Oldbury Barn
Set between the charming towns of Cheltenham and Cirencester, Oldbury Barn is a beautifully converted barn surrounded by sweeping countryside views. At the heart of the barn is a bright, open-plan living area with exposed wooden beams and wide French doors that flood the space with light and frame idyllic rural views. It’s the ideal retreat for families and friends. Outside, a large lawned garden offers something for everyone. An inviting terrace for al fresco dining, a BBQ for long summer lunches, and enough garden space to keep little ones happy. And, while Oldbury Barn feels blissfully off the beaten track, it’s perfectly placed for exploring the Cotswolds. Spend days discovering nearby market towns, countryside walks, and family attractions, then return for dinner at a cosy country pub just a short drive away.
Overview
Perched just outside the pretty village of Elkstone, high in the hills above the Cotswolds, Oldbury Barn is a handsome Cotswold stone retreat wrapped in rolling valley views. With footpaths leading straight from the garden into open countryside, this is a stay that truly immerses you in nature.
Inside, a spacious open-plan living area forms the heart of the home, where soaring ceilings, exposed beams, and a wood-burning stove create warmth and charm in equal measure. French doors and wide windows invite the outside in, opening onto the garden. A sociable kitchen, generous dining space, and inviting seating area make it ideal for gathering with loved ones. With two en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor, it's a perfect choice for multi-generational getaways. Full of character and colour, it’s a place where you can truly settle in and feel at home.
The garden is a joy for families. There’s a lawn for games, and a terrace where grown-ups can unwind with a glass of wine and a view. Fire up the BBQ and linger over long lunches while the countryside stretches out before you. At the front, a gravelled driveway offers ample space for up to six cars making it ideal for group stays or family reunions.
Ground Floor
Entrance Hall/Cloakroom:
When you first step into Oldbury Barn you can take off your coats and shoes to be stored in the entrance hall. There is a handy cloakroom here as well with a WC and sink.
Kitchen/Dining/Living Room:
The heart of this beautiful home is its breathtaking open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area, stretching the full length of the barn. Showcasing striking, elevated beams, an elegant arched window with a built-in seat, and a glowing woodburner, this is where you'll naturally gather and linger the longest.
The kitchen is perfectly designed for sociable cooking and relaxed entertaining. A large island provides ample prep space and a breakfast bar for morning coffees or evening chats. You’ll find a Rangemaster oven and hob and all the glassware, crockery, and bakeware you could need for a fully self-catered stay. French doors open directly onto the patio, ideal for seamless al fresco dining and summer evenings under the stars.
At the centre of the space sits a sleek oak dining table that extends to comfortably seat everyone. Positioned beside the elegant arched window, it offers lovely views of the garden while you dine. Nearby, a long sideboard holds a Sonos speaker and a selection of family games, adding to the warm, welcoming vibe.
At the far end, the living space invites you to unwind. Two generous three-seater sofas and a cosy armchair are perfectly placed around the impressive inglenook fireplace, where a large woodburner sets the scene for fireside evenings, board games, or simply curling up with a good book.
Bedroom One:
This beautiful, spacious, apple-green en-suite bedroom is striking, yet cool and calming. Two large arched French windows overlook the front of the barn and the side garden. The bedroom is furnished with a king-size bed with bedside tables and reading lights, a dressing table with a mirror, an armchair, and a large corner wardrobe with hanging space and shelves.
En-suite:
The bright and light bathroom features a full-size bath, with central taps and hand-held shower, a sink and WC.
Bedroom Two:
The dark grey-blue walls of this en-suite bedroom add great drama to this inviting bedroom, with its arched French window opening out to the front of the barn. The bedroom is furnished with a king-size bed with bedside tables and reading lights, a chest of drawers with tri-mirror, a shoe rack, and hooks on the back of the door to hang clothes.
En-suite:
The ceiling of the en-suite sweeps to the full height of the barn making this a stunning shower room with a large walk-in shower, washbasin with vanity unit, mirror and shaver point, a WC, and a heated towel rail.
First Floor
Bedroom Three:
This family bedroom has two standard double beds. Each bed has a bedside table and lamp and the room has a small armchair and hooks for hanging clothes. The bright and inviting room has two floor-level windows and a Velux window.
Bathroom:
The spacious bathroom has a bath with a shower over, a washbasin with a hand-built vanity unit and mirror, with lots of storage space, and a WC.
Bedroom Four:
At the opposite end of the barn, this bedroom has a double bed and a single sofa bed. The room is furnished with children in mind, with a play mat, floor cushion, and toy storage box serving as a chest of drawers. However, adult guests will also enjoy this room and the great view from the double bed through the floor-level window out across the surrounding countryside. Hooks on the back of the door provide a hanging place for clothes. The two floor-level windows and Velux make this another sunny and bright bedroom.
Utility Room:
The barn has a handy utility room, with an washing machine and dryer, iron/ironing board with plenty of space to do the ironing, a fan and a clothes airer.
Outside
When the sun shines, Oldbury Barn’s outdoor spaces truly come to life. To one side, a generous lawn invites games and lazy afternoons, while to the rear, a spacious lawn and stone terrace spill out from the kitchen and dining area - perfectly placed for outdoor living. Here you’ll find a large dining table with seating for ten, ideal for long, alfresco lunches. A charcoal BBQ adds to the laid-back charm, while little ones can make the most of playing in the large garden. At the front, a wide gravelled circular drive provides parking for up to six cars, with secure double gates offering peace of mind for families with children. Set high on one of the Cotswolds’ most elevated spots, Oldbury Barn enjoys uninterrupted, panoramic views from every corner of the garden: there’s rolling countryside as far as the eye can see.
Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - King-size
Bedroom Two - King-size
Bedroom Three - Double (with Sofa Bed On Request)
Bedroom Four - 2 Double Beds
3 Bathrooms - 1 En-suite Bathroom, 1 Ensuite Shower Room, 1 Family Bathroom, 1 W.C.
Hairdryer - 1
Fire - Logs Are Provided For An Initial Fire (1st October - 31st March)
Oven
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge
Freezer
Wine Fridge
Coffee Machine - Moccamaster Filter Bean To Cup
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 11
Washing Machine
Tumble Dryer
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed - 100-199 Mbps
TV
Travel Cot (cot Linen Not Provided) - 1
Highchair - 1
Stair Gates
Record Player
Sound System - Sonos
Outdoor
Garden - Not Fully Enclosed
Outdoor Dining Area
BBQ - Please Provide Your Own Charcoal
On-site Facilities
Parking - Off-road Parking For 6 Cars
On your Doorstep
The nearest general store (1.8 miles) is Colesbourne Stores, Filling Station and Post Office, selling a range of essentials and locally produced meats, produce and bread. The nearest large supermarkets are in Cheltenham (7 miles), Cirencester (8 miles) and Gloucester (10 miles). Elkstone Studios (3 miles) is home to Jesse Smith butchers, Knead bakery, the Tipsy Baker Bar and a collection of stores. A farmers’ market is also held every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, an amazing opportunity to peruse the offerings of local producers. The Green Dragon Inn Pub Shop in Cockleford provides a wide selection of meats, milk, and organic fruit and vegetables, as well as delicious olive oil, pasta and ice cream.
Eating Out:
- Green Dragon, Cockleford – pretty 17th century pub with open fires, stone floors, and good food (2 miles)
- The Golden Heart Inn, Birdlip - traditional country pub with a menu of classic and quirky, vegan and vegetarian offerings (3 miles)
- Bathurst Arms, North Cerney – distinctive pink pub, with authentic pub food, done well (5 miles)
- Foston’s Ash Inn, Stroud – tuck into seasonal food and local ales at this traditional 19th century pub (7 miles)
- 131, Cheltenham – stylish eatery with two restaurants, a gin bar, and a vibrant terrace (8 miles)
Oldbury Barn is right at the heart of great walking country. A 4.5-mile moderate walk takes you from the Barn to Cowley, through the woods, along the River Churn and back again. Time it right and you can stop for lunch at the Green Dragon pub in Cowley.
Places to Visit:
- Cheltenham – elegant Regency town home to world-class festivals, excellent shopping, dining, and entertainment (8 miles)
- Painswick Rococo Gardens – magnificent Rococo gardens from the 18th century (10 miles)
- Cerney House Gardens – romantic walled gardens to explore (5 miles)
- Bibury – regarded by William Morris as the ‘most beautiful village in England’ and home to the Arlington Row cottages (19 miles)
- Train - Cheltenham Spa railway station (8 miles) and Kemble railway station (16 miles) have a frequent and direct service to London Paddington.
Taxis - Cheltenham Starline Taxis, Cirencester Taxis
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 15:00 and a check-out time of 11:00
- 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.
- This property accepts a maximum of 8 adults.
- Oldbury Barn is one of our pet-free properties and therefore dogs and other pets are not permitted.
- The mezzanine balcony has a lower than average bannister, children should be supervised.
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Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- Large garden with terrace, BBQ, and plenty of space to relax.
- Peaceful hamlet location between Cheltenham and Cirencester, perfect for exploring the Cotswolds.
- Nearby Elkstone Studios is a reimagined farmyard now home to a lively food hall, artisan bakery, stylish café, and a padel court.
Discover more
The Location
The hamlet of Elkstone was first mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) and is one of the highest settlements in the Cotswolds, affording it breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside and valleys. Lying halfway between Cirencester and Cheltenham, just off the A417, the village is the perfect location to explore both of these Cotswolds’ towns, and the villages and places of interest in between. At the heart of the village is the 12th Century church of St John the Evangelist, which towers over the surrounding countryside at 1,000ft above sea level.
And relax..
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Book your holiday home directly with us for the best possible price. Because we work exclusively with our owners; we guarantee you won’t find our properties cheaper elsewhere.
2.
Guaranteed
best price
Book your holiday home directly with us for the best possible price. Because we work exclusively with our owners; we guarantee you won’t find our properties cheaper elsewhere.
3.
Guaranteed
best price
Book your holiday home directly with us for the best possible price. Because we work exclusively with our owners; we guarantee you won’t find our properties cheaper elsewhere.
Read our reviews
Wonderful stay, multi generation venue. everything we needed. We went to a wedding but it would be lovely at Christmas or for family gatherings.
Nicola
The place is in a beautiful setting, safe for kids and lots to do locally.
Surinder
Brilliant stay for all of us, just what we wanted and immaculate. Even better than the pictures! Definitely worth recommending this property as it has everything and more!
Josh
Long weekend break with family
We spent three nights at Oldbury Barn - was a beautiful property. Well located for local attractions and activities, the property was beautifully decorated and spotless.
We were a family group of ten - two families with young teenage children and an elderly couple. The property had 4 large bedrooms, huge bathrooms (2 en suite) and plenty of communal living space. The outside space had stunning views and was very well maintained, with plenty of wood provided for the fire pit. It was extremely clean throughout and the customer service was excellent.
I would highly recommend this property to friends and family.
Neel Mandalia
We spent three nights at Oldbury Barn - was a beautiful property. Well located for local attractions and activities, the property was beautifully decorated and spotless. We were a family group of ten - two families with young teenage children and an elderly couple. The property had 4 large bedrooms, huge bathrooms (2 en suite) and plenty of communal living space. The outside space had stunning views and was very well maintained, with plenty of wood provided for the fire pit. It was extremely clean throughout and the customer service was excellent. I would highly recommend this property to friends and family.
Neel
Perfect for a wedding stay!
Oldbury Barn is superb in almost every way! We booked here for our wedding in Cirencester and it was close enough yet rural enough to make it absolutely perfect for our accommodation requirements. The property is stunning, and the views heading out over the hills is just beautiful. The bridal party stayed here on the first night, with all the hair & make up suppliers attending in the morning to get the girls ready. On wedding night, the groom and groomsmen then joined and it was just perfect for us. The only downside I can see is that the property has chosen to redact the option for bringing pets - I understand we’re one of the last bookings that have been allowed this. The property is absolutely perfect, and we would not hesistate to stay here again, just a real shame we can no longer bring our dogs with us. All in all though, a simply wonderful property, in a wonderful setting, with a wonderful layout too. One of the best!
Jack Timmis
Oldbury Barn is superb in almost every way! We booked here for our wedding in Cirencester and it was close enough yet rural enough to make it absolutely perfect for our accommodation requirements. The property is stunning, and the views heading out over the hills is just beautiful. The bridal party stayed here on the first night, with all the hair & make up suppliers attending in the morning to get the girls ready. On wedding night, the groom and groomsmen then joined and it was just perfect for us.The property is absolutely perfect, and we would not hesitate to stay here again. All in all a simply wonderful property, in a wonderful setting, with a wonderful layout too. One of the best!
Jack
We loved the barn, beautiful location and great facilities. Perfect for our weekend away!
Anna
The property is beautiful and had everything we needed for a wonderful holiday, including a lovely Christmas tree! The kitchen is fully equipped and includes 2 refrigerators which came in handy. If you are looking for a peaceful setting that is convenient to many villages and local attractions, stay here.
Carol
Beautiful views, the Christmas tree was a nice touch. Would be excellent for families.
Jenni
A stunning location
This house is a beautiful stay, perfect for two families and a dog in tow! The children loved the garden, the rooms were spacious and you can tell this was once an immaculate home with lovely decor. Unfortunately we did notice several things through our stay that was a little disappointing considering this was our only family holiday and something we were really excited about. Firstly the Floors were dirty causing children’s white socks to be black. I can imagine cleaning a house of this size sometimes dust collects etc but this was noticeably dirty within the first few hours of arriving. Banister felt sticky to touch and was dirty.
Kitchen island and sides were dirty, once we wiped them with anti back and kitchen roll the kitchen roll was visibly dirty. I was not happy with this as a very basic clean would be ensuring surfaces have been cleaned. We Carried the bin out and noticed it had leaked so wiped the floor in the porch area and the wipe was extremely dirty again showing the floors had not been cleaned.
spill mark down one of the bedroom doors that haven’t been wiped off. And generally could do with a deep clean for example Under radiator in downstairs bathroom when you lay in the bath is noticeably thick dust and dirty.
Wires / connections in the bedroom where one of our children were sleeping. I expected this to be covered, or maybe even hidden behind a side table or something so it’s not easily visible to an interested child.
Upstairs toilet has some serious draining issues as it smelt like stagnant toilet water. Fortunately there are several bathrooms so we just shut the door and used the alternative bathrooms downstairs.
Lights above dining room table don’t work so as the evening drew in we found ourselves playing games in the dark!
Upon booking this house the children were excited to use the sandpit ( we live in a flat so the garden was a big selling point of our holiday) unfortunately when we arrived it wasn’t in the garden. So explaining that to the children wasn’t the best start.
Wrong chairs and table in the garden to what is advertised and photographed again very disappointed. This house needs new up to date photos. As someone who has a sever back injury we knew this place would be perfect due to the garden furniture being sturdy chairs with cushions, a beautiful place to enjoy dinner and evening drinks. The current table is set with two benches and although large and seated everyone easily it wasn’t what we expected and isn’t comfortable to relax at.
We put the umbrella up on the patio as it was very hot and it was broken. My brother did try to fix it using some tape to give the children some shade and it did help.
Hosepipe outside constantly leaking, we were concerned that the gardener had left it on so checked it over but it still leaks even when turned off. I can imagine this to be an expensive water bill issue if not resolved.
Unfortunately on the gardeners visit they had pulled up the pop up goal our little boy had brought for the holiday and ripped it off its pegs causing it to tear so then for the duration of the holiday it wasn’t able to be used as it blew around the garden.
Hole in the middle of lawn - we covered it with soil to prevent any accidents with the children running around as they do! This may need looking at by the gardener incase of any accidents that could happen.
Few things missing from the kitchen like a cheese grater, the knives were extremely blunt so very difficult to use when your doing a week self catering. Everything else was pretty well stocked! Loved the variety of mug sizes as we are all big tea drinkers!
No milk provided which was stated there would be on arrival again, a little gutted as we had to wait one whole very long hour until the food shop arrived with no milk for the cup of tea after a long travel time….. Obviously joking and it wasn’t an issue for us but if it’s stated it should really be there.
Bedding was all clean, although the green bedroom you kinda fell into each other as the mattress was very soft. The rug in that room really needs a good clean as it is extremely marked.
The fire pit was a lovely grown up treat! We toasted marshmallows and enjoyed them knowing that the children were asleep and we didn’t need to share!
This home appears to be a once beautifully decorated house, beautiful views, lovely style and homely feel about it. My daughter loved reading the books each night in the bedroom as they were different to our ones. We loved the layout of the house, the views are exceptional. We attended Elkstone studios, which was lovely. The children loved the park and the bakery was unreal! We visited Cirencester which was gorgeous and every where we drove was around 20/25 mins away so it felt like the perfect location. I feel if those issues stated above were resolved it would be an outstanding place to go on holiday!!
Matt Luther
An excellent place for a family get together.
An excellent place for a family get together - a stylish barn conversion with lots of space indoors and out.
We've been there as a family three times now and loved it every time.
Also handy that the access is flat and there are two downstairs bedrooms with ensuites and no steps.
James Birtwistle
A beautiful place but needs a bit of an upgrade
Oldbury Barn is a beautiful home in an exceptional setting. Customer service was excellent and the pre-stay information the best I’ve ever seen.
Having two fridges was very good and the freezer was a decent size. Provision of crockery and cutlery was great, the travel cot, stair gate and high chair was appreciated, but there weren’t sufficient wine glasses for the number of guests staying and the dining table a squeeze for eight adults and two toddlers. Frying pans could do with replacement and a selection of serving dishes would be appreciated.
A larger dishwasher or two dishwashers, as now often seen in larger properties would be beneficial and the facilities for waste collection/recycling could be improved.
Bedrooms and bathrooms were a good size and comfortable. The seating area was very good and the garden a wonderful facility.
Overall, a very good property which could be made excellent by a small amount of upgrading.
Guest
Great, spacious property in a stunning location.
The property is open plan which means for large families it’s great, you feel together yet not too on top of each other. The Green Dragon pub/restaurant is only 4 mins away and is a must for lunch or dinner. Property was clean, lots of parking space and very welcoming. We would book this property again.
Luke Bower
Happy
Comfortable accommodation. Not enough rubbish bins for the size of the property. Barbecue clapped out!
Beautiful views.
Guest
Beautiful well-,located house
Used as a base to explore the local area, Oldbury Barn served our purposes brilliantly. A light and flexible space, we all enjoyed our stay very much.
Tom Venner
Nice layout for families with children
Layout was great for 3 children - due to an open plan kitchen and living room.
We contacted bolthole about the following but they responded with very little to say on the matter:
- cleanliness - the bedside tables were extremely dusty when I contacted Bolthole retreats about this, they responded to say it’s our responsibility to tell them about these issues upon arrival so they can put it right. Personally I feel it’s their responsibility to ensure this doesn’t happen in the first place so I was confused by their response. My son has asthma so this was quite concerning.
- there was a huge build up of rubbish outside the property. Bolthole said this was due to a large, long guest stay prior to our arrival. There was so much rubbish that couldn’t fit into bins so this is what we saw upon arrival. When asking bolthole about this they said, This huge pile of rubbish was left out for bin collection which is understandable however any overflow surely shouldn’t be taken to a dump so guests don’t arrive to such a mess? It most certainly wasn’t the most delightful entrance to drive up to.
- the heating in this property is so over the top. Even after contacting the housekeeper, we turned down upstairs heating but the underfloor heating downstairs was so strong we had to sleep with all doors open at night. Children’s baby monitors were reading 27degrees. I would have thought the heating would be pre controlled to ensure guests comfort?
The outdoor space is lovely for children and the views were lovely.
Chloe Poelman
Earl December Winter Break
We had the most wonderful few days in Oldbury Barn - beautiful setting and wonderful barn. It allowed all six of us to relax with everything you need in a home from home environment- Highly recommended x
Trish Willetts
Oldbury Barn family weekend
Wonderful remote location with great views down the valley. The barn has been converted to the highest standards and the big open plan downstairs was just right for our family group of 8
Jeremy Whitehead
Amazing location for a family celebration
A lovely barn in a stunning location with amazing views . Great for our family Ruby wedding anniversary which ranged from a 1 year old to a 75 year old .
Great space downstairs with good facilities .
Enjoyed the enclosed garden and seating area where the children could run around safely ; the toddlers enjoyed the trampoline and slides .
The garden and the sandpit could have done with being more weed free though .
Bedrooms downstairs were beautiful ; a big hot upstairs .
Overall an enjoyable stay .
Guest
Beautiful Cotswold Barn
My family and I had a wonderful time at Oldbury Barn - it was the perfect location for us. It’s out of the way but there’s a pub 5 mins down the road by car (Green Dragon) and the rolling countryside is literally on the doorstep!
The Barn itself has been beautifully restored. The living space is open and large.
The two downstairs bedrooms are a great size, with smaller rooms upstairs in the eves.
There is a laundry room upstairs too which is really useful!
We had a great time and will definitely consider staying again .
Emma Waterman
Weekend away with friends
We stayed in Oldbury Barn as a group of 30 somethings and had a magical time. The Barn is set in beautiful countryside and feels like a proper escape. Inside it is very well equipped and has a huge a comfortable open plan living space for socialising. The only very small critiques were 1) the post-code takes you to a property a very short distance away and the barn sign is not clear/lit up which was tricky when arriving after dark 2) it was very warm inside and we couldn't find the thermostat! But overall, a really great stay and would thoroughly recommend. Thank you!
Bronwen Warner
Could be a lot cleaner
House in stunning location but in the middle of nowhere. Housekeeping let it down for us, attention to detail lacking in the cleaning.
Guest
Oldbury Barn Elkstone
Lovely old barn conversion-really loved the Cotswold country decor and furniture.
Great views over the rolling Cotswold hills. Clean and airy with a large drive for as many cars as you like. Great log fire.
Had everything we needed and most of the basic bits, except loo rolls and toiletries such as shower gels seemed to be missing.
Paths around the house were wet and slippery too which could be dangerous.
Drive very boggy around front gate so had to get feet wet to walk out.
Mark Reiner
Create Memories
Experiences designed to make your stay unforgettable
We have curated not only a portfolio of properties, but also a portfolio of experiences we recommend everyone try the next time they visit the Cotswolds and surrounding counties. This selection of ours is constantly growing as we discover more hidden gems and local stars. Many of the experiences are incredibly popular, and we encourage booking in advance because these little extras can turn your everyday holiday into a fantastic, fond memory, one you aren’t soon to forget.
