Moorhens Cottage
Moorhens is a picturesque, thatched cottage on the popular Lower Mill Estate at Cotswold Water Park. Welcoming families and their dogs, this is an idyllic spot for exploring the 550-acre nature reserve. Comfortably sleeping six guests across three bedrooms, Moorhens offers plenty of space to relax and enjoy your lakeside break. Conveniently located close to the Ballihoo restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and Activity Hub, Moorhens places you right at the heart of Cotswold Water Park. This enviable location offers everything you need for the perfect getaway.
Overview
Moorhens is a picture-perfect thatched cottage in a quieter area of the Lower Mill Estate alongside Somerford Lagoon. With a host of on-site facilities on your doorstep there is no place better to spend your next Cotswold holiday.
The cottage is warm and inviting as you step into the open plan sitting and dining room. The wooden flooring, exposed beams and wood burning stove within a stone surround create a homely atmosphere. If you fancy a change from eating out at one of the many nearby options, family meals can be served at the dining table. In the evening, relax after a busy day with your feet up in front of the fire and your favourite programme on the smart TV. The country-style kitchen has a Rangemaster oven and hob and all the mod-cons you could possibly need. Three bedrooms, two of which are en-suite, ensure you all have your own space and won’t be on top of each other when you’re racing out the door in the morning for your next adventure.
Stepping out the front door you are greeted with lake views and breakfasts can be taken out onto the terrace. Sitting at the picnic bench you look across the Thames Mill Race, one of the only working watermills on the River Thames. There is one designated parking space and additional parking is available in the overflow car parks on site. With all the fantastic facilities that the Lower Mill Estate has to offer you are sure to have a spectacular holiday. You may find you need to return to tick everything off your list.
Ground Floor
Living/Dining area:
Comfortably seating six, the dining area is made for family meals and competitive board games. On cooler evenings you can light the wood burning stove and read a book or watch a film together with two three-seater sofas providing enough space for everybody to sit together.
Kitchen:
The kitchen is incredibly well equipped and you have a fabulous Rangemaster oven to cook on. Washing up is saved by the dishwasher and there is a fridge/freezer, washing machine, microwave, and coffee machine.
Shower Room:
This handy ground floor shower room just inside the back door has a shower, WC and sink.
First Floor
Bedroom One:
Each bedroom has been carefully considered to ensure you have everything you need during your stay. In bedroom one is a double bed, bedside tables and lamps, plenty of storage, a TV, and space to sit to do your hair or even catch up on some work. Above is even a ceiling fan so you are comfortable even in the height of summer.
En-Suite:
In the en-suite is a bath with a shower over, WC and sink. Fill the bath with bubbles and enjoy some tranquillity and time to yourself after a busy day exploring Cotswold Water Park.
Bedroom Two:
A mirror of bedroom one, this room also has a double bed, a choice of storage, TV, a desk and chair and ceiling fan. Both bedrooms have been decorated in pastel yellows and white which perfectly suits this lakeside holiday location.
En-Suite:
The en-suite has a bath with a shower over, WC and sink.
Bedroom Three:
The final bedroom has two single beds and though a smaller room, still has a TV and ceiling fan. There is enough storage room in the two double rooms to accommodate those staying in this room.
Outside
From the back door you step out onto the enclosed terrace which sits above the small stream flowing past. There is a charcoal BBQ and picnic bench so you can grill up a feast during the summer months. The terrace is a wonderfully serene spot early in the morning where you can enjoy breakfast as you watch the ducks paddling along.
Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - Double
Bedroom Two - Double
Bedroom Three - Twin
3 Bathrooms - 1 Shower Room And 2 En-suite Bathrooms
Hairdryer
Fire - Logs Provided For An Initial Fire (1 October To 31st March)
Oven
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge
Freezer
Coffee Machine - Nespresso Essenza Mini
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 6
Washing Machine
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed - 600 Mbps
TV - Smart
Workspace
Travel Cot (cot Linen Not Provided)
Highchair
Outdoor
Dog Friendly - 2 Well-behaved Dogs Welcome For An Additional Fee
Garden - Enclosed Riverside Terrace
Outdoor Dining Area - Picnic Table
BBQ - Please Provide Your Own Charcoal
On-site Facilities - Children's Play Area
Swimming Pool - Shared Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool (open February To December)
Sauna - Shared
Tennis Court - Shared
Parking - Designated Parking For 1 Car And Additional Overflow Parking For 3 Cars On Site
EV Charger - Shared, On-site
On your Doorstep
- Outdoor heated swimming pool with changing rooms and sauna – open year round
- Tennis courts – booking required, equipment hire available
- Adventure play – use of outdoor play areas, booking required and additional fees apply for use of indoor play area
- Equipment hire – hire equipment for the day or week for watersports and cycling
- Fishing – available year round with a valid rod license
- Yoga – studio classes and private sessions available, booking required, additional fees apply
Nearby Cirencester (6 miles) is a fantastic shopping destination with a diverse range of independent and boutique shops. There are also a selection of well-known high street brands including Joules and Waterstones. Regular farmers’ markets are held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month and a charter market on Mondays and Fridays. You will find a deli in the Corn Hall Arcade.
If you are looking for designer brands, Swindon McArthurGlen outlet (15 miles) is worth a visit for a bargain.
Eating Out:
- Ballihoo Club – the restaurant and clubhouse serve locally sourced food and drink for the whole family (booking recommended, on-site)
- The Baker's Arms, Somerford Keynes - quiz nights, live music, delicious food and a beautiful setting this pub is perfect for a quick pint after a walk or a Sunday lunch (16-min walk)
- The Old Boat House, South Cerney – picturesque lakeside dining (4 miles)
- The Red Lion, Cricklade – award-winning restaurant just off the Thames path (8.5 miles)
Walks:
Cotswold Water Park is a fantastic location for walking. Leisure maps are available both online and from the main visitor centre. A selection of circular walks vary from 2km to 18km and are a great way to see this stunning area and the wildlife that lives here. Visit waterpark.org/things-to-do/walking for more details.
Places to Visit:
- Cotswold Country Park and Beach, Cirencester – fire a BBQ, relax on the beach, bounce into the inflatable obstacle course or a hire a boat (1 mile)
- Cirencester – ancient Roman market town regarded as the capital of the Cotswolds (6 miles)
- Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens – fantastic array of species and walkthroughs so you can see the animals up close (20 miles)
Travel:
Train – Kemble railway station (3 miles) has a frequent and direct service to London.
Taxis - Hill South Cerney Cabs, First Taxi
There is so much to discover in the Cotswolds, why not have a look at some of our favourite Bolthole Retreats Experiences.
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 16:00 and a check-out time of 10:00
- Book with us to get exclusive discounts for top attractions and experiences.
- 2 well-behaved dogs are welcome for an additional fee.
- 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.
- Please note that additional guests above the maximum capacity are not permitted.
- Unfortunately properties on the Lower Mill Estate cannot be booked/used for business or corporate purposes.
- For the consideration of guests on the estate, there is an 11pm noise curfew. Please keep noise to a minimum after this time.
- Children and pets must be supervised at all times at the property and throughout the estate due to direct lake access.
- By booking, you agree to adhere to the Lower Mill Estate Code of Conduct which you will find in your guest portal.
Check Availability
Spread the cost of your holiday balance with our flexible payment plan
Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- Charming thatched cottage with space for six, perfect for families and dogs.
- Steps from lakes, wildlife, and outdoor adventures at Cotswold Water Park.
- Enjoy on-site tennis, swimming, and easy access to the Ballihoo restaurant and activity hub.
Discover more
The Location
The Lower Mill Estate at Cotswold Water Park is a luxurious setting for friends and families to gather and make the most of this unique location. This is nature’s playground where you can take to the water on a kayak, canoe, paddle board or katakanu, or stay on land either on foot or two wheels. There are fantastic opportunities to view the resident wildlife from birds to beavers, and fishing is available (license required). Tennis courts, an outdoor heated swimming pool and sauna are also available to all guests at the Lower Mill Estate. Visit Cotswold Country Park and Beach for a traditional family day out by the water. During your stay, Ballihoo is the perfect choice for a meal without having to leave. There is also a range of fresh groceries and everyday essentials available in the shop.
And relax..
Why book with us
1.
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.
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
We had a wonderful few days meeting some family . Lots to do on site, the weather wasn’t great so we would love to come back and get to do a bit more.
Rebecca
Beautiful surroundings, easy to explore surrounding areas. Within easy reach of Bath and Longleat which were well worth the drive ( just over an hour to each). Would recommend this property without question.
Susan
Your cottage is wonderful. We spent two beautiful days.
Fabrizia
Beautiful property and stunning location. The hosts were great and gave us lots of information for us to plan our stay. The bubbly was a lovely touch! Would highly recommend and will definitely stay again!
Shivon
Hosts were really helpful and good communicators. Very happy with the property and all the amenities it was all as described. Thank you.
Teresa
Excellent! Cosy and comfy.
Chloe
We had a good time as a family get together.
Sally
Lovely stay, lovely home, lovely area! Thank you!
Danielle
Gorgeous stay in the Corswolds
Moorhen was outstanding we took a family break (5 of us) in July. The estate is breath taking and we are definitely going to return! There is so much to love. The estate, the area is a good base to explore Cotswolds we ventured to Blenheim Palace, Blockley, Bourton-on-Water, of course Cirencester visited the wildlife park just an area of stunning endless beauty. The cottage was perfect and if I had to be uber critical the only feedback I could give was the parking for the property, people weren't so conscious about leaving room for others to park in the bays so we did have to park in the visitors towards the end of our week luckily there were spaces as earlier over the weekend we struggled to park our 2nd vehicle after returning from a food shop run. But otherwise there were plenty of visitor spaces for us. The cottage is divine the only feedback would be the sofas weren't very comfy and as we spent our days out exploring it's nice to be able to relax in the evening. The estate is beautiful but I didn't realise you couldn't 'walk' around them as properties are built on the water front so access is really only if you want to kayak or paddle board. We did find one lake we could access just outside the estate and enjoyed a beautiful evening walk around
Amanda Champion
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on your recent stay at Moorhens Cottage. We’re so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Your feedback has been shared with the owner, who let us know that had you contacted the phone number provided on the welcome note in the cottage, they would have been very happy to ask the estate team to speak to the neighbours about moving their cars to allow you to park. They’ve also taken your comments about the sofas on board and are looking into this. We do hope to welcome you back to the Cotswolds again soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 22nd July 2025
Lovely stay
Lovely stay at this thatched Cotswold cottage on the Mill View Estate. Plenty of room for a family of four. Nice time paddle boarding and kayaking. Staff on the site were very friendly. Good communication from owners prior to stay. Some of the decor is a bit dated.
Jon Barks
Thank you for taking to share your thoughts following your recent stay at Moorhens. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Your valuable feedback has been shared with the owner who has taken these points on board, and these will be looked into. We hope to see you again in the Cotswolds soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 12th November 2024
June stay for 3 nights
Lovely cottage in beautiful surroundings, with every amenity you could need. We stayed with our two year old son who loved the ducks, chickens wandering the estate not to mention the two playgrounds! It wasnt warm enough for the pool but there is so much other stuff to do - we rented biked and visited the other nearby Cotswold attractions.
This is a great place, dont hesitate to book it!
Gary Gallagher
Amazing Cotswolds home by the water
Very comfortable accommodation, well equipped and furnished, with plenty of accessible walks around.
Dennis Chong
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.
