The Old Chapel - Family friendly - Slad Valley

Entire home in Slad, United Kingdom

  1. 9 guests
  2. 4 bedrooms
  3. 5 beds
  4. 3 baths
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars.5 reviews
Airbnb Luxe
Extraordinary homes, vetted for quality.
Hosted by Bolthole Retreats
  1. Superhost
  2. 9 years hosting

Listing highlights

Exceptional check-in experience

Recent guests gave the check-in process a 5-star rating.

Valley and garden views

Soak up the views during your stay.

Park for free

This is one of the few places in the area with free parking.
Escape to the extraordinary at The Old Chapel where a new detail captures your eye at every turn. Beautifully renovated, the unique original features of church windows and exposed beams are allowed to shine, creating an elegant and welcoming space. Families will adore staying here as the children can take over the snug while the adults share a bottle in front of the fire, coming together for board games and meals in the fabulous kitchen/diner.

The space
Seeing The Old Chapel for the first time is an awe-inspiring moment. Sitting above the rolling green valley famously immortalised by Laurie Lee in Cider with Rosie, the chapel is framed in wisteria with rose windows, small turrets and a collection of headstones which lie to the front. It is unlike anywhere you will have stayed before.

Feeling at home as soon as you arrive, the spacious and light rooms are highlighted with finely curated decor. The living room offers a choice of seating where you can either watch a film or chat amongst friends over a competitive game of chess. Open the doors on sunny days for a gentle breeze, or light the fire to keep any evening chills at bay. Original arch windows frame the dining area in the kitchen/diner and the clever conversion makes the kitchen spacious and a delight to cook in. A snug with beanbag seating and its own TV and a handy utility round out the ground floor with more than enough room for family living. The charm of this old chapel continues upstairs where you can peek out circular windows and duck under exposed beams in the bedrooms. With double rooms, a single and a flexible family bedroom all groups are accommodated for, and nobody will feel hard done by as each room is equally inviting.

Step out onto the terrace where a BBQ and garden games are a must. The lawn stretches before you with a trampoline for the little ones and a picnic bench perfectly set to make the most of the surrounding landscape. To the front of The Old Chapel the quaint headstones sit on the bank of a steep incline, hidden from view when inside. Spending time listening to the birdsong in the gardens is as appealing as relaxing indoors and you'll leave with a camera roll full of new memories.

Ground Floor

Living Room
Your first impression of The Old Chapel is the magnificent living room. With oodles of space there are two seating areas and an entrance hall where you can leave your coats and bags. To one side is a corner sofa, perfect for lounging beside the fire while you watch TV and relax, or you can use the clever chess table for an evening game after dinner. Beautiful double church doors open to the terrace and arched windows look across the views to the front.

Kitchen/Diner
Bright and airy, the kitchen is fully-equipped with an oven and hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and lots of surface space. You will love preparing meals here where you can prepare and serve meals with ease. The dining area seats nine easily and sits alongside an arched window with views out over the picturesque valley.

Snug
This is where the children will hideaway with their own TV and beanbags. Watching cartoons, playing board games and telling each other stories they will love having this space to themselves.

Utility/Shower Room
The utility is a very useful space at The Old Chapel, with a washing machine and dryer and a pull-down drying rack so you can stay on top of the necessities while you stay here. There is also a shower, WC and basin here.

First Floor

Bedroom One
The master bedroom has an eye-catching rose window, framing the garden beyond. A king-size bed sits beneath exposed beams and a quiet dressing area is tucked around the corner. Waking up in the morning you will be drawn outdoors when you open the curtains to your lush surroundings.

En-suite
Through a folding door is a shower, WC and basin. Decorated with quirky scientific wallpaper you'll spend longer here than you'd expect taking in all the details.

Bedroom Two
A king-size bed is tucked beneath the angled roof where you will get an uninterrupted nights sleep. There is a chest of drawers and beside tables.

Bathroom
The stylish bathroom has both a rainfall shower and a bathtub for washing off after a country walk. Colourful blue and grey tiling makes this room an elegant retreat for a spa experience.

Cloakroom
Sitting alongside the main bathroom is a cloakroom with a WC and basin so nobody is left waiting in the mornings.

Bedroom Three
Families and groups with children will love bedroom three. A super king-size bed can be split into twin beds on request and there is a bunk bed for younger guests. With a rose window and dark beams this room is full of character.

Bedroom Four
Looking out across the valley, bedroom four has a single bed with a small chest of drawers alongside the bed.

Outside

The gardens at The Old Chapel are a step away from the everyday. To the front a scattering of headstones reminds you of the history of this building and a lawn stretches to one side with a trampoline at the end. Serve meals on the terrace with a beautiful backdrop and at the end of the day, head up to the picnic bench perfectly placed for watching the views change as the sun goes down.

Guest access
Guests have full access to the house and garden.

Other things to note
Book with us to get exclusive discounts to top attractions and experiences.
Unfortunately, this property does not permit hen and stag parties, party groups, or all adult groups under the age of 25. This property is ideal for family groups.
The Old Chapel sleeps a maximum of 9 guests.
Please note that additional guests above the maximum capacity are not permitted.
Access from the parking area to the property is up a short but steep incline. There are steps and sloped access.
Children should be supervised in the garden as there are some high drops and steep sections.
The Old Chapel is one of our pet-free properties and therefore dogs and other pets are not permitted.
CCTV records the entrances to the property at all times.

Where you’ll sleep

1 of 2 pages

What this place offers

Each Luxe home is fully equipped to meet your needs, with ample space and privacy.
Garden view
Valley view
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace

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Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 5 reviews.

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Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for value

Where you’ll be

Slad, England, United Kingdom
Exact location will be provided after booking.

Neighborhood highlights

The village of Slad holds an important part of Cotswold history. It is here that the author Laurie Lee grew up, went to school, based his novel Cider with Rosie, and ended his days being buried in the local church. The spectacular valley scenery can be explored on foot, or enjoy a drink or meal at The Woolpack where Lee spent many an hour. There are a number of nature reserves to explore here, and circular routes, including the Laurie Lee Wildlife Way, are fantastic ways to immerse yourself in nature. From Slad you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Rural countryside is on your doorstep and you can discover the picturesque towns and villages of Painswick, Stroud and Nailsworth. Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cirencester can all be reached in around 30-minutes and make lovely day trips.

Supermarkets and Shopping:
The closest supermarkets are in Stroud (3 miles) including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and a Waitrose. Most major supermarkets will deliver. There is an award-winning farmers’ market in Stroud every Saturday 9am-2pm. Down Farm Manor is in a beautifully rural location and the picturesque towns and villages nearby offer independent shops and delis. Stroud (3.5 miles) is a cultural hub with many galleries, boutique shops and delis. The village of Painswick (3 miles) is a lovely small village to browse the tea rooms, shops and famous St Mary’s Churchyard.


Eating Out:
Woolpack Inn, Slad – atmospheric pub that was Laurie Lee’s favourite haunt (1 mile)
The Painswick Restaurant, Painswick – decadent meals and afternoon tea (2 miles)
The Falcon, Painswick – a seasonal menu served in their charming dining room (3 miles)
Butchers Arms, Sheepscombe – welcoming, traditional village pub with enjoyable pub classics on the menu (4 miles)

Walks:
Walk in the footsteps of Laurie Lee and follow the five-mile circular Laurie Lee Wildlife Way. Covering the Slad Valley it passes through the village and can be joined from Down Farm Manor. The trail takes you to Snows Farm, Swift’s Hill, Laurie Lee Wood and Frith Wood. The whole of the Painswick Valley offers wonderful walking and both the Wysis Way and Cotswold Way are within easy reach. The Painswick Beacon is just a short drive away, where you can join a 2-mile circular walk, which takes in part of the Cotswold Way.


Places to Visit:
Stroud Farmers Market - award-winning market every Saturday 9am-2pm (3 miles)
Painswick and the Rococo Gardens - visit the beautiful village and the only Rococo Gardens in the UK (4 miles)
Miserden Estate and Garden – walled garden overlooking a deer park (5.5 miles)
Painswick Golf Club – an 18-hole course high above the Cotswolds atop the Painswick Beacon (4 miles)

Meet your host

Superhost
7445 reviews
4.81 out of 5 average rating
9 years of hosting
My work: Director at Bolthole Retreats
Lives in Cheltenham, United Kingdom
You’ll be able to find more Cotswold holiday cottages direct at Bolthole Retreats, where you can also view 3D tours for most of our properties and find lots of inspiration for places to go and things to do. Bolthole Retreats are the leading independent agency for Cotswold holiday rental properties. We work closely with owners and housekeepers to ensure that guests have a truly memorable stay. We are always on the lookout for more brilliant properties to join our exclusive collection. We pride ourselves on our local knowledge, whether it be of a local farm shop, cycle routes or events. Our aim is to enable guests to have the opportunity to enjoy authentic Cotswold experiences, from the Cotswold experts, in a lovely Cotswold property that suits their needs.

Bolthole Retreats is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Host details

Response rate: 98%
Responds within an hour
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Things to know

House rules

Check-in after 4:00 PM
Checkout before 10:00 AM
9 guests maximum

Safety & property

No carbon monoxide alarm
Exterior security cameras on property
Smoke alarm

Cancellation policy