked the location. Your valuable feedback has been shared with the owner who has taken these points on board, they have let us know that the skirting boards and radiator have been cleaned and that the door to the first bedroom will be looked at. We hope to see you again in the Cotswolds soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 23rd January 2025
Perfect stay - would highly recommend!
Great cottage in a beautiful location. Plenty of space and a cosy feel. Really helpful information pack.
Sarah
Pretty cottage that would benefit from an interior refresh
Pilgrim Cottage is a pretty property in a nice location with great potential but the interior would benefit from a refresh throughout. Bed linen, towels, pillows, sofas and cushions are worn which reduced the general comfort and cosiness of our stay.
Guest
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay at Pilgrim Cottage. We are delighted to hear that you liked the cottage and the location, however disappointed to read the points that you have raised. Your feedback has been shared with the owner who has taken these points on board, and these will be looked into. We hope to see you again in the Cotswolds soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 5th November 2024
Recent stay at Pilgrim Cottage
I thought it was a good place for a family with little ones as nothing to break!
Great location and beautiful walks and places to visit.
The garden was beautiful and great bbq.
Thought kitchen facilities needed upgrading - matching crockery , things to serve salads and food dishes on . Also bathroom toiletries would add a nice touch and a welcome hamper for the price we paid would have been nice.
Owner very keen to help and accommodate.
Guest
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay at Pilgrim Cottage. We are very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay and liked the location. We have shared your feedback with the owner who has taken these points on board, and these will be looked into.
- Bolthole Retreats, 23rd July 2024
Super Happy!
Amazing cottage in the most beuatiful place in the world! I will repeat 100% sure!. Thank You for everything
Miguel
Fantastic
One of the best holiday cottages Ive ever stayed in. Well equipped. Spacious. Peaceful. Clean. Pub across rd. walks from doorstep. Highly recommend.
Andrew
Pilgrim cottage
Had a wonderful time at the cottage , fabulous location to all the beautiful towns There are are so many accessible walks.starting right at the front door Highly recommend the Horse and Groom for dinner . Being so close to morton in the marsh made grocery shopping so easy for the long weekend
Tricia
Nice stay
Its a lovely cottage in a beautiful village. My only recommendation for improvement would be that the agent should leave a welcome pack such as toiletries for guests, milk and bread, bin bags etc. It wouldnt be much of an expense but would make a more welcoming experience.
Richard
Beautiful cottage in a peaceful location
We enjoyed our stay in this beautiful cottage in a peaceful village location. There was a lovely view of the village church from the garden and most bedrooms ( you can hear the bells with the windows open). The cottage was characterful and good for our party of 8 adults, although the uneven floors and low doorways wouldn't suit all. It was very clean and mostly well equipped, including garden furniture. The lounge was spacious and the additional games room was well used. Parking for more than one car was possible, following advice from Bolthole Retreats. There are several beautiful gardens to visit locally and walks starting from the house.
Margaret
Lovely property
We would recommend this property to others. Beautiful, spacious, well located and in a lovely area.
Only areas for improvement would be updated pillows and mattress-very flat and uncomfortable and improved cleaning. It was clean except inside drawers where there were items found and hair.
Guest
Dear Lindsey, thank you for your review. We are glad to read you enjoyed your stay. We have passed your comments on to the owners for them to action with the housekeeper. Best wishes, Bolthole Retreats
- Bolthole Retreats, 19th August 2022
Great Properly in a Beautiful Village
The property was really spacious and in a great location. 2 min walk to the pub and in a very picturesque village. Was fantastic to have such a large outdoor space in summer.
Hugo
Beautiful country cottage
An amazing stay in a beautiful country cottage. The house was immaculately clean and so spacious. We spent 5 lovely days enjoying the house, the fabulous garden and the surrounding area. We arrived during a heatwave but the downstairs rooms we cool and spacious and made it really easy for us to relax. The master bedroom is incredible - so large and with so much character including old beams. The other 3 bedrooms make it a great place to stay with extended family or friends.
The Horse and Groom pub is about a minute away and has the most incredible garden with amazing views over the Cotswolds.
We had such a relaxing time here at the end of a long trip, and we will definitely come again.
Barnaby
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We're very happy to hear you had such a lovely time and hope you do return soon!
- Bolthole Retreats, 26th July 2022
Weekend with Friends
Very beautiful place to spend nice time with friends or family at Costworlds. Nice village and surroundings
Ana
August 2021
Beautiful cottage and we had a very pleasant and comfortable stay. All the rooms were very lovely, one bedroom a bit on the small size but sufficient and the master bedroom is really in need of a full coat of paint rather than just doing patches.
The kitchen was fabulous with a very good cooker and dish washer. It was complete with most cooking utensils, just missing a potato peeler. Cleaning products were available to use which was also great.
Garden beautiful but they fail to mention you are over looked by neighbours that actually have access into your garden through a gate. Very shocked to have a lady waving at us through the lounge window one evening. Not as private as we thought. Fantastic views though.
We were expecting a very high standard of cleaning especially as we had to pay extra for this to stay safe but as a result of this I think some minor things are frequently missed to compensate for the extra cleaning needed to cover COVID cleaning. There were many cobwebs not necessarily high up either and it was clear that some furniture hasnt been moved for some time in order to clean in underneath. There was also a bad smell on arrival. Not sure if it was a damp smell or whether the previous users had dogs in there.
Overall we enjoyed our stay and would recommend it but do not feel it was worth what we paid for it. Bank holiday or not.
Mark
Beautiful cottage and views!
We had a lovely stay at Pilgrim Cottage. The house is much bigger than we expected with plenty of space for 8 adults. Lovely house with beautiful views and garden. Would definitely recommend.
Sarah
Hi Sarah, Thank you for your great review and feedback - we are so glad you enjoyed your stay and your review has been passed onto the owners. Kind regards, BoltholeRetreats
- BoltholeRetreats, 14th July 2021
Lovely cottage in the Cotswolds
The cottage was more spacious than expected and we had a lovely time using it as a base to explore the local area. Well equipped kitchen and comfortable lounge. Garden was fully enclosed which was good for our escape artist dog! One of the double rooms is quite small for 2 adults, but plenty of communal areas so not an issue. Lovely pub in village - horse and groom highly recommended and lots of good walks from the doorstep.
Lorna
Fantastic Stay
We stayed here for my sister's wedding at Blackwell Grange. It was a beautiful cottage with all the amenities you could need. In the middle of all the local little towns. Thanks for a wonderful stay.
Kate
Amazing weekend!
What a fabulous house for a family weekend away! We didn't get in the car all weekend until we had to leave. Gorgeous walks from the door, delicious food at the Horse and Groom, lovely views and lots of space. Will be back!!
Emily
Pilgrim Cottage in Bourton on the Hill
This lovely stone cottage is large and ideal for 8 people on a self catering basis. It is comfortably appointed, warm and roomy. The Picture box small village setting is quaint and I guess typically Cotswold in character. Great for a quiet family based break with some picturesque walking/strolling nearby. The secure garden is ideal for a couple of small dogs if you are looking to take your canine family members with you.
Bryan
Great place to explore Cotswolds
We stayed at Pilgrim Cottage for 4 nights for a family gathering, 6 adults two children. Size wise it was perfect for our group. plenty of room in the kitchen to cook, large living room with large sofas.
Kitchen had all mod cons available. Basic pots and pans for cooking, and plenty of cutlery.
Location of the cottage is great, lovely view from the kitchen window too.
We stayed in October, so didn't use the garden, but imagine in summer it's a great place to enjoy.
Would definitely recommend the Horse and Groom for food. Reasonably priced, good quality, and great staff.
William
Lovely weekend. Very comfortable with well equipped kitchen. Could do with having a couple of fans as it gets very warm in hot weather.
Guest
Superb Cottage for multi generational family get together
Lovely location for this spacious grade 2 listed house suitable for all ages.
Quiet large enough garden in quiet setting.
Large main living room, kitchen with room and table for 8 people.
A residence with everything you would expect from a home in the Cotswolds.
Stephen
Excellent
Excellent stay, photos and descriptions very accurate. Easy communication, would highly recommend. Many thanks.
Alice
Lovely historic cottage in need of an update.
We rented two cottages in the same village, for a group of 8 singles for a long weekend of walking, and this one felt dated. Soft beds, poor pillows, tired kitchen. Probably better in the summer when you can spend time in the garden which looked good. Good location though.
Nicholas
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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.
