Grove Wood Cottages

Perrycliff sits high on a ridge in the village of Upton Bishop, with expansive views across the border, way back into the Black Mountains that make the heart soar. Perrycliff is a very naturally welcoming cottage. Think reassuringly thick walls, squishy sofas, oak beams, and a warming log burning stove, all set against a calming contemporary colour palette.

The spacious stone floored hallway is well stocked with novels, jigsaws, local maps, and carefully curated recommends of ‘must sees’. There’s a high-quality kitchen complete with a welcoming Aga, a ‘Quooker’ tap and all mod cons, making mass-catering for three generations a genuine breeze. Sliding patio doors connect the two terraces and those wide-open vistas to the cottage. Sandra’s meticulous attention to detail includes a BBQ, an atmospheric firepit, a pizza oven and your own orchard across the lane with summer house and seating -all ideal for an al fresco supper watching the sunsets.

The four stylish bedrooms are split across the ground and first floors, and sleep eight comfortably all with en suite bathrooms. Egyptian cotton bed linen, fluffy robes and dreamy Myddfai toiletries make stealing an early night an enticing prospect.

A new addition for this year is the utterly fabulous Stables. Sleeping four with en-suite bathrooms and the same luxury standards as at Perrycliff. Blending effortlessly into the private woodland, this contemporary larch-clad cabin is a separate no-compromise hideaway, tucked away in the grounds of the main house. Plenty of modern glazing brings the leafy outside inside, and the sense of forest seclusion is palpable. Some carefully curated live-edged furniture, liberal use of sustainable wood from Grove Wood and the wood burning stove and the tactile reclaimed wall coverings all warm the soul. Luxury surrounded by nature is the essence of the experience here, think camp-fires, snowdrops, bird-feeding, slow picnics, toasted marshmallows and hugging trees. We adored the ‘au naturel’ bath tub and outdoor shower embracing the great outdoors, and positioned to embrace the glimpses of patchwork fields through the trees.

Guests have use of the tennis court next door, but for those who are here to re-set, try taking a chilled bottle just across the lane to the summer house in the cottage’s very own ancient west facing orchard; a gorgeously peaceful ‘time stops’ spot, and watch the sun go down whilst the children play. Space to breathe and room to relax.

Special features

• Guests have use of the tennis court next door
• Well regarded gastro pub only a ten minute walk away
• Cycle routes and footpaths of the Forest of Dean are within easy reach