The Chairman's Retreat is a beautifully presented house nestled below Frith Wood in Laurie Lee's stunning Slad Valley. Spacious and bright accommodation with a private terraced garden backing on to a paddock and woodland. Only a short walk to the famous Woolpack pub, a quick drive to Stroud's Farmers' Market and easy access to Cheltenham, Bath, Cirencester, Gloucester and the rest of the scenic Cotswolds, the house offers the perfect base for exploring. Great for families or groups of friends.
The Chairman's Retreat is a light and airy house with all the comforts of home. It is totally self contained with a private garden and forms the rear half of our home. It's so private you probably won't see us during your stay but if you do need help we are generally just next door.
The House is in the middle of the Slad Valley, immortalised in Laurie Lee's beautiful book Cider with Rosie. It has great views across the valley from the garden and views up to Frith Wood from the house. It's a really peaceful retreat in a spot that is magical at all times of the year.
We don't have many street lights here so the nights are dark and the stars are bright. Pretty much the only noises you will hear at night are foxes, badgers, owls and the wind in the trees.
The house is really comfortable, with a mix of antique and contemporary furniture.
The entrance hall has lots of space for coats and muddy boots, a loo and a laundry room with separate washer and dryer.
The house is upside down with bedrooms mainly on the lower floor and the sitting room, dining room and kitchen upstairs.
Through the entrance hall is a small study area; you'll get good wifi throughout the house but if you need some desk space you'll find it here.
Up half a flight of stairs to the master bedroom, with its own en suite shower room and patio doors onto your own private terrace with a table and chairs for morning coffee or evening drinks. This room is easily big enough for a travel cot or child's bed.
Round the corner and down some stairs to a double bedroom and twin bedroom with a shared bathroom, which has a bath and shower.
Then upstairs to the open plan dining room and sitting room. The dining room has a table for eight; great for lazy dinners. The sitting room is part of the same space but up a flight of stairs. Complete with squashy leather sofas, a wood burner (your first load of logs will be waiting for you), a smart TV, toys, games, books and a DVD collection. There's lots to do and space to relax.
The kitchen has a big fridge, separate freezer and large range cooker. Lots of kitchen kit is available and if you need anything else we are just next door and happy to help. There is also a breakfast table and high chair for smaller guests.
The fourth bedroom is off the sitting room and down a little corridor and is a double with windows facing Frith Wood. It's next to a bathroom and while not en suite, it's pretty much your own. The bathroom is a tribute to the 80's and as you would expect, has its very own jacuzzi bath.
Outside there is a terrace with seating and a BBQ and two lawn areas, one of which is fenced to give some play space for younger guests. There is also a little herb garden, so feel free to help yourselves. You are welcome to use the paddock which is great for romping and frisbee but a bit too sloped for football. Take care with the electric fence around the chickens and do feel free to ask us about eggs.
There is great walking to be found all around the valley. You can walk from the Chairman's Retreat straight up into Frith Wood; down the valley will bring you to Tom George's racing stables and through the woods and over the hill will take you to Painswick, the so called Queen of The Cotswolds, with its unusual churchyard, lovely pub The Falcon and surprising Olivas Deli, St Michaels restaurant and a fine coffee shop. Painswick as about a 45 minute walk away and if you fancy a night out, it's a pleasant (if hilly) stroll home.
Closer to home is the Woolpack pub. Serving great food, local Uley Brewery and Stroud Brewery ales, it's cosy and popular and famed as an old haunt of Laurie Lee. If you want to be sure of a table it's worthwhile booking or letting us know and we will book for you.
Slad is only a few minutes from Stroud by car. Trains from Paddington are direct and take around an hour and forty minutes. There is parking for two cars; if you need more space let us know and we can arrange it.
If you are coming from further afield, Heathrow is 1:45 hours away, Birmingham airport 1:20 hours and Bristol 1:20 hours away.
Stroud has a great Farmers' market on Saturday mornings - excellent local produce and yummy things for lunch. Our favourites are the Falafel wraps and the Tartiflet and if you can fit anything else in Pippins Doughnuts.
Further afield Cheltenham and Gloucester are no more than half an hour by car with good shopping, the race course and The Everyman theatre.
