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Built around
the end of the 17th Century, Little Barn was home to the farms horse-drawn
wagons until the early part of the 20th century. All the buildings in this small
hamlet style community belonged to the farm. We live in six converted stables
– Stable
Barn. Next door in this wonderful setting is the farmhouse itself and The
Granary, creating a village feel yet only a ten minute walk into the town for
shops, pubs and restaurants.
Little Barn
has two ground floor bedrooms, a double bedroom with French doors leading out to
your own patio and a single bedroom with a second single pullout bed. The
magnificent oak and elm "A" frame of the building creates a stunning living room
with a separate dining area. Central to this is a Cotswold stone fireplace with
a coal effect gas stove. Divided from the dining area by elm posts is a
shaker-style kitchen complete with fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, electric cooker
and microwave. Also on the ground floor is the bathroom and toilet.
A balcony
overlooking the living room leads to the open plan second living room with a
sofa bed. The whole building is double glazed, centrally heated and stylishly
furnished with halogen lighting highlighting the wonderful beams and Cotswold
stone.
Using the
three bedrooms Little Barn sleeps five.
Car parking
is provided to within a few feet of the front door and the aspect is one of
space, lawns, trees and fields. Footpaths and bridle paths are literally on your
doorstep. If you are planning ahead then Ordnance Survey Explorer map 180
"Oxford Witney and Woodstock" will be ideal.
And for
those evenings in Little Barn offers an inviting gas-fired stove, a wide variety
of games, books and a flat screen television with DVD player. Free Wifi
Broadband Internet is also included in the cost.
Little Barn
sits in a corner of the owners’
large garden here in the grounds of Stable Barn and from its own private patio
enjoys views over open farmland.
To
understand the unique setting of Little Barn, in the context of being in a
lovely old market town yet in a village-style setting within Witney, we have to
take you on a journey to your front door.
Witney is
the hub of West Oxfordshire, "the gateway to the Cotswolds." You may know it for
being famous for its blankets; indeed you may well turn to a corner of any
quality blanket and see a picture of the town’s
Buttercross, the symbol for "Early's of Witney."
Witney sits
on the banks of the River Windrush, ten miles west of Oxford and on the A40 road
to Cheltenham. For those coming to us by public transport you will need to take
the frequent 100 bus from Oxford, a journey of about 30 minutes.
Happily
Witney is also equal distance of some six or seven miles between Woodstock and
Burford, two of the most delightful small Cotswold towns.
From
the East:
Take the first exit off the A40 from Oxford and come down the hill into the
town. At the first mini roundabout turn right up the hill signposted "Bicester".
Immediately
on the brow of the hill turn left to "New Yatt." Follow the road around the
green past the church and the pub and continue along the tree-lined New Yatt
Road for 400 yards until on the edge of the town you see a black and white sign
saying "Private Drive Middlefield Farm House and Stable Barn Only" (opposite
Early Road). That’s
us! Come down the drive and take the entrance on the left.
From
the West:
Take the first exit off the A40 at the roundabout three miles from Burford and
follow the road to Minster Lovell and then Witney. Continue straight on
following signs to "Bicester" until you are directed up a hill at the second of
two mini roundabouts. Then follow instructions in the previous paragraph.
From
the South:
From Abingdon and the south follow the signs to the town centre and then
"Bicester" then follow the instructions from the brow of the hill.
From
the North:
On entering Witney from the Woodstock direction take the first right turn after
300 yards into Early Road. Continue to the end of the road and cross straight
over at the junction into the private drive signposted "Middlefield Farm House
and Stable Barn Only". We are at the end of the drive on the left.
This is
where we can become very enthusiastic especially as we have been involved in the
promotion of tourism in the Thames Valley, Oxford and The Cotswolds for 30
years.
Oxford is of
course just a delight to explore, especially, we believe, on crisp Autumn and
Winter days or in the meadows, college and botanic gardens in the Spring.
Woodstock and Burford are perfect small Cotswold towns surrounded by a myriad of
charming villages. Further afield yet less than an hour away is the Regency town
of Cheltenham, and Shakespeare's Stratford upon Avon.
Great parish
churches endowed by powerful wool merchants are everywhere but you must visit
the most magnificent of all in Cirencester and Fairford. Stately homes as
grandiose as Blenheim Palace are complimented by fascinating houses such as The
National Trusts celebrated Chastleton House near Chipping Norton and William
Morris’
riverside setting of Kelmscott Manor near Lechlade.
Then there
are the river valley villages of the Windrush, Cherwell and Evenlode as they
meander through the nearby countryside to join the River Thames above Oxford.
Indeed the Windrush flows through Witney itself and can be enjoyed by a visit to
the Cogges Farm Museum, centred on a 700-year-old Manor House and where you can
experience the atmosphere of a Victorian farm. The river runs through the farm
museum grounds and is an easy walk from Little Barn.
Tel 01993 706632
www.stablebarn.net
Oxfordshire self catering holiday cottages