We had a great stay. Most times when you arrive at a cottage, there is a little bit disappointment because it looks never the same as on the internet. But the chapel is the opposite. It is more beautiful! The furnishing is stylish and the art suits very nicely in the chapel.
The weather was nice, we visit a friend in Gloucester en made some short trips in the area.
I hope we manage to return to this place another time.
2008-09-26 Marcia
Of the more than dozen places we have rented for weeklong stays—in both Europe and the US, The Old Chapel at Slad wins the highest praise. My husband, college-age daughter and I stayed there the first part of September for the last week of our 3-week England holiday. Our plan was to use Old Chapel as our home base to sightsee to Blenheim Palace, Oxford, Bath, Bristol, Gloucester, north and south Cotswolds and Stonehenge. Happily, less was more. We roamed no further than Stroud (the not-to-be-missed Saturday Shambles Market and other grocery shopping), Painswick (its churchyard of 99 pruned yews and the fantastical Rococo Garden), Witcombe Roman Villa Ruins & Prinknash Abbey and Bird Park, Cirencester (exceptional Corinium Museum) and great walks in and around Slad Valley, right from our door.
Even with our shorter jaunts, we, like homing pigeons, just wanted to get back to the comforts of The Old Chapel and to relish the fabulous views. We had an idyllic stay. Except for an afternoon pint at the Woolpack Pub, it never occurred to us to eat out. The luxuriously equipped kitchen at The Old Chapel facilitated one of our favorite activities: cooking as a family with locally grown provisions. The Old Chapel has all the ease of home plus: including comfortable beds, flawlessly functional bathrooms and laundry facilities, wireless internet, inspiring artwork and refreshingly uncluttered décor, homey common spaces with grand dining table in the kitchen, couches in front of the fireplace and wide screen DVD viewer, and patio with picnic table. This place is a gem! I will hold dear forever seeing the full moon through the bedroom’s rosette window while hearing owls bark and hoot from the meadow. So too, our having teatime on the patio on a sunny early autumn day with butterflies fluttering about and crystalline views across the valley.
2008-06-29 Zoe, Richard & kids
What an amazing place. Breathtaking views in every direction. Our five kids (age 2-9yrs) with grandparents in tow loved running up and down the meadows around the house, racing through the graveyard and spotting wildlife. The house is beautifully refurbished with a state of the art kitchen and plenty of space for a large extended family or friends. We had a lovely few days pottering around Stroud farmers’ market, exploring the area and chilling out. Highly recommended!
2008-06-18 Lyndsay, Marc, Aldo, Emil and Toleg
This is a perfect spot for walkers, foodies and lazy people alike. The chapel is renovated with love and real style so guests can happily spend hours lounging by the fire or soaking up the stunning Slad views. The contemporary furnishings are a million miles from your average country rental, so this really feels like a fabulous home from home. Out back you can climb the meadow and roll your way back down, or head out front and amble by the water to a classic English pub, gifted by Central Casting. The kids loved the gravestones (not a bit spooky), nearby goats and the quirky petalled windows in the big bedrooms. If you leave the spacious house - and you really don't have to - a trip to the local farmers' market lets you put the flawless kitchen to good use. There is everything on hand for the enthusiastic cook and a huge refectory table and pew for the happy eaters. All the bedrooms and bathrooms are spotless, yet nothing about this house feels contrived or overly precious. A perfect holiday let whatever the weather - thanks for sharing it with us.
2008-06-16 Chris and Sybil
The old Chapel in Slad is a great find. We had a brilliant stay.
I think we were the first guests through the door and I know we'll go back. The chapel is really gorgeous inside and out. Absolutely no Chinz as promised just great contemporary style, modern, uncluttered and spacious and the space worked well with a couple of young children - we had bags of room. Brilliantly equipped and furnished like a family home not like a rented property at all. Like being at home.... only better. We did a couple of great walks straight from the door that were suitable for a 2 and a 4 year old who found goats, ducks and horses. the views and scenery are truly amazing. we're used to flat Suffolk so the hills are a joy ! Stroud was great for a potter and with the Saturday market definitely worth visiting if you like your produce. we found time to drink a few pints at the famous Woolpack in the village... not far to stumble home. Good food. We will definitely book again - great escape for half term. Saved us all from insanity.
