Overview
Picture a cosy five-bedroom, four-bathroom retreat, nestled quietly in the corner of Howells Mere, a stone's throw away from a path to explore the estate’s 450-acre nature reserve.
Spanning over three floors with multiple outdoor balconies and a spacious overwater deck, this detached and well-loved holiday home features a modern turret design at the front, housing the internal staircase so as not to interfere with the sleeping and living areas.
This is your invitation to a relaxed escape into the heart of the exclusive Lower Mill Estate.
Ideal for three couples (6 adults) and four children, or three couples, two children (in bunk beds) and two friends or teenagers.
Woodlark's back decking and balconies are west facing, catching the sun perfectly in the summer months, providing an idyllic spot for evening drinks receptions.
Woodlark has direct lake access from the lower deck through a combination locked gate, the code will be provided upon arrival.
Learn more about this beautiful property in the ‘Accommodation’ section below.
Sleeps 10
5 Bedrooms
4 Bathrooms
WiFi
Log fire
BBQ
High Chair
Cot
Tennis Courts
Childrens Playground
Access to spa and pool
Shared Outdoor Pool
Lake Access
Ground Floor
As you step into ‘Woodlark,’ be welcomed into the ground floor entry hall where timber floors fill the hall and carpets warm the bedrooms, creating both practicality and comfort.
Off the entry hall, a double bedroom awaits, complete with built-in robes and a wall-mounted TV for laidback evenings. The ensuite shower room offers both an overhead cascade and a handheld shower. Slide open the glass door and you will find yourself on a spacious overwater deck with an array of seating options, perfect for soaking in the westerly lake views. This is your private corner of Howells Mere, shared with just a few other like-minded holiday makers, offering tranquility and sunset vistas.
Another bedroom on this floor is a snug twin room with built-in-robes and features lake views with sliding doors to this shared overwater deck. The twin beds can be made up as a double on request. Please contact our team to arrange this.
A separate family shower room can also be found on this floor, creating a space tailored for a family of four or a couple and their close friends.
First Floor
Ascend the carpeted stairs up the turret to discover the first floor’s charm. A bunk bedroom, suitable for children, awaits with a chest of drawers and cupboard for their belongings. The family bathroom boasts a shower over a bath, perfect for bathing the little ones after a day's adventures.
A second double bedroom, complete with built-in-robes, offers an en-suite shower room and a TV ideally positioned for bedtime relaxation. What truly sets this room apart is the sliding glass door leading to the shared first floor balcony – a peaceful spot to start or end your day with views across Howells Mere.
A third double bedroom, complete with its own built-in robes, opens to the same shared first floor balcony, where an inviting egg chair sways gently, inviting you to take in the views and let time slow down.
Second Floor
The top floor unveils the heart of this cherished holiday home. A spacious kitchen features NEFF appliances, including a fridge freezer, dishwasher, and microwave oven. A washing machine is also convenient on this floor for those mid-holiday loads. Your inner chef will appreciate the 5-burner gas cooker, electric oven with a separate grill, and 1.5 bowl kitchen sink with tranquil views through the picture window of a nearby boat shed and rustling trees.
Gather around the dining table, which comfortably seats eight (with room for a few more) and immerse yourself in hearty meals and lively conversations. An entertainment corner awaits with a 42” TV with Freeview, a selection of family games, a plush corner sofa, extra chairs, and inviting bean bags for relaxation. Bring your favourite DVDs to watch on the Blu-ray DVD player. On cooler evenings, kindle the wood burner and enjoy the cosy ambiance of lakeside living.
The soundtrack of your holiday? You get to choose, thanks to a Bose speaker that connects wirelessly to your devices. And when the outdoors beckons, open the glass sliding doors leading to a deck that offers westerly views across Howells Mere. An outdoor dining table and coal BBQ create the perfect setting for alfresco meals and memorable evenings.
‘Woodlark’ isn’t just a property; it’s a cherished holiday home where your family can truly relax and create unforgettable memories. It’s a place where the beauty, relaxation and adventure of the Cotswold Water Park meets the simplicity and warmth of a well-loved retreat.
Estate Rules
- Quiet hours are observed after 11pm, we aim to maintain a peaceful and respectful environment for all residents and guests.
- Hen and stag parties, including any related activities, are not allowed on the estate premises
- Work related stays for any purpose are not permitted on the estate
House Rules
- All our properties are non-smoking.
- Upon departure, kindly ensure that the premises are left in a clean and orderly manner, with all furniture returned to its original position and rubbish removed. There are bin stores located around the estate.
- A £500 refundable damage deposit is due the week before your arrival. You will be contacted regarding this.
- Please utilise the one parking space provided at the property. Additional parking is available at the main car park if needed. Please do not park in the bays assigned to other properties.
- This property is not dog friendly.
- Access to the lake is provided at the risk of the guest, children must be supervised at all times and please follow the estate rules around water safety.
- The lake access gate is not strong enough to be swung on so please ensure it is handled with care and either tied back or kept closed.
What's included:
- Bath and hand towels
- Tea towels
- Bed linen
- Bin liners
- Kitchen pack of clothes, sponge, dishwasher tables and washing - up - liquid
Property is self-catered. The house is fully equipped with cutlery and crockery
Spa use included but subject to availability (contact Spa directly for opening times). Pool towels can be rented from the Spa, please contact the Spa directly to arrange this. (01285 862640)
On-site restaurant and small market shop with seasonal opening hours. Availability can book up in peak weeks so contact Ballihoo prior to arrival to not miss out. (01285 840181)
Bike and watercraft hire are available at the Activity Hub as well as lessons. Please follow the link for more information: https://lowermillestate.com/activities/
Not all properties have direct lake access even though they are listed as lakeside. If you are unsure whether this property has lake access please check with our team.
Please be aware that the vegetation surrounding the property is subject to change according to the time of year. This may mean that the views represented in the photos above may vary depending on the season in which you stay with us.
Normal check-in is from 4 pm. Out of peak season, early check-in of 2 pm may be available (at an additional fee). Please contact our office team to enquire.
Check out during off-peak dates is by 10 am on the day of departure. During peak dates (school holidays) check out is at 9 am.
Travel cot and highchair are available for £10, subject to availability. Please advise at the time of booking. Guests to provide their own linen and mattress for the travel cot.
There are 4 electric vehicle charging points on the estate that operate on a first come first use basis.
Seasonal Closures
Somerford Lagoon Lake is closed from October – March due to nesting birds. The nearest canoe launch point is located near Mill Village as marked on the Estate Map.
The Somerford Nines (Clearwater 1-9). The private outdoor pool closes after the October half term and does not re-open until Easter.
The Miss Mouse Trail, run by the activity hub closes for the winter months. This is from 1st November to the Easter holidays.
Please be aware that there is no waterside access to Swillbrook Lake as this is a nature conservation lake.
The following information will help you to locate Woodlark upon your arrival at Lower Mill Estate.
Village
Your property Woodlark is based in Howell's Mere
Property Number
Howell's Mere 30
Finding your Property
From the main entrance where the security hut is positioned, drive through the gate and bear left, drive through the car park ahead, and exit right when you get to a four-way crossroads for Clearwater and Howells Mere properties.
Continue forward over the bridge taking the immediate right towards Howells Mere and Clearwater properties. Continue along this road and you will get to a point where the road splits off either left or right. Bear left and continue along the road passing the Spa and Tennis courts on your right and houses on your left. At the end of this road, you will see a bridge in front of you. Cross over this bridge into Howell's Mere and take the immediate left turning. Follow the road along until you get to number 30 on your right-hand side. Your parking spot is opposite the house on your left-hand side, labeled with the number 30.
To assist you during darker evenings, you would be advised to bring a torch with you as there is no street lighting permitted on the Estate other than low-level lighting.
Co-ordinates
Please use the below links to see the exact position of Woodlark on Google maps and what3words.
what3words: https://w3w.co/paramedic.surprises.impaired
If you are looking to book multiple properties with us we have some lovely properties that are close to Woodlark.
Bellewater - Situated just two doors along from Woodlark. | Sleeps up to 4
Bryony - Situated just a few doors round from Woodlark. | Sleeps up to 10
Grayling House - Situated just a few doors around the corner from Woodlark. | Sleeps up to 8
Bee Cottage - Situated just a minutes walk from Woodlark. | Sleeps up to 6
Please contact a member of our team if you have any questions on booking multiple properties.
