Bolthole Retreats was founded in 2017 by Martin McWilliam and is based in Cheltenham. We 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 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.

The Bull Pen is a fabulous couple’s holiday retreat surrounded by gorgeous Cotswold countryside in the village of Dyrham, just 8.5 miles from Bath. This converted barn has a light and spacious open-plan kitchen-dining-living area, with full length bi-fold doors that open onto a patio with outside seating. The super-sized bedroom features a king-size bed with an open-plan, wet-room-style shower room. The owners have renovated the barn in a unique, architectural-chic style with exposed stone walls, raw wood and stone flooring, with natural textiles and colours softening the feel and look. Guests are invited to explore the 500-acre farm and 70 acres of private woodland, meet the farm animals, walk the owners’ dogs, go wild swimming, fish for crayfish and have fun in the play area. Outdoor and art experiences can be booked separately. Book with us to get exclusive discounts to top attractions and experiences.

Dyrham is a tiny village in a Conservation Area on the south-west side of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The national 102-mile-long Cotswold Way long-distance walking trail runs through the village (at the bottom of Sands Farm). The village no longer has a pub or shop but does have some very pretty homes built with Cotswold stone, several of them Grade II listed. At the heart of the village is the National Trust’s magnificent Grade I listed Dyrham House. The nearest pub is The Bull at Hinton, 1.5 miles away, a 25-minute daytime walk. The Tollgate Café is at the top of the farm, on the A46, walkable in 10 minutes along the footpath. It serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea and is licensed. Its evening Stonebaked pizzas are excellent. It is a wonderful place to watch the sunset over the Black Mountains of Wales over 70 miles away. On request it will deliver locally sourced breakfast boxes and their evening menu.