Andy Mossack reviews a one-bedroom rustic Cotswold cottage rental in Bourton-on-the-Water, one of the Cotswolds’ most popular villages.
It was early in the morning in the picture post card village of Bourton-on-the-Water and there was not a soul in sight. Empty. Just the sound of the Windrush bubbling past my bedroom window. I thought it was high time I got up, after all, I had a long 10-yard walk to the baker for a fresh breakfast pastry.
I have to say it was a little surreal to be right in the heart of one of the Cotswolds most visited villages with not a coach party to be seen, but that is the beauty of having a rented cottage in such a prime location.
Skylark is one of four Cotswold stone one-bedroom cottages attached to a Grade 2 listed mill within the grounds of the famous Cotswold Motoring Museum. It literally seeped character everywhere with rustic beams, exposed stone walls and plenty of nooks and crannies.
The downstairs was made up of a well-equipped kitchen area with plenty of crockery, lounge and dining area with a few steps down to an entrance hall. There was a large flat screen TV and fast wifi throughout. The sofa opened as a double bed, so the cottage could sleep four in theory, but it would be a bit of a squeeze especially with only one bathroom upstairs ensuite to the bedroom.
Speaking of which, this was a lovely cosy loft space lined with timber beams, plenty of natural light, a double bed and ensuite bathroom with bath and shower.
The cottages have all been recently renovated, and considering these are 18th century listed buildings, they’ve done a fine job.
There’s an allotted free car parking space for each cottage behind the building, which trust me, is an absolute godsend in such a tourist hot spot.
The added bonus that comes with each rental is you get free entry into the Motoring Museum which is only a few steps away. The museum has a fascinating tale to tell. It began life in 1978 as the pet project of Mike Cavanagh a keen collector of classic cars during the 20 years he lived in South Africa.
He moved back to England in 1978 shipping his entire collection in the process and set out to find a suitable place to show it. At that time, the old mill and adjoining sheds were empty, unused and up for sale. Mike had found his ideal spot and somehow squeezed his collection into the space leaving just enough room to walk in between them. He retired in 1999 and sold it to the CSMA motoring club and since then the museum has expanded the collection to include all kinds of motoring memorabilia from cars and parts to signage and vintage toys and miniatures.
Despite the village’s popularity during the day, I found it very quiet overnight even with the bedroom windows open for air. There is no air conditioning, but there are heaters for cold nights.
Bourton-on-the-Water is a beautiful village and fully deserves its ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ status. And it was a delight to be able to walk around it, crowd-free, early in the morning or in the evenings.
We had the rest of each day to explore some of the less visited Cotswolds, seeking off the beaten path places to discover. Bourton House Garden and Stow-on-the-Wold are very close by, while historic Cirencester and the stunning Cotswold Lakes are just a 30-minute drive away. All this safe in the knowledge we can return to our lovely cottage, park up and relax right in the heart of one of the Cotswold’s prized locations.
And I have to say, all the staff at the museum, who also look after the cottages, were incredibly helpful and always on hand to offer advice and support when needed.
The Windrush offers some lovely riverside walks out of the village and there are plenty of circular trails for keen walkers including one that takes in Bourton-on-the-Water and The Slaughters.
Skylark, my rustic Cotswold cottage rental proved to be a roaring success and an excellent base to explore much of this section of the Cotswolds.
By the way, that breakfast pastry really was a delightful way to kick off the day.
Tell me more about this rustic Cotswold cottage rental
Cotswold Cottages, The Old Mill, Sherborne Street, Bourton-on-the-Water GL54 2BY
E: info@boundless.co.uk T: 0800 669944
Cottages can be booked on short-break options: 3-night stay: Friday to Monday, 4-night stay: Monday to Friday, Week-long break options: 7-night stay: Arriving on Monday or Friday. Rates from £520.20 (as of August 2025) for 3 nights. For late availability offers check here.
Please visit Cotswolds Tourism for more information on the region.
