A cottage
in the Cotswolds
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
location
The Old Forge Cottage,
Stow on the Wold,
Gloucestershire
welcome to The Old Forge
The Old Forge Cottage is found in a prime yet peaceful location in the center of the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, within the beautiful Cotswolds, the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales. Perfectly placed for exploring this lovely part of the UK, there are so many delights to discover from the doorstep. Set within a private courtyard, with its own small, enclosed garden, and private off-road parking, a rare bonus around here.
Book NowAbout The Cottage
Downstairs
The Old Forge provides accommodation for two adults. It has benefitted from careful and sympathetic restoration giving a contemporary feel, whilst retaining many period features. Enter into the welcoming, cosy cottage, close the door and leave the hustle and bustle of a busy life behind. Downstairs is perfectly laid out for two. The sitting room is furnished with a comfortable sofa, it's the perfect place to curl up in from of the wood burning stove and read a book or watch a film. To the side is the kitchen, which has been cleverly designed to incorporate all you'll need to cook up a feast, including the usual appliances plus microwave, dishwasher, and washing machine. A table for two sits under the window that looks into the private garden. The tower of St Edward's Church rises behind and is well the short walk to see its North/West door, framed by two ancient yew trees, which feature in many famous photographs.
Upstairs
The open stairs lead up from the sitting room to a spacious bedroom with en-suite bathroom. This lovely light and spacious room enjoys views out over garden and honey-stone roof tops. Considerately furnished with a traditional iron framed king size bed and large wardrobe offering good storage plus personal touches that give the room its style. The adjoining bathroom is a good size and features a full size bath with shower over, WC and basin with plenty of shelf space.
Outside
The pretty cottage garden is laid mainly to lawn and boarded by cottage plant beds. There is a log store and you will find a table and chairs here. We are happy to allow one well behaved dog to stay with you and the enclosed garden is a safe place to let them out. The Cottage comes with a dedicated parking place just outside the gate, a prized feature in this popular market town. All the essential shops are within walking distance and you can enjoy happy hours wandering around this small Cotswolds town discovering many independent shops, galleries, antiques houses, cafés and bistros, pubs and restaurants. You can enjoy your entire stay here without having to get back into your car, although there are so many fantastic places to discover a little further afield if you feel like an adventure.
Stow-on-the-Wold
With so many options just moments from your doorstep, be it walks or window shopping, The Old Forge Cottage offers the chance for a real Cotswolds experience. Stow-on-the-Wold is a town steeped in history. Wonderful shops, restaurants and pubs, boutiques, galleries, tea rooms and the lovely town square and Church provide plenty of things to see and do within easy walking distance. Alongside the local stores there is also a convenient Tesco supermarket just along the Fosse Way, 5 minutes from the Old Forge Cottage by car plus several essential services, including a fuel station with M&S Food.
In & Around Stow
Stow is a town steeped in history. Wonderful independent shops, restaurants, pubs, boutiques, galleries, tea rooms and the lovely town square and churches provide plenty to discover within walking distance. Lockdown has seen the reinvention of many food outlets to provide boxed ingredients, ready meals, takeaways etc to enjoy at home. Check out The Old Butchers, Todenham Manor Farm, Greedy's Fish & Chips. Find out more on the regularly updated blog by The Cotswold Gentleman. Read More
Daylesford
Daylesford Organic Farm, a few miles away from Stow, offers a wonderful shopping and eating experience with exquisite local produce. Feed your body with the freshest goods and ingredients from the Butcher, Baker and Creamery. The Market Garden offers over 300 seasonal organic fruit, vegetables, salad leaves and herbs, all grown on site throughout the year. The Bamford Wellness will calm your soul though a range of activities that nurture inner peace, including yoga, pilates, meditation, facial and massage treatments.
Visit
A Day At The Races
Cheltenham is the home of jump racing. It's natural amphitheatre gives spectators an unrivalled view of the entire course. The thrill of the day is only enhanced by the famous Roar of the crowd as racing starts - it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end! An easy 30 minute drive away, there are fixtures throughout the season but the Festival in mid March is undeniably the most exciting meeting, Gold Cup day being the pinnacle of the jump racing calendar.
Visit
Batsford Arboretum
A little further afield, the Cotswolds hosts some amazing wonders, including Batsford Arboretum. Just a few miles up the Fosse Way and mile and a half outside Moreton In Marsh, which is in itself worth a journey, Batsford holds an incredible collection of plants. Discover trees from around the world including the National Collection of Japanese Flowering Cherries. Enjoy wonderful walks through carpets of snowdrops and crocuses, breathtaking blossom and magnificent trees. While current restrictions are in place the arboretum is open for visitors on a timed ticket basis. Visit
Diddly Squat Farm Shop
Opened in 2020 by Jeremy Clarkson, the Diddly Squat Farm Shop is an emporium of seasonal edible delights. And potatoes. Found just outside Chipping Norton off the A361, this shop is full of locally sourced Cotswolds produce including meats, vegetables, honey, condiments and artisan bread. You can also find a vending machine selling the freshest North Cotswolds Dairy Company milk in traditional glass bottles, which you can take home and reuse. The delightful market town of Chipping Norton is a few minutes further up the road and a lovely place to while away a few hours discovering lovely independent shops.
Visit
Cirencester Park Polo Club
Cirencester Park Polo Club welcomes visitors with open arms. Established in 1894, amid 3000 acres of parkland and woodland on one of the country's most beautiful parks, Cirencester offers the highest level of polo whilst retaining the charm of a delightfully relaxed country polo club. There is polo on most days, with Sundays being the traditional polo day and the best chance to catch all the action of the tournament finals. Day membership to the Polo Club from May - September is available to purchase on the gate. Enjoy pitch side picnics or entrance into the Members' enclosure, restaurant and grandstand.
VisitAvailability
Reservation Process
We are currently taking reservations for available dates from the beginning of December onwards. Changeover day is by default a Friday, however in quieter months we are happy to try and accommodate alternative dates by request. Our policy is guests are invited on the basis of a minimum 3 night stay. Please get in touch directly for availability and prices.
The Old Forge Cottage has one lovely bedroom, accessed via an open staircase, with one king size bed. It is not set up to accommodate additional guests including children. One well-behaved dog is welcome to stay with you at an additional £25 per stay.
2020/21 Prices Prices are per stay
| Min 3 nights stay | 7 nights, Friday changeover | Short break weekend, Fri-Mon | Mid-week, Mon-Thurs incl |
| Low | £525 | £140 | £133 |
| Mid | £560 | £149 | £133 |
| High | £680 | £181 | £136 |
| Premium | £800 | £213 | £160 |
Low January (first Friday after New Year) to Easter, October to Last Friday before Christmas Mid First Friday after Easter to first May Bank Holiday High Easter, first Bank Holiday to last Friday of September Premium Christmas, New Year and Cheltenham Festival week (March)