The Cotswolds is rightly prized
as one of England’s prettiest
regions, thanks to its rolling
pastures, chocolate-box villages
and spellbinding country houses. An Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it stretches
south of Stratford-upon-Avon to just below
the city of Bath, and has long been a popular
choice for those seeking to move out of
London or purchase a weekend retreat. ‘The
Cotswolds attracts lots of tourists and social-
media infl encers because it is unbelievably
beautiful, arguably more so than any other
part of the country,’ says Charlie Wells,
managing director of the buying agency
Prime Purchase, whose family have lived
and farmed in the area for more than 300
years. ‘But it is also fraught with hidden
pitfalls, problems and blights that can easily
be overlooked if you are looking through a
fi ter on your phone.’While Wells is right to advise caution,
it’s hard not to be captivated by some of
the bucolic properties that are currently on
the market. Pictured above is Hills Farm in
Gloucestershire, eight miles from the market
town of Cirencester and eleven miles from
Cheltenham. Surrounded by its own land
and with a long, private drive, it’s located in
a conservation area on the edge of the village
of Chedworth. Built from honey-coloured
local stone and substantially remodelled, it
still retains the feel of a traditional Cotswold
house, but the interior is wonderfully airy
and light-fi led. Bifolding doors make the
most of the spectacular views along the
valley, while the 41.33 acres include a two-bedroom guest house and a swimming pool.
Another Gloucestershire property is
Todenham Hall, a Grade II-listed former
rectory close to the small town of Moreton-
in-Marsh, which has a direct train service
to Paddington. There are plenty of
local attractions too – Daylesford, Soho
Farmhouse and Hidcote are all within a
short drive. The six-bedroom, Georgian
property was extensively refurbished in
2006 – along with the coach house, which
was extended and converted into ancillary
accommodation. There are formal gardens,
with clipped yew hedges and specimen
trees; a Japanese ornamental water garden;
fruit cages brimming with strawberries,
raspberries and gooseberries; and even a
vine house. Beyond the gardens are two
large fie ds – perfect for keeping a pony.
A short drive west lies Green Close,
a quintessentially charming CotswoldINTO THE HILLSFrom modern masterpieces to traditional country piles,
Rosemary Brooke is captivated by the wealth of properties
to be found in the CotswoldsBRITAIN PROPERTYHILLS FARM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Situated at the edge of the pretty village of
Chedworth, Hills Farm is a perfect hybrid of
traditional and contemporary – the period stone
farmhouse conceals contemporary, light- lled
interiors, created by Yiangou Architects. The main
house has ve bedrooms, and there’s a separate
two-bedroom cottage. £3.5 million.
Knight Frank: 020 7861 170709-19Cotswolds.indd 10 19/06/2019 11:32