Self-catering · The Cotswold Water Park
Lower Mill Estate
A family-run private estate of lakes and woodland at Somerford Keynes in the Cotswold Lakes, with architect-designed self-catering homes sleeping two to 12, pools, a restaurant and kayaks, paddleboards and bikes to hire.
Dog-friendly · Family-friendly · Hot tubs · EV charging
Modern lake houses in a nature reserve, for families and groups who want to swim, paddle and cycle without leaving the gate. Each home is different, so read its page; the Cotswold villages are a drive away.
- Good: Homes from cottages for couples to lake houses for 12, some with hot tubs
- Good: Leisure & Wellness club with indoor, outdoor and eco-pools when you book direct
- Good: Many homes take dogs; bowls provided
- Worth knowing: The outdoor pool at the club must be booked in slots
- Worth knowing: Dogs on leads round the houses and away from the reed beds in nesting season
- Worth knowing: Bookings are handled by Habitat Escapes
About
Lower Mill Estate is a private estate of freshwater lakes and native woodland on Mill Lane, Somerford Keynes, in the heart of the Cotswold Lakes. It was launched in 1999 by Habitat First Group, which the Paxton family run, and its contemporary holiday homes, all privately owned, are let through Habitat Escapes, the estate's own booking partner.
The homes range from small cottages for couples to architect-designed lake houses for 12, some with hot tubs and some air-conditioned, and each has its own page with its beds, rules and whether dogs can come. Linen, towels and a small welcome pack of tea, coffee, sugar and milk are provided. Guests who book on the estate's own website get the Leisure & Wellness club, with a gym, treatment rooms and indoor, outdoor and eco-pools; the outdoor pool there is booked in slots released the day before, while the Mill Village outdoor pool is open from 8am to dusk with no booking. Ballihoo is the restaurant, where dogs are welcome and have their own menu, and kayaks, paddleboards, bikes and scooters are hired from the activity hub.
Homes take guests from 4pm (the estate's facilities from 2pm), and check-out is at 9am in peak periods and 10am otherwise. There are paid 22kW chargers for electric cars in the Millstone and Water Gardens car parks, used through the Roam app, and some homes have their own. The estate speed limit is 10mph. Dogs go on leads near the houses and keep out of the reed beds where birds nest on the ground. For more birds and open water, Cleveland Lakes is close by at Ashton Keynes.
The details
- Check-in
- From 4pm; estate facilities from 2pm
- Check-out
- 9am in peak periods, 10am otherwise
- Minimum stay
- Most homes let for 2, 3, 4 or 7 nights, usually arriving on a Monday, Friday or Saturday.
- Features
- By the water · Restaurant · Swimming pool · Gym · Spa · Parking · Dogs in rooms
Photos
Houses along the lake at dusk 
The estate from the air 
Paddling past the houses 
The Hub
Location
Nearby walks, places and things to do
- Hoburne Cotswold 3.5 km away
- Cleveland Lakes, Cotswold Lakes Trust 3.5 km away
- The Tavern Inn, Kemble 4.9 km away
- De Vere Cotswold Water Park 5.4 km away