Overview
Discover ‘Bee Cottage’, a detached and cosy four-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage, nestled discreetly at the secluded end of Howells Mere overlooking a picturesque waterway.
‘Bee Cottage’ is one of only two similar properties that stand as a testament to the original style of Lower Mill’s Cotswold charm. Surrounded by the modern grandeur of its neighbouring lakefront residences, this cosy cottage is a pleasant 10-minute stroll to access the outer nature reserve, along with onsite facilities such Lower Mill Spa, Ballihoo restaurant and the tennis courts at Millstone Park.
With a warm, homely atmosphere reminiscent of a childhood family cottage escape, ‘Bee Cottage’ is well suited for families, accommodating up to six guests, including two couples and two children. While the single bedrooms are set up with children in mind, they can accommodate adults if needed.
Flanked by the gentle embrace of nature and the surrounding waterway that flows under the little wooden bridge into Howells Mere Lake, ‘Bee Cottage’ enjoys the benefit of a quieter setting.
Learn more about this property in the ‘Accommodation’ section below.
Sleeps 6
4 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
WiFi
High Chair
BBQ
Log fire
Childrens Playground
Tennis Courts
Access to spa and pool
Cot
Shared Outdoor Pool
Ground Floor
As you step inside through the welcoming front door, you’ll find yourself in a cosy entry hall, complete with shoe rack and adjacent cloakroom with laundry. The laundry boasts a separate Bosch washer and dryer with elevated hanging space, providing practicality at your fingertips.
The heart of the home unfolds into an open plan living room enhanced with dual-aspect windows and glass doors, offering picturesque views of the seasonal reeds and foliage along the waterway. Imagine dining with loved ones at the table for six, with nature as the backdrop.
Internal French doors lead to the charming kitchen nook, featuring an all-white and grey functional workspace for crafting family meals. You’ll find a fridge-freezer, NEFF single oven, 5-burner gas cooktop, a convenient microwave, coffee percolator and French press for those leisurely mornings, a Bosch dishwasher, and a good old-fashioned radio to set the mood for some culinary dancing.
The lounge area boasts soft comfortable sofas and a striking wood-burning fireplace that takes center stage in the room. Flanking either side of the fireplace are bookshelves stocked with an impressive collection of DVDs and books for the entire family, creating an inviting atmosphere perfect for winter gatherings and relaxed entertainment.
Outside
French doors lead to the south facing patio, where an outdoor dining table for six and a couple of sun lounges await. Here, you can relax amidst the swaying reeds, accompanied by the gentle sounds of our Lower Mill ducks frolicking on the water. Fire up the coal BBQ for delightful evenings under the starlit Cotswold sky.
While there are neighbouring properties across the waterway, this cottage enjoys a tranquil location at the quieter end of Howells Mere, which backs onto Lower Mill’s expansive 450-acre nature reserve. Spend your days exploring bike and walking trails, paddle boarding, or try your hand at casting a rod into one of the many accessible fishing lakes.
With the waterway embracing Bee Cottage on two sides, there is a small patch of lawn to the side of the property with space for children to play. For those hiring watercraft, there’s a convenient space for storage along either side, or the back of the cottage.
First Floor
Ascend the naturally lit, carpeted stairs, and you’ll arrive at a landing that guides you to the sleeping and bathing quarters.
Two single bedrooms feature drawers beneath the beds to unpack clothes and toys. Both rooms offer peaceful views over the waterway adjacent to the cottage, teeming with wildlife.
A charming double bedroom, complete with small balcony offers glimpses towards Howells Mere.
The family bathroom welcomes you with a shower over the bath and is equipped with a Velux window, inviting natural light to filter in.
The verdant, nature inspired king bedroom at the rear of the cottage boasts a built-in hanging robe, an en-suite shower room, and a small south facing balcony overlooking the waterway. There is even a radio for those personal tunes, or simply let the soothing sounds of nature serenade your senses.
At ‘Bee Cottage,’ create cherished memories against the backdrop of Lower Mill Estates unique beauty. Whether you’re unwinding by the wood burning fireplace, savouring al fresco meals amidst nature’s symphony, or exploring the estates trails, lakes and waterways, ‘Bee Cottage’ offers a holiday where each moment is etched in tranquillity and warmth.
Estate Rules
- Quiet hours are observed after 11pm, we aim to maintain a peaceful and respectful environment for all residents and guests.
- Hen and stag parties, including any related activities, are not allowed on the estate premises
- Work related stays for any purpose are not permitted on the estate
House Rules
- All our properties are non-smoking.
- Upon departure, kindly ensure that the premises are left in a clean and orderly manner, with all furniture returned to its original position and rubbish removed. There are bin stores located around the estate.
- A £500 refundable damage deposit is due the week before your arrival. You will be contacted regarding this.
- Please utilise the one parking space provided at the property. Additional parking is available at the main car park if needed. Please do not park in the bays assigned to other properties.
- This property is not pet friendly
Whats included
- Bath and hand towels
- Tea towels
- Bed linen
- Bin liners
- Kitchen pack of cloth, sponge, dishwasher tablets and washing-up-liquid
Property is self-catered. The house is fully equipped with cutlery and crockery
Spa use included but subject to availability (contact Spa directly for opening times). Pool towels can be rented from the Spa, please contact the Spa directly to arrange this. (01285 862640)
On-site restaurant and small market shop with seasonal opening hours. Availability can book up in peak weeks so contact Ballihoo prior to arrival to not miss out. (01285 840181)
Bike and watercraft hire are available at the Activity Hub as well as lessons. Please follow the link for more information: https://lowermillestate.com/activities/
Not all properties have direct lake access even though they are listed as lakeside. If you are unsure whether this property has lake access please check with our team.
Please be aware that the vegetation surrounding the property is subject to change according to the time of year. This may mean that the views represented in the photos above may vary depending on the season in which you stay with us.
Normal check-in is from 4 pm. Out of peak season, early check-in of 2 pm may be available (at an additional fee). Please contact our office team to enquire.
Check out during off-peak dates is by 10 am on the day of departure. During peak dates (school holidays) check out is at 9 am.
£500 refundable damage deposit is due the week before your arrival. You will be contacted regarding this.
Travel cot and highchair are available for £10, subject to availability. Please advise at the time of booking. Guests to provide their own linen and mattress for the travel cot.
There is a strict 11 pm noise curfew on the estate.
Habitat Escapes does not accept bookings for hen or stag parties.
There are 3 electric vehicle charging points on the estate that operate on a first come first use basis.
All our properties are non-smoking.
Seasonal Closures
Somerford Lagoon Lake is closed from October – March due to nesting birds. The nearest canoe launch point is located near Mill Village as marked on the Estate Map.
The Somerford Nines (Clearwater 1-9). The private outdoor pool closes after the October half term and does not re-open until Easter.
The Miss Mouse Trail, run by the activity hub closes for the winter months. This is from 1st November to the Easter holidays.
Property specifics:
Not Pet Friendly
One designated parking space – please use the overflow car park for additional cars.
If you are looking to book multiple properties with us we have some lovely properties that are close to Bee Cottage.
Bauhinia House - Situated just a few seconds along from Bee Cottage. | Sleeps up to 11
One One Eight - Situated just a minutes walk from Bee Cottage. | Sleeps up to 12
Shelducks - Situated just a minutes walk from Bee Cottage. | Sleeps up to 10
Please contact a member of our team if you have any questions on booking multiple properties.
The following information will help you to locate Bee Cottage upon your arrival to Lower Mill Estate.
Village
Your property Bee Cottage is based in Howell's Mere
Property Number
Howell's Mere 75
Finding your Property
From the main entrance where the security hut is positioned, drive through the gate and bear left, drive through the car park ahead and exit right when you get to a four-way crossroads for Clearwater and Howell's Mere properties.
Continue forward over the bridge taking the immediate right towards Howells Mere and Clearwater properties. Continue along this road and you will get to a point where the road splits off either left or right. Bear left and continue along the road passing the Spa and Tennis courts on your right and houses on your left. At the end of this road, you will see a bridge in front of you.
Cross over this bridge into Howell's Mere and turn right through a couple of wooden gates. Keep following the road straight along to the end until it starts to bend left. At this point, you will see two houses in front of you just before a bridge. On the left of these two properties is Bee Cottage, your parking spot in front of the property is labelled with the number 75.
To assist you during darker evenings, you would be advised to bring a torch with you as there is no street lighting permitted on the Estate other than low-level lighting.
Co-ordinates
Please use the below links to see the exact position of Bee Cottage on Google maps and what3words.
what3words: https://w3w.co/trails.trio.narrating
