Just on the edge of the Forest of Dean stands the Brayne Court B&B, a charming 14th-century cottage in the English countryside. This Jacobean home originally started as a guard tower to protect the residents of the village from raids from the neighboring Welsh. Today, it is a family home to two longtime Littledean residents who decided to graciously open their doors to guests needing a warm, welcoming place to stay near the Cotswolds. This might be the cutest B&B in the Cotswolds.
The B&B is located a short 20-minute drive away from the heart of the Cotswolds or the neighboring spa-town of Cheltenham. We loved that it was situated away from the busy commercial tourist path, in the tiny toy village of Littledean. Street side parking was easily accessible across from the B&B.
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From the street, the home looked like a normal cottage. But, as soon we walked through the gates, we were blown away by the lush gardens and patio space.
The B&B features two standalone suites. We stayed in the ‘Jacobean Suite’ which had an open fireplace, a luxurious four-poster bed, and an adjoining private lounge and bathroom. The adjoining lounge also had a pull-out sofa bed, which was perfect for us since we were traveling in a group of four. It was my first time sleeping in a four-poster bed and I was pretty excited (something about them always seemed so cozy and relaxing to me)!
We were welcomed into the B&B with a lovely spread of tea and homemade Sultana scones which were enjoyed in our beautifully decorated lounge.
When we arrived, the owner (Nigel) took the time to walk us through the home, introducing us to the various amenities and providing us with some history on the building. It was super informative and we particularly loved the story of how he pulled out several old war cannonballs that had been shot into the exterior frame of the home (there was even one on display for us to see…check out the pic below for proof!).
You could feel how much love and care the owners put into restoring and maintaining the house. The decor was absolutely exquisite, and the period features added so much character. We loved the authentic, old-world ambiance.
It was as though we had stepped back into time….
Breakfast in the wood-paneled Tudor-style dining room was an absolute treat. A roaring fire and a pot of French Press coffee made for a pleasant start to the morning. Eggs were cooked-to-order as part of a scrumptious full English breakfast. We particularly loved that the food was all produced and grown locally…the eggs were literally from a farm just down the street from the B&B!
Little touches made the stay feel extra special (including the bowl of fresh fruit in the lounge, heated bathroom floors, fresh floral arrangements, the extra toothbrushes in the bathroom, and a pint of milk in the fridge). We couldn’t have been treated more kindly or felt more comfortable during our stay! Brayne Court was definitely one of the most unique bed-and-breakfasts we’ve ever stayed at, and I can’t recommend it enough! For bookings, visit http://www.braynecourtbedandbreakfast.co.uk.
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