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http://www.cotswoldcharm.com/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=12&id=20&lang=en&view=article#sigProGalleria7cf3f6d63b
Details and then Customer Comments below.
The Ewe Pen sleeps up to 5 persons is a 2006 barn conversion in which extensive efforts were made to create a split-level bungalow which would be as user friendly as possible for ambulant, non-ambulant, and/or partially sighted, etc. guests.
A part of the Blind Lane landscape for over 300 years, it sits at the bottom of the small orchard which Michael can recall being totally covered in straw lined hurdles in March & April when 500 or so ewes would pass through it. Regrettably, he was the driver of the rear mounted covered muck fork that accidently demolished its lean-to in the early 1960s from which time it then saw very little livestock use.
With its own drive and ample space for two cars, the Ewe Pen is in many ways rather reminiscent of a Roman villa with its four main rooms surrounding three sides of the westward facing courtyard. This decked area offers a sheltered spot where you can relax in the morning sun and enjoy stunning sunsets in the evening. A gently sloping ramp leads up to a pair of doors that open to provide well over a metre’s width for wheelchairs to gain access.
The accommodation comprises a large farmhouse style kitchen, lounge, three bedrooms (twin with ensuite-wet-room, double and a single) and a family bathroom. Rooms are accessed through metre wide doors, karndene flooring is easy to clean and reduced allergens to a minimum, and under floor central heating maintains a comfortable atmosphere.
The access ramp takes you directly into the L-shaped lounge and immediately to the left is the light and airy farmhouse style kitchen which also has its own level access to the decked courtyard. The kitchen has an integral electric induction hob & extractor hood and sink unit (recessed for wheelchair access), electric oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, food processor & utensils along with the essential dishwasher and washer/drier. The table will comfortably seat the occupants plus a couple of guest. Wi-Fi access to the internet is also available from the kitchen.
The bedroom off the kitchen has a pair of simple electric single beds and there is sufficient space around and underneath them for a hoist to be used. Wall mounted colour television/DVD player can be controlled from the beds via remote controller and “touch” bedside lamps are provided.
This bedroom enjoys an ensuite wet-room that has a real non-slip floor, appropriate toilet, shower wheelchair, fittings and bars/supports to provide safe transfer. Emergency chords are strategically placed.
Back through the kitchen to the lounge, a lovely room with character provided by a beautiful Cotswold stone fireplace. It is a really comfortable well furnished room with three armchairs (including an electrically operated recliner) and sofa, etc., that also has plenty of space in which to move a wheelchair around. Additional features include colour television/CD/DVD player, FreeView channels and Wi-Fi Broadband to access to the Internet.
Off the lounge you will find a large and well appointed double bedroom that has a king-sized double bed. Just four steps down from the lounge is small sunlit lobby with access to a single bedroom, family bathroom and a south facing walled courtyard.
All heating, linen and towels are included in the charge and the cottage is thoroughly cleaned between changes.
We do not allow any smoking inside the cottages and dogs (with the exception of Guide Dogs for whom there is additional cleaning charge of £25.00).
For those looking for any easy week with very little cooking, we provide a website link to Wiltshire Farm Foods who can provide a wide range of frozen ready cooked meals. Local shops like the Co-Op, Smith’s the Butchers and Drinkwater’s the greengrocers can supply te majority of your needs and Bennetts Wines have an exciting range of beverages to suit most tastes.
Those with particular requirements regarding beds and/or lifts/hoists or other special needs, are asked to discuss the matter with us. If our facilities cannot meet your needs, Huntleigh Health Care (0845 734 2000) will provide a 7-day rental service for a wide range of products that can be arranged prior to your stay. Helping Hands Home Care (01789 762121) or Housing21 (01386 – 840691) can provide extra support for those that need it.
For those with a wheelchair or scooter, Wheel-Ability (Colette or Phillip Kilminster) from Gloucester on 01452 – 414968 can provide on-site servicing and/or repairs.
In November 2008 Visit Britain rated he Ewe Pen as 3Mi, it is an idyllic retreat from which to explore the Jewel of the Cotswolds, views over the Vale of Evesham, the Cotswolds themselves and nearby Shakespeare Country. There are walks of all lengths, 2 - 6 miles locally, the Cotswold Way starts at the Town Hall and ends when you reach Bath and if you are a bit more ambitious there is also the 615 mile Monarch's Way.
Customer Comments
Dec 2011
We had a wonderful stay. The cottage is excellently furnished and equipped for all ages. We certainly appreciated the Christmas tree and decorations which made it like home from home. -------L&R S
A wonderful Christmas week was had by all in the Ewe Pen. It is beautifully decorated and very cosy. We will certainly be coming again! -- G, J & N
We all had a wonderful time in this lovely cottage - well equipped, warm & cosy in a lovely setting. ----- C&L B, K&J R
Nov 2011
Excellent accommodation, very clean and spacious for wheelchair users, the bathroom is excellent for disabled people, although it could have done with a wider shower-stool (this has since been replaced!).
Everything is perfect, very comfortable and cosy. The decor is exceptional and the view is unbelievable – the scenery must be some of the most beautiful in Great Britain.
It does not matter if the weather is good or bad, you can still enjoy yourself. ----- B, L, E & T J
Thoroughly enjoyed by all for generations – hope to come again in the spring. ---- S & H & B from Hereford
Oct 2011
Thanks for a fantastic few days - the cottage is perfect, the scenery unbelievable and we have had a wonderful stay. We cannot wait to come back again. ---- J from Dundee
In our opinion the cottage has given us a 5 star weekend! The high quality fittings and extra touches have made a huge difference and we will certainly be back!
Thank you – we would highly recommend a visit to the Cotswold Farm Park to anyone staying with a young child; it was one of the best we have visited.
We’ve been nothing but impressed and “wowed” by the stunning surrounding countryside. Thank you for a wonderful weekend! ---- The E’s
Lovely cottage, beautifully finished and most importantly, lovely and warm. We felt very well looked after and will be back. ---- S, E, M, D N from Crewe
Our first reaction when we walked in was “What a beautiful place”. The longer we were here the more our initial reaction was confirmed and endorsed by the enthusiastic entries in the visitor’s book.
The layout and the terrace is great, the decor so appropriate and so elegant. The kitchen is superbly equipped and we love all the mugs, the giant clocks are super and so practical.
The setting of the cottage is beautiful and Campden is very pretty and an excellent centre for touring. We went to Hidcote, Batsford & Broadway, etc. The range of good “eateries” with disabled access is very impressive and like the equivalent week last year, we had good weather.
The carers from “housing 21” were excellent and delightful personalities. We passed on a couple of technical thoughts (acted upon!).
We very much hope to be back many times. Thanks for a lovely holiday. ---- B, C, R & S from Fordingbridge
Sep 2011
Thank you for a very enjoyable stay at the Ewe Pen. It is very comfortable and exceptionally clean. The decor all through the cottage is very tastefully done and the view, patio and gardens are excellent and very enjoyable for a disabled person. ---- L, B, E & T from W Midlands
Yet another lovely week in a lovely cottage. This is our second visit and it has not disappointed us. The weather has also been kind and we managed to go out every day. ---- P, K, A & L
A lovely relaxing week in a charming cottage. All we could wish for. Shame about the weather, we could not sit out on the decked area apart from one short time. ---- B, M, S K & I
Aug 2011
We had a wonderful week in this beautifully presented accommodation. It has everything we needed for our comfort. We were blessed with dry weather, cool at first and then warming up towards the end of the week. We enjoyed visiting all the villages we remembered from our previous visits years ago,
Thank you for recommending Wiltshire farm Foods which were good and saved us from the chore of preparing meals and the expense of eating out every day. We will come again. ---- M, B & J
We all had a wonderful time! The cottage is beautifully furnished and decorated. It is fully equipped with everything we needed.
The Cotswolds are absolutely beautiful and we cannot wait to come and stay here again. ---- K, V, C, N, & S
We have had a lovely time with this superb accommodation. The cottage is lovely and well decorated and all of our needs were provided for.
An excellent base for exploring the Cotswolds. ---- R, I & D
We have very much enjoyed staying here. Everything for our convenience has been provided – even the most glorious weather. ---- J & P S, J H from Norfolk
Jul 2011
Thank you for a lovely relaxing stay in the Ewe Pen. Accommodation and facilities were excellent, just perfect for our disabled daughter who has had a great holiday.
Highlights were holding a baby owl at the Cotswold Falconry Centre and feeding a giraffe from the safari bus at the West Midlands Safari Park – both highly recommended days out for all the family.
Thank you for providing such excellent accommodation – we are already planning our return. ---- M, M &SM P from Buckinghamshire
It was a delight to return to Chipping Campden once again and the welcome and pleasure of the Ewe Pen where we were able to relax and enjoy the Cotswold country air.
A great deal of thought has been put into the design, layout and equipping the Ewe Pen and we would like to express our sincere thanks to Steve & Shirley for their welcome and ensuring we had a wonderful week’s respite. Many, many thanks. ---- E & P C and H & L B from Dorset
Like any holiday there is an upside and a downside, beginning with the downside – to say parking in Chipping Campden is bad is an understatement, nowhere to park by the pharmacy, even with a Disabled Blue Badge it still cost us a £10 Penalty (can now report that there are two new Disabled Parking Spaces by the Chemist).
Anyway the upside part of the holiday was a WONDERFUL COTTAGE to stay in with all that is there for the DISABLED. Ewe Pen itself cannot be faulted. All that you could wish for manner of disability is here to enjoy a holiday.
Hopefully we can make it back again next year. ---- Mr & MRs A & Mrs R from Liverpool
Lovely break. Cottage very comfortable and relaxing, very good facilities made it more enjoyable. Only downside was the weather as would like to have made more of the outdoor facilities whilst enjoying the view. ---- W family from Ashford, Middx. and Vale of Glamorgan
Jun 2011
Another wonderful week in your wonderful cottage. We all enjoyed last year and this year everything is just as lovely.
Sorry to be leaving – thank you so much. ---- M & T B C & B C from Carmarthen and Cardiff
Excellent accommodation for someone with walking difficulties – we need many more like this throughout the UK. Well done – and we adored the beautifully luxurious curtains
Possible better reading light in lounge would be good but otherwise perfect.
Do go to Cotswold Wildlife Park – absolutely brilliant and worth every penny. ---- W & A H from Droitwich
This is a wonderfully equipped cottage in a beautiful location, so peaceful. You have thought of everything to make a holiday perfect.
Sightseeing – we’d like to recommend a couple of places:
The gravity fountain at Stanway House was tremendous, a real jaw-dropper!
Cotswold afternoon teas are not to be missed! (sampled Dial House at Bourton on Water, Dormer House at Broadway)
Snowshill manor – lovely peaceful gardens but STEEP!
Hope to return to Chipping Campden again next year. ---- L, F & J
May 2011
We have had a wonderful time at the Ewe Pen and also enjoyed sightseeing in the area. Thank you. ---- C, S & P
We have certainly enjoyed our stay in your “cottage”. It is the nicest self-catering accommodation we have used, and by far the most well equipped. You have thought of virtually everything and done it very imaginatively. Thank you. ---- J & P B
Had a lovely holiday again. Our weather was good which always makes a difference. Our friend who came with us this time thought the cottage was excellent.
Our only comment is that the lack of a shower chair made transfer to the seat more difficult (this has now been addressed with new shower-chair and a much better shower seat). Thank you for a wonderful holiday. ---- & G T, T & K E
Apr 2011
Thanks for a lovely stay in the spacious well-appointed cottage. Weather was glorious and te patio perfect for sitting outside.
Can thoroughly recommend outings to Coughton Court and Upton House – both houses and gardens worthwhile. --- I, P, C & S from Frankefurt
Lovely stay in this wonderful cottage. Loved being able to walk down to the village. Had good weather to tour arund and visited many palces. Bourton on Water & Straford our favourites.
Very, very comfortable here, lovely comfy beds, could not fault this cottage. ---- A & C D
Mar 2011
The family revisited this wonderful cottage again. Weather fantastic, racing awesome – only one thing disappointing “where’s the love seat gone!”. Thank you so much, see you next year. – The F’s
Had a wonderful holiday at this beautiful cottage. Enjoyed Chippign Campden very much.
Cottage tastefully decorated and ideal for disabled. Thank you. ---- M’s & F’s
Feb 2011
Half-term & Valentine’s Day – great venue to chill out and enjoy our half term break. Very well equipped cottage – you have thought of everything for the personal touch.
A visit to Lapstone is a must – great coffee & treats. Thanks. – The O’D Family from County Down
