Luxury Holiday Cottage in Monkton Combe, near Bath

Countryside Quiet, Ten Minutes from Bath

The Old Workshop offers something that is difficult to find near Bath: the feeling of being deep in the countryside while the city is only ten minutes away. From the patio at the back of the cottage, the view is of a grassy field rising to a traditional apple orchard and mature woodland beyond, a scene that feels a long way from the city. Deer graze the orchard regularly. Rabbits appear most mornings. Buzzards circle overhead most days, bats on summer evenings, and owls are often heard after dark. Nights here are peaceful and dark in a way that city-centre accommodation simply cannot offer. From the end of the drive, the valley drops away below, the village nestled at the bottom, with fields and woodland on the far side. The village pub is a short walk away, and yet Bath, with its restaurants, theatres, Roman Baths, and Georgian streets, is ten minutes by car or taxi. Guests find they move easily between the two, and several describe the stay as feeling like a two-centre holiday. That combination of peaceful countryside and proximity to one of England's finest cities is what guests come for. Many return.

On the Doorstep

There are miles of walking and cycling routes straight from the front door. The Two Tunnels Greenway and the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath are both within easy reach — mostly flat, traffic-free routes that run all the way into Bath and beyond. For something hillier, the Bath Skyline walk offers outstanding views across the city and the surrounding countryside. The Midford Valley itself is criss-crossed with footpaths through fields, woodland and along the route of the old canal.

There are excellent pubs and restaurants nearby. The Wheelwrights Arms in Monkton Combe is a short walk from the cottage, and The Packhorse at South Stoke is another favourite with guests. Prior Park Landscape Garden, a National Trust property with a celebrated Palladian bridge and sweeping views down to Bath, and the American Museum are both just a few minutes away. Longleat, Stonehenge, and Stourhead are all easy day trips, and there is plenty more besides. Detailed local recommendations — walks, pubs, restaurants, and places to visit — are shared with every guest after booking.

The Cottage

The Old Workshop sleeps up to four guests in two bedrooms, each with its own ensuite shower room. The ground floor comprises a double bedroom, ensuite, fully equipped kitchen, and open-plan living and dining area, all on one level with step-free access throughout. The upstairs bedroom offers a superking or twin configuration with its own ensuite, and French doors opening onto a Juliet balcony with views over the patio and orchard.

Guests comment on the quality of the finish and the way the space has been thought through, from the well-equipped kitchen to the comfortable corner sofa and the quality of the bedding and towels.

The private sunny patio has table and seating for four and looks out over the orchard and the countryside beyond — a perfect spot for alfresco dining.

The step-free ground floor layout makes the cottage particularly well suited to guests who value having everything they need without using stairs. Full details are on our Accessibility page.