Cotswold Family Holidays

10/06/2024

Walking through beautiful wild flowers meadows is such a joy. All around the Lower Mill Estate you will find meadows areas which at the moment include beautiful wild orchids.

Bee orchids are designed with a velvety lip which looks like a female bee 🐝 to attract bees to pollinate with them. Apparently the right species of bee doesn't live in the UK so here they are self-pollinated!

Immediately adjacent to the Lower Mill Estate lies Clattinger Farm which is of international importance for its hay meadow wild flowers and is definitely worth visiting during your holiday at Daisy Chain.

06/06/2024

Have you ever thought about booking a holiday at Daisy Chain but you haven't got round to it because you're not sure about the process?

As you are booking directly with us, Naomi and Derek, the owners of Daisy Chain we're able to answer all your questions and to help you plan your ideal stay.

We know Daisy Chain inside out. If you can't find the cork screw, we can tell you exactly which drawer it is in...and the gin glasses are on the top shelf in the cupboard on the right of the hob 🥂

What are you waiting for? Let's get planning.

Have you got any questions about a holiday at Daisy Chain? Pop them below 👇 and I'll answer them.

P.S. If you're new here, welcome 🤗 Daisy Chain, a fabulously family friendly dog welcoming 5 bedroom holiday home sleeping 9 on the Lower Mill Estate in Cotswold Water Park, just a 10 minute drive from Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds.

07/03/2024

What better sound is there on a bright blue sunny day than the song of a skylark soaring, singing its heart out? We were excited yesterday to hear our first skylark of the season - a real messenger that summer is on the way.

Did you know that the skylark's song can last for more than 5 minutes! They are often heard long before they are seen, even though they are often hiding in plain sight in a clear bright blue sky.

The collective noun for a group of skylarks is an exaltation which really speaks of the song that tumbles from them.

What is your favourite sound of summer?

20/02/2024

Mother's Day weekend (8th - 11th March) is available at Daisy Chain and is the perfect location for celebrating as a family. This fantastic lakeside property sleeps up to 9 people and 2 cots and accepts up to 2 dogs.

Guests staying at Daisy Chain have complimentary access to the amazing on site spa, with heated indoor and outdoor pools, steam room, sauna, gym, treatment rooms, tennis and MUGA courts. It is situated on the award winning private Lower Mill Estate at the southern end of the Cotswolds.

Daisy Chain is within easy reach of London, Bristol, Birmingham etc. so perfect for meeting up with family from different parts of the country. It is just a 10 minute drive from the historic Cotswolds town of Cirencester.
🌟 5 bedroom lakeside self catering
🛏️ Sleeps 9 + 2 cots
👪 Family friendly
🎾Tennis court
🛶Canadian Canoe for exploring the lakes
🏊‍♀️ Indoor and outdoor pools
🧸 Lots of toys for babies and toddlers 5 bedroom lakeside self catering
🐶2 dogs welcome

See our website www.cotswoldfamilyholidays.com for more information and to book.

09/02/2024

Are you planning a milestone celebration for a loved one this year?  Let us take all the hard work out of planning your special celebration.

We have curated a selection of local businesses who offer all the extras that you need to ensure that your celebration is one that will be remembered for years to come.


Holly is a local cake maker based in South Cerney, just down the road from Daisy Chain. She specialises in bespoke cakes for any occasion and can supply anything from cupcakes to tiered cakes. Take your Cotswold Family Holiday celebration up a notch with a bespoke cake.


Titch is a local portrait photographer who loves capturing family moments. She is well known for her relaxed, informal photographs and natural outdoor photography making her the perfect person to capture your milestone celebration at Daisy Chain.


Cal is a local florist based just down the road from the Lower Mill Estate in South Cerney. She can provide a beautiful seasonal hand tied bouquet to be ready at Daisy Chain on your arrival.


Matt Eddolls is a private chef who offers you the opportunity to enjoy a bespoke fine dining experience, freshly prepared and cooked for you at Daisy Chain. Matt brings the restaurant atmosphere to you, preparing a celebratory meal for you in the comfort of Daisy Chain.

SAVE this post for ideas when planning your big celebration. Let's make your next family celebration one to remember.

Comment PARTY below and I'll send you more information about celebrations at Daisy Chain? 

17/01/2024

What changes are you making to the way that you live to lessen your impact on the world around us?

We have been looking carefully at lots of different aspects of running Daisy Chain in order to lessen our impact on the environment and to encourage our guests to have a lighter touch on our planet.

From our electricity provider to installing solar panels, our laundry to our furniture, swipe through to see some of the ways that we are working to be more sustainable.

Has this inspired you? What steps are you taking?
Let us know below.

If you would like to know more about what we are doing, comment 'link' below and we'll let you have more details.

13/01/2024

Looking for the ultimate destination for an active and family-friendly getaway? Look no further! Daisy Chain offers the perfect holiday experience, combining the serenity of lakeside living with an array of amenities to suit all ages.

Nestled on the picturesque Lower Mill Estate in Cotswold Water Park, just a short 10-minute drive south of Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds, Daisy Chain is a fabulous lakeside property that comfortably accommodates up to 9 guests and 2 cots. It's an ideal spot for a multi-generational family vacation.

As our guests at Daisy Chain, you'll enjoy complementary access to the wonderful on-site spa, featuring heated indoor and outdoor pools, a rejuvenating steam room, a sauna, a fully-equipped gym, and indulgent treatment rooms. For those who love sports, we have tennis and MUGA courts on your doorstep. Plus, there's a well-loved on-site restaurant and a family-friendly Cotswold pub within easy walking distance.

To make the most of our stunning waterside location, we provide a Canadian Canoe for you to explore the lakes on our 450-acre private nature reserve. Immerse yourself in the great outdoors with activities like cycling, walking and bird watching. Daisy Chain truly is a retreat for creating beautiful memories with friends and family.

Situated at the southern end of the Cotswolds, Daisy Chain is conveniently located and easily accessible from London, Bristol, Birmingham, and beyond.

Here's what Daisy Chain has to offer:
🌟 5-bedroom lakeside self-catering
🛏️ Sleeps 9 + 2 cots
👪 Family-friendly
🎾 Tennis court
🛶 Canadian Canoe for exploring the lakes
🏊‍♀️ Indoor and outdoor pools
🧸 Lots of toys for babies and toddlers

Please note, we are a pet-free property.

For more information, visit our website at www.cotswoldfamilyholidays.com. Your perfect holiday awaits at Daisy Chain!

09/01/2024

There is a huge amount that goes on behind the scenes in owning a holiday home that is let out. A hot topic of conversation amongst owners over the past year has been around updated fire safety legislation that came into place in October 2023.

Swipe through the infographic to find out more about it and some of the steps that we have taken to ensure that we are fully compliant. 

Safety isn't just a checkbox; it's a foundation of trust. Next time you are booking a holiday home, why not ask about what steps the owners have taken? I am sure they will be very happy to share their journey with you. A lot of reading guidance, attending webinars, liaising with electricians and expense has gone into making sure that properties are fully compliant. 

Do you think about fire safety when you are staying away from home?

  

15/11/2023

Christmas in the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds do Christmas well...very well.  You are spoilt for choice when it comes to festive activities.  From seeing Christmas illuminations ✨ to soaking up the atmosphere of Christmas markets in Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds, or seeing the floating Christmas Tree 🎄at Bourton-on-the-Water you’ll be surrounded by the Christmas spirit.

Closer to home there are plenty of activities within Cotswolds Water Park to throw into the mix, including the very popular seasonal outdoor ice rink ⛸️ at the Gateway Centre.

Daisy Chain will be beautifully decorated for Christmas - you’ll be able to walk in, light the log burner, switch on the Christmas lights and relax.  The kitchen is exceptionally well equipped with everything you’ll need for rustling up Christmas meals, or if you’d prefer to have someone else do the leg work, Balihoo restaurant on the Lower Mill Estate is just a 5 minute walk away. 

We’ve got weekends available in the run up to Christmas and availability over Christmas itself.  We’re really excited to help someone organise a wonderful Christmas getaway. Will it be you?  Comment ‘Christmas’ below and we’ll send you more details.

Christmas illumination events available at many locations including

Outdoor Ice Rink
   

29/09/2023

The unmistakable silhouette of a heron features in our logo, symbolising the lakeside location of Daisy Chain on the Lower Mill Estate. They also speak of time to just be. Herons can often be seen standing at the lake edge, watching and waiting - speaking of time on holiday to stop and escape from some of the rush and busyness of life.

We think they must be one of the most recognisable birds in the UK - do you agree?

12/09/2023

The gorgeous view from the living area at Daisy Chain made even better with a vase of home grown dahlias. Plenty of space to reconnect with family whilst enjoying your lakeside location. Swipe to see the rest of the view.

The wonderful sunshine of the last week has brought huge numbers of dahlias to Andie's incredible dahlia field at Millet's Farm. is having a sale this week with 50% off stems from Thursday 14th - Sunday 17th September. Entrance is £5 and then you can pick dahlia's at £1 per stem. You'll need to book tickets ahead at www.dahliabeach.co.uk

A trip to Millet's Farm near Abingdon makes a great day out from Daisy Chain. It's less than an hour away and there are other activities to enjoy while you're there including mini golf.

10/07/2023

We've found the perfect floral wallpaper for the bunk bedroom at Daisy Chain. To be accurate, it's actually a wallpaper mural which is a beautiful wildflower meadow complete with butterflies flying above it. It wonderfully echoes the wildflower areas around the Lower Mill Estate. It makes such a huge difference to the bedroom - we're sure our guests will love it.

What do you think of our floral mural?

25/06/2023

A Sunday Sunrise from the archives. Swipe to see the whole panoramic view. There's such joy to opening the curtains and watching the sunrise....although you do have to be awake very early to catch sunrise at the moment!

Imagine listening to the dawn chorus and then slipping into the canoe and paddling out onto the glassy surface of the lake. Not a bad way to start a Sunday!

Have a lovely day, whatever you are doing today.

27/05/2023

Bank Holiday Monday (29th May) sees the much anticipated annual South Cerney Street Fair. The Duck Race is the highlight of the Street Fair and draws crowds to the river bank to see the fleet of ducks battle their way down the river to cross the finish line.

There will be over 100 stalls at the street fair with everything ranging from Morris Dancers to a Dog Show. Plenty for everyone to enjoy.

For more information head to https://southcerneystreetfair.org.uk/

02/05/2023

An aerial panorama showing parts of the Lower Mill Estate (swipe to see all photos). It's lovely to watch the view gradually greening up as the weeks go by.

Daisy Chain is located on the largest lake on the Lower Mill Estate, Somerford Lagoon. The lake makes a wonderful backdrop to your holiday - from sitting on the balcony enjoying a lay breakfast, to jumping into the Canadian canoe or onto a SUP, life is just better at the lake. In the foreground is Millstone Park with its tennis courts and Muga court. On the left is Ballihoo Restaurant and accompanying Pizza Shack and one of the playgrounds. Daisy Chain is visible on the far lake shore on the edge of Somerford Lagoon.

Visit our bio to go to our website to book your holiday at Daisy Chain and explore this wonderful location.

28/04/2023

So many markets and other events going in Cirencester during May. It's well worth a visit.

27/04/2023

Cotswold Water Park covers an area of 42 square miles and is made up of 180 lakes providing a wonderful playground for a huge range of activities, both water and land based. This film gives a little insight into the extent of the lakes and focuses on the Lower Mill Estate.

The Lower Mill Estate is a wonderful base for making the most of Cotswold Water Park. A holiday here really does offer something for everyone. To find out more and book your stay visit our website www.cotswoldfamilyholidays.com

Send a message to learn more

22/04/2023

The comment that is made most frequently when guests write a review about their stay at Daisy Chain is that the house is extremely well equipped. Not all holiday home owner regularly stay at their properties. We love staying at Daisy Chain...and therefore know exactly what is needed. Here are just a few of the things that we include to make your holiday with young ones that much easier:
- children’s books and toys....lots of them (most toys and baby equipment are hidden away in a cupboard so they are not cluttering the house)
- baby monitor
- booster seats
- additional black out blinds
- stair gates and high chairs
- a well equipped kitchen - with enough pots and pans for cooking Christmas Dinner as well as children's crockery and cutlery
- birthday banners and bunting for you to use
- a Canadian Canoe....and of course buoyancy aids We even provide little round cushions so that little ones can sit on the base of the canoe and feel even safer.

Have we missed anything off the list.? What is the one thing that you think should be included but you never find in a holiday home? Comment below and we'll let you know if we have one!

18/04/2023

The church of St John the Baptist, which dominates the Market Place in the centre of Cirencester, dates from the 12th Century. It is built of the distinctive honey coloured Cotswold stone. It is a wonderful building to explore, and on a few dates during the summer the tower is open to climb. The view from the top is worth the climb!

In this photo you can see Cirencester Park rising behind it. The park is a lovely place to walk and is open for visitors between 8am and 5pm.

Have you visited any Cotswolds towns and villages?

16/04/2023

Cotswold Sculpture Park is a wonderful place to visit - and only a 5 minute drive from Daisy Chain.

16/04/2023

A beautiful sunrise from a few days ago. It won't be long before the silhouetted trees are once again clothed in green.

What is your favourite time of day? Watching the sun rise is a wonderful way to start the day.... especially if you can watch whilst still lying in bed!

12/04/2023

Are you looking for the perfect location for an active holiday? Do you need something for all ages? Is your perfect holiday by the water whilst surrounded by nature? Daisy Chain has the complete package.
It is a fantastic lakeside property, sleeping up to 9 people and 2 cots and is an ideal location for a multi-generational family holiday. It is situated on the award winning private Lower Mill Estate in Cotswold Water Park, just 10 minutes south of Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds.
Guests staying at Daisy Chain have complimentary access to the amazing on site spa, with heated indoor and outdoor pools, steam room, sauna, gym, treatment rooms, tennis and MUGA courts. There is also an on site restaurant as well as a family friendly Cotswold pub within easy walking distance.
So that you can make the most of the amazing waterside location, we provide a Canadian Canoe to explore the lakes on the 450 acre private nature reserve. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in the great outdoors, cycling, walking, bird watching or on the water by canoe, kayak or paddle board. Daisy Chain is a fantastic location for holidaying with friends and family.
Situated at the southern end of the Cotswolds Daisy Chain is within easy reach of London, Bristol, Birmingham etc.
🌟 5 bedroom lakeside self catering
🛏️ Sleeps 9 + 2 cots
👪 Family friendly
🎾Tennis court
🛶Canadian Canoe for exploring the lakes
🏊‍♀️ Indoor and outdoor pools
🧸 Lots of toys for babies and toddlers 5 bedroom lakeside self catering
We are a pet free property.
See our website www.cotswoldfamilyholidays.com for more information.

11/04/2023

Cirencester, known as the capital of the Cotswolds, is a wonderful historic town to explore. This aerial photo is taken from the entrance of Cirencester Park, looking down Cecily Hill towards the imposing church of St. John the Baptist which stands in the centre of the town.

Have you ever visited Cirencester? Daisy Chain makes a perfect location for exploring the Cotswolds.

10/04/2023

The water level is really high on Somerford Lagoon at the moment due to all the rain in March. The lake has expanded it's margins...past the usual reed edge between Flagham Fen and the lagoon. It makes for fun exploring.

08/04/2023

We're really excited to share some room transformations with you. Swipe left to see before and after pictures of each room.

Living room: The rug has been changed, more seating added (which can be easily turned to make the most of the fabulous lake views) and the gallery wall has been updated.

Kingsize bedroom: The wooden paddles have been mounted and the throw changed to a rich green. (The bedside lamp shades are a work in progress!)

Single room: Some colour has been injected into this room and the curtains changed. This bedroom has such a wonderful lake view which is really highlighted now.

We love seeing the power of a good room transformation! Which is your favourite room transformation? Let us know in the comments below!

07/04/2023

The rainbows during the day yesterday were followed by a beautiful full moon which his behind some clouds as it was rising producing this dramatic sky.

24/03/2023

It's rainbow weather at the moment with skies changing quickly from blue with puffy white clouds to rain clouds and rainbows. Rainbows are fabulous to see arching across Somerford Lagoon.

You could be enjoying this view over the Easter holidays. We have availability from 3rd - 7th April. Visit www.cotswoldfamilyholidays.com for more information.

14/03/2023

Hello Spring sunshine!
It's so lovely to being to feel the warmth of the sun after the snow of last week!
This is Spinney Lake which you pass on the way in to the Lower Mill Estate - you can just see the road at the bottom right hand corner. It's a great lake for canoeing on....and watching heron's standing fishing or flying lazily across the water.

We have availability at Daisy Chain this weekend - visit www.cotswoldfamilyholidays to book.

03/03/2023

Gliding gracefully into the weekend.

The 180 lakes over 42 square miles which make up Cotswold Water Park must be home to hundreds of swans. We think Somerford Lagoon, which Daisy Chain looks out over, is a pretty special lake. As well as being home to swans, swallows skim over it's surface, starlings dance in their magnificent murmurations, kingfishers flash past, cormorants stand drying their wings and herons hunt in the shallows.

When are you coming to watch? Head over to the link in our bio - you could be here this month.

01/03/2023

It was sunrises like this that made us first fall in love with Daisy Chain. It's just wonderful to lie in bed and enjoy this view.