Sixpenny Cottage
Sixpenny Cottage is a hidden marvel with its Cotswold cottage exterior keeping its awe-inspiring historic interior and unrivalled views of the Windrush Valley a secret only to be shared with its guests. Just three miles from Bourton-on-the-Water, it sleeps ten guests across five lavish bedrooms. This is the perfect choice for a family reunion or special occasion with friends. You will dine in elegance, enjoy relaxing before the fireplace, cook up a storm in the spacious kitchen and bathe in luxury in the freestanding bath. The country views are a showstopper and if you can drag yourself away you will be rewarded with the feast of activities that the Cotswolds has to offer including the picturesque villages of Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold less than a twenty-minute drive away. A network of footpaths depart in all directions from the village across valleys and nearby villages.
Overview
Arriving at this quiet, rural Cotswold village, navigating the narrow country lanes you will find Sixpenny Cottage nestled into the hillside below. There are no hints of the wonders to be found inside until you pass through the swathes of curtains at the front door. Inside you are surrounded by pale wooden beams, artwork and rare fabrics. French chateaux style bureaus, Florentine sconces, soft velvet seating and the large wooden dining table draw you through, past the spacious kitchen with its quirky open serving area and a perfectly placed settee which catches the sun, out onto the terrace. Enjoy the panoramic views of the Windrush Valley spread before you offering only the rustle of leaves in the trees and great expanses of blue skies and fresh farmland beyond the treetops.
Set over three floors the ground floor also offers a snug, utility, additional kitchenette and cloakroom. On the first floor are four of the five bedrooms. While each room is exquisite with a detailed headboard in the double, heritage green panelling in the twin, and delicate cherubs in the single, the master suite is second to none. You pass through the en-suite with its tapestry wall hanging, marble sink and freestanding bath to the bedroom. With a super king-size bed in the centre of the room it looks out across the country view and is filled with light. Up on the second floor is a romantic double room. Sitting under the eaves with their painted beams the bed is given a luxurious finish with its curtained headboard in toile de jouy.
Outside, the terrace has space for dining and enjoying the quiet sounds of the countryside looking out to the Windrush Valley beyond. Steps take you down to a small lawn where children can play under supervision. To the front is off-road parking for one large car or two medium cars.
Ground floor
Open plan living area – kitchen, dining, sitting room:
Split into four areas, the first is the main sitting area in front of the French stone fireplace with its woodburning stove. The smart TV is hidden in a cabinet. A large settee, two-seater sofa and two armchairs provide space to gather and admire the artwork. The dining area is placed before the windows providing wonderful scenery as a backdrop to your meal. Before the kitchen is a garden room style seating area with wicker chairs (which move to the terrace when the weather is clement) and a sink-in sofa under the skylight above. The large kitchen is very well-equipped with appliances and tools for the serious amateur cook. A large oven and plenty of countertop space make this a dream for preparing meals.
Butler's Kitchen:
Beyond the main kitchen is an additional butler's kitchen. Here there is a second oven, fridge/freezer, second sink and additional small appliances. There is plenty of storage space.
Study:
Passing an intriguing vintage storage unit and up two steps, the study has a large corner sofa, a second TV and a desk. It is ideal for catching up on work or as a hideout for the children.
Boot Room:
Also in this part of the house is the boot room, which also hosts a washing machine and dryer so you are undisturbed by the noise.
Cloakroom:
From the entrance hall is a cloakroom with WC and sink.
First Floor
Family Bathroom:
There is a deep bath with a shower over, WC and a sink, decorated in painted white wood panelling, this room is a peaceful retreat.
Bedroom Two:
This cosy room has a single-day bed which pulls out to become a double on request. It can also easily host a cot for an infant.
Bedroom One:
Through curtains from the en-suite is a super king-size bed under the high ceilings. Wake up beneath the chandelier and open the curtains to feel rejuvenated by the hills before you. It is a wonderfully peaceful room made for leisurely mornings watching the view with a cup of coffee in bed.
En-Suite:
The short corridor passing gold cherubs and a large full-length mirror takes you to the en-suite bathroom which you reach before the bedroom. A freestanding bath is at the centre with a shower, sink and a separate WC.
Bedroom Three:
This king-size double room is full of charm with a curtained headboard and statement chandelier. The room feels entirely silent letting you sleep in peace.
En-suite:
The en-suite has a walk-in shower, sink and WC.
Bedroom Four:
At the other end of the house is the twin room. Two single dark Queen Anne beds nestle under wooden beams and there is built-in storage and seventeenth century oak panelled walls.
En-suite:
In the en-suite is a step-in shower, WC and sink.
Second Floor
Bedroom Five:
As the only room on this floor, it is hidden away from the rest of the house. The king-size bed is under the beamed eaves and feels like the ultimate retreat at the end of the day.
Outside
The stone terrace has a table, benches and plenty of chairs to enjoy a meal or drinks in this peaceful setting. The view will inspire you to spend your days relishing the fresh Cotswold air on country walks. Enclosed by a metal fence, a gate opens to steps which take you down to a small lawned area with a drop to the farmland beyond. Children should be supervised while playing here.
Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - Super-king
Bedroom Two - Single Daybed (can Be Double On Request)
Bedroom Three - King-size
Bedroom Four - Twin
Bedroom Five - King-size
4 Bathrooms - 2 Bathrooms And 2 Shower Rooms
Hairdryer - 2
Fire - Logs For An Initial Fire Are Provided (1st Oct-31st March)
Oven - 3
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge - 2
Freezer
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 10
Washing Machine
Tumble Dryer
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed - 25-49 Mbps
TV - Smart
DVD Player
Board Games
Travel Cot (cot Linen Not Provided)
Highchair
Outdoor
Garden
Outdoor Dining Area
BBQ - Gas Provided
Parking - Off-road Parking For 1 Large Or 2 Medium Cars. Additional Parking Can Be Arranged For A Fee.
On your Doorstep
Cafes, pubs, and restaurants:
- The Lamb Inn, Great Rissington – A homely pub and restaurant serving classic pub grub (2.5 miles)
- The Plough Inn, Cold Aston – village pub with good beer open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (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: Clapton-on-the-Hill is a fabulous destination for walkers. The Windrush Valley which can be seen from the terrace is traversed by two main routes, the Windrush Way, Monarch’s Way and the Diamond Way. The Windrush Way takes you from Bourton-on-the-Water up to Winchcombe, the Monarch’s Way is a long distance path following the route of Charles II after the Battle of Worcester and runs through Stow-on-the-Wold and the Diamond Way is a circular route from Northleach up to Moreton-in-Marsh and can easily be joined in Clapton-on-the-Hill.
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)
Travel:
Train: Kingham (10 miles)
Taxi: 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 Retreats Experiences.
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 16:00 and a check-out time of 10:00
- 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.
- Sixpenny Cottage is set over three floors with a couple of internal steps making it unsuitable for those with limited mobility.
- Sixpenny Cottage is one of our pet-free properties and therefore dogs and other pets are not permitted.
- Please note, if you would like bedroom 2 to be arranged as a Double, please clarify this on the booking form.
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Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- Soak in the views of the Windrush Valley from the terrace.
- You're just three miles from Bourton-on-the-Water, the 'Venice of the Cotswolds'.
- Historic details and a woodburning stove add special touches
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 Sixpenny 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
Wonderful cottage perfectly located at the heart of the Cotswolds. We had a wonderful family long weekend and the house was beautiful and cozy, check in and check out was very flexible and convenient. Thanks!
Luca
super warm, really lovely house
Mihai
It was pure magic from start to finish. The cottage was stunningly gorgeous - every nook and cranny showed that there was immense thought and detail put into it. Sitting in front of the fireplace, cooking in the lovely kitchen, admiring the lovely Christmas tree that was there for us....everything felt so cosy and warm. We have so many lovely memories from this trip and can't wait to return!
Laura
Festive weekend at Sixpenny Cottage.
Me and my guest had a festive weekend at Sixpenny Cottage. It was absolutely gorgeous; the house itself looked even better in person than the photos on the website. The kitchen was amazing, nice and big and equipped with every utensil you could possibly need. The house decor is a mixture of French antique farmhouse with the bright vibrant colours made if feel warm and cosy. This paired with the stunning fireplace with wood burner made the chilled evenings a pleasure to sit around with a glass of wine.
The location and the views of the Cotswold's are simply stunning.
Bedrooms were equally as attractive as the rest of the house. Beds were super comfortable; we stayed in bedroom one which was amazing and highly recommend if you get the option to choose.
Rosie the housekeeper was amazing and very attentive with any help or local information you may need.
This gets a straight 10/10 well done Bolthole Retreats, we'll definitely be booking with you again!
Ian
We had an amazing stay in Clapton on the Hill - fantastic view and house.
Jilke
family celebration
After the death of my husband earlier this year, I decided to book the cottage so that the family could get together to celebrate my son's 40th birthday and start making new memories. The cottage surpassed our expectations and provided us with a base for a wonderful weekend. The cottage was so well equipped and cosy we wanted for nothing. The grandchildren wanted to move in! The walk down to Bourton was easy and fun, plenty of good places to eat out and great attractions for children. We would be happy to book again!
Helen
We had an amazing time at this gorgeous cottage! It’s even prettier in person, and the location is so peaceful and close to villages for shopping and dining!
Jonathan
Staying here with the family for a wedding nearby, this house was absolutely amazing and everything we could have asked for!! A great space with very thoughtful amenities throughout, the quality of the house and contents was first class. The kitchen was extremely well provided and made our stay one not to forget. The housekeeper was very helpful and responsive. Would highly recommend this property for any large family stay.
David
It was a wonderful stay!
Yosef
A Beautiful Cottage
We have just returned from a most enjoyable 3 night stay at Sixpenny Cottage. As always, the service from Bolthole Retreats and the information provided prior to our trip was first rate. Also first rate were the services of Rosie, the housekeeper who sorted out a couple of queries for us and was all round super-helpful. Thank you Rosie.
Considering how busy Bourton-on-the-Water was, our cottage was a little oasis of peace and calm to come home to. The cottage itself is beautiful and the bedrooms gorgeous with lovely bedding and towels.
The kitchen has every utensil, pot and pan you could possible think of - and in abundance, as is the glassware and cutlery. With the excellent Co-Op and Bourton just a short drive away, it's a perfect setting.
Thank you for a wonderful stay.
Jean
The house is stunning. The location is as beautiful as it gets. The house is clean. Well stocked kitchen. Downstairs very roomy for socialising and dining.
Yoram
Even better than the pictures! We stayed with 8 friends for our own wedding and it was perfect. From 10 girls getting ready for the wedding, there was more than enough space, to cooking dinner there was everything we needed. Would love to come back again. The place is amazing and would highly recommend !
Emily
Beautiful house
Gorgeous location, amazing views. Only one negative...Beware the parking is for one car only, 2 small ones at a push and other parking is a good 5 minute walk away . It was made very clear to us by a villager that we should not park in villagers 'spaces'. The house itself was immaculately clean. It was well stocked and plenty of space. The view was amazing and we enjoyed watching the Kite flying about. The beds were comfy and the outside area perfectly adequate for sitting and taking in the view. We had a great visit to this house.
Guest
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on your recent stay at Sixpenny Cottage. We’re so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time there. Regarding your comments on parking, we do include a map showing the additional parking areas in the welcome guide, which is available in the guest portal after booking, as well as a printed copy in the cottage itself. We hope to welcome you back to the Cotswolds again soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 7th May 2025
Situated in an idyllic hamlet, the property was outstanding. Everything you needed in the property was provided. Very rustic place beautifully decorated and views stunning. Had a marvellous stay for my 50th wedding anniversary.
Lorraine
Sixpenny Cottage completely exceeded our expectations. It was absolutely gorgeous and the perfect cottage for a countryside getaway. We will definitely be back!
Anya
The cottage is really spacious, it boasts amazing views towards Bourton on the Water, it is really well equipped particularly the kitchen and each of the bedrooms were spacious and comfortable with excellent bed linen. Rosie the housekeeper was really responsive and helpful.
Philip
A wonderful stay
We loved our stay at Sixpenny Cottage. It is such a gorgeous and cozy cottage with beautiful views over the valley. We had stayed there before in 2020 and will certainly be going back. Thank you Rosie for being so helpful.
Chris
Beautiful! Relaxing break.
We enjoyed a lovely family get together at Sixpenny Cottage - it was such a relaxing location with wonderful views.
Tobias
Review of Sixpenny Cottage, Clapton on the Hill
We had a wonderful time at Sixpenny Cottage. We booked it for my wife's birthday celebration and met up with her 3 brothers and their wives, from as far afield as Surrey, Liverpool, Kent & Australia!! As it so happened our 4-night stay coincided with glorious weather so use of the patio & bbq made it even more delightful. The view from the cottage over the Windrush Valley was spectacular, without anything obscuring the view.
There are only 2 minor points that I would make. The first was that there were no instructions as how to set up the cable connected TV. All the steps we took failed to make it operate as we would wish. This really wasn't a problem for us as we were outside most of the time.
The second was that that there is little ventilation in the top floor (level 2) bedroom. The only ventilation I could find were the top flaps on the sealed Velux roof windows and they did not really help when the weather was hot.
As I say we had a wonderful time and would rebook again when the need arises for a family get together.
My says it was one of the most memorable stays she has experienced and will never forget it.
Graham
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay at Sixpenny Cottage. We are very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay, however disappointed to read the points that you have raised. We have spoken to the housekeeper who wishes that you had contacted them during their stay as they would have been very happy to help you with the TV and they have confirmed that the Velux windows open up completely to allow air in. We hope to see you all again in the Cotswolds soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 24th July 2024
Amazing!
We booked this cottage to attend my brother's wedding and it did not disapoint. The picture's are exactly as shown and you instantly feel at home,relaxed and welcomed.
My children loved it,fantastic hide and seek house and my mother and friend loved chatting by the fire with a glass of wine.
We will be back.
Talk to the neighbours and you'll find any parking issues can be sorted by asking for extra spaces if needed.
Tana
Fantastic time away with friends
Everything was fantastic! 8 of us stayed here for 4 nights and had the best of times! Fantastic property with amazing views in a great location for visiting different parts of the Cotswolds. Would highly recommend!
Luke
Not quite the full sixpennyworth
Very good in many ways and I feel mean to knock it over small details, but enough small negatives can weigh heavily in a short, 5-night stay. The property is spacious and has most of the facilities one could reasonably expect. The kitchen is large and extremely well equipped. The eating area is good for 8-10 people and there is plenty of seating for all purposes. The decorative style (18th Century French pastoral?) is quirky and theatrical. The beds are comfortable. The view over the Windrush valley is lovely and we watched muntjac deer in an adjacent field.
On the whole, we liked the house (and the area), but attention to detail could be improved.
We were unfortunate to arrive in the dark and in heavy rain. By the time I'd stumbled around and knocked on neighbouring doors to ask for directions, I was very wet and muddy. The house is hard to find. You have to use Just 3 Words, which I've only downloaded subsequently. The postcode is of no use and the house has no name displayed. The parking is inadequate for a large party - even for a small one!
We encountered numerous small issues, none of which is in itself too worrying, but they add up: a blocked toilet, blocked before we arrived; unstable wifi/internet; operation of heating and hot water not made clear; no tea towels or bin bags; cupboard door falling off; one bedroom light not working; one shower extractor fan not working, etc.
Ron
Dear Ron, We are pleased you enjoyed the property but disappointed with some of the comments. With respect to finding the house, you were provided with a map pinpointing the property precisely in the property welcome guide and on the property listing. You were also advised to use Just 3 Words which unfortunately you say you did not use. The name of the property is prominently displayed outside perhaps you did not see it in the dark and heavy rain. Parking is limited at the property, there is space for two cars with additional on street parking and you were made aware of it specifically in the welcome guide of the property and the property listing itself. The operation of heating and hot water is described clearly in the property welcome guide. The Internet is latest generation mesh solution which allows heavy duty streaming and downloading on multiple devices simultaneously throughout the property and we are very surprised that you found it unstable. We were disappointed to learn that any issues werent reported to the property manager as these would have been answered and/or rectified right away where necessary, we have since followed up on all matters and pleased to report these have been fully resolved. Best wishes,
- Bolthole Retreats, 8th November 2023
Very pretty and well-equipped cottage with great living space and views
Sixpenny cottage is located in a quiet little village towards the end of a lane. It is a pretty traditional Cotswold cottage that has been cleverly extended to provide a large living/dining/kitchen space and large master suite. 2 other bedrooms also have ensuites and the remaining 2 share a family bathroom. All rooms are a decent size. The view from the rear is down the valley and far-reaching, and had it been warm enough the rear terrace would have been great to use - but at least we can confidently state that the cottage is warm and cosy in the cold months and the heating works well!
It is furnished in cottage style and looks very nicely done and well kept. We will definitely come back if in the area again.
Thomas
Lovely house but housekeeping lets it down
Sadly the double beds requested were not made, two very thin, rubbish pillows and not a very positive reaction from the cleaner when queried. Lots of cobwebs and dead flies too. Stains on the chairs.
Megan
Very nice cottage in a lovely village
The village is delightful, as is the cottage. The beds were extremely comfortable, the linens were clean and pleasing, and there were more than enough towels. Everything was great. We loved it, and so did our children. The terrace was a lovely feature and the lawn was small as described. There was a bit of dust in the cottage and we noticed quite a few spiders, but we understand that this is all part of village life:) Overall, we highly recommend it.
Ibrahim
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