Hillcrest Cottage

Brimscombe area in the Golden Valley - designated an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'

Brimscombe is more of an area than a centre on the edge of 600 acres of National Trust common land where the cows roam freely over the what is said to be the oldest golf course in Britain, where a cow on the green is nothing unusual and school children can justifiably use the excuse for being late 'the cows just wouldnt get out of the road'.

Close by are the picturesque villages of Minchinhampton with its tea shops and Nailsworth with its growing artistic community and small shops selling local jewelery, pottery and art.

Brimscombe and down the Stroud Valley, is full of artistic talent. Many painters/sculptors exhibit in London galleries as well as locally. Damien Hurst, who caused uproar when presenting his cow in formaldehide has his studio between Brimscombe and the next village in the valley. Of course we have the local talent of HRH Prince Charles and his watercolours. And of course Jilly Cooper has taken local inspiration for some of her novels, as did Laurie Lee for Cider with Rosie.

Brimscombe Port which is on the canal system in the valley below, will when excavated link the River Severn and the Thames making a total navigable waterway from the West to the East of the country. The funding is almost in place for this excavation and work is tentively due to commence on a 6 mile stretch of canal at the end of 2005. It is very exciting, as hand in hand, is the restoration of some of the character mills which served the Cotswolds in the days of its wealth from sheep farming and the best good quality cloth produced here.

Brimscombe and other local areas have also provided much of the limestone for the interior of the Houses of Parliament and for Gloucester Cathedral.

A few Vistors Book entries from our first visitors:

3-10th Dec 05  Charlotte, Brian, Margaret and Geoff: Reading

" Beautifully decorated with super views.Relaxing break,just what we all needed. Fire place was perfect. Will definitely recommend a visit to friends and family. Thank you for all the hard work put into a much loved house".

18-21st Dec 05 Wayne and Liz

"Luxury and relaxation combined with great views and smell of burning logs fantastic".

  28Dec -2 jan 06 Fisher and Marshall families; Shropshire

"What a place to spend New Year!!   Our expectations were exceeded! Firework displays were a joy to watch in the valley-felt like our own private showing! Attention to detail from Tricia and co is second to none-congratulations on a first rate establishment.We will be back!! Thank you."

Other features at Hillcrest

 The views are a key feature of Hillcrest .There is a good sized area of level lawn for barbecues or relaxing outside the cottage and then the garden slopes away and becomes wide grass and paved terraces, over approximately 3/4 acre.

On a lower level is a games room with table tennis, darts and other toys, (shared with the owners).

Parking

There is only parking for one car in the drive way but a second car can be parked in the lane opposite the property-please ask for further details if required.