Eastwood Cottage

Eastwood Cottage has an elevated position in a wooded valley in the village of Horsley and 1 mile from the lively market town of Nailsworth in the Stroud Valley. It is a classically period Cotswold cottage with a contemporary twist. It has recently benefited from the addition of a seasoned English oak framed extension to the existing kitchen, creating a light, open space for entertaining and relaxing, as well as cooking. Downstairs are four reception rooms [a large living room, study, small living room, and kitchen/breakfast room] along with a utility room and toilet. Cooking is from a gas double oven and hob. On the first floor there is a sizeable double bedroom and two bathrooms and on the second two further double bedrooms.

The heating is via gas central heating, electric under-floor heating and a wood burning stove. There is a good wifi connection across the whole house. We have a wide selection of books, CDs [and even a collection of vinyl records!]. The TV has Netflix and iPlayer as well as other channels. We also have bikes that could be used.

Outside is a patio area off the kitchen/breakfast room and small gardens immediately in front of the house. There are extensive gardens to the rear. From the top of the garden you can access the meadows above the house and begin one of many walks around the parish.

We do not have a garage but there is an off-road driveway with parking for three vehicles.

About the location

We moved to Eastwood Cottage, Horsley in 2020 after leaving Bristol where we lived for over thirty years. We are still discovering its beauty and range of amenities. Horsley, is a charming village with a strong sense of community. This year [2024] it is holding a festival, Horsley Festival: Culture and Community Unwrapped [ www.horsleyunwrapped.org ]. It has an excellent community shop, selling a wide range of products, the Ruskin Mill organic food shop, including its own farmed trout, an excellent pub serving good food, a church, a primary school, childrens' play area and two community orchards. From the house there are endless walks and quiet lanes for cycling as well as one of the national cycling routes. The area is steeped in early industrial history with old woollen mills, renovated and utilised for a variety of purposes, to be found along the various valleys. There is a [infrequent] bus service that runs between Nailsworth and Wotton-under-Edge that runs through the village and stops outside the house. There is a good bus service from Nailsworth to Stroud where there is a railway station, direct service to London.

We are a mile from the market town of Nailsworth, which has a growing reputation for the quality of its independent retailers. The town can provide all you require in foodstuffs and has an excellent delicatessen with a fresh fish counter, a renowned bakery and two good butchers. It has a large supermarket and two smaller ones, two wine stores, a pharmacy, an excellent independent bookshop, two cycle shops, various clothes and other outlets. It also has a library and two small arts centres.There are ample places to eat. It also boasts a monthly Saturday market.

The town of Stroud is four miles away and offers an award winning Farmers Market, as well as multiple supermarkets, leisure facilities and Stroud Brewery. It has a strong cultural life. The market town of Tetbury, famous for its antique shops is also close by with the towns of Cirencester, Gloucester and Cheltenham all within striking distance. There are three challenging golf courses nearby at Minchinhampton and another near Wooton-under-Edge. National Hunt racing at Cheltenham and Premier Division rugby at Gloucester, as well as football at Forest Green Rovers with its home ground in Nailsworth.

For longer journeys, there are good transport links to London with a direct line to London Paddington from Stroud taking around 90 minutes. There is also a station at Dursley and Cam for trains to Bristol and the south-west. Bristol is about a 40 minute drive and the Roman city of Bath is 30 minutes away, as is Gloucester. Oxford is an hours drive away. The Cotswolds are on the doorstep and only a little further afield with easy transport routes you have access to Wales, Hereford and the Malverns. However, you don`t have to go far for local interest as the whole valley is steeped in history and the countryside is glorious. If you are a committed walker the Cotswold Way passes close by.

Type of swap

  • Home Exchange
  • Open to Offers
  • Housesitting Offered
  • Weekend Exchange

Conditions of exchange

  • Non smokers only
  • Children welcome
  • Pet Care Offered

Horsley, Nailsworth (HE34179)

Gloucestershire,   England

  • 3 bed   (sleeps 6) 2 bath

Preferred destinations

  • Open to offers

Dates available

Open to offers

Swap duration: Open to offer

Meet the member

Adults: 2      Children: 0
Experienced Exchanger

Membership expiry date: 29 May 2024