De Vere Cotswold Water Park: The “Theatre of Nature”
This stylish, contemporary, sleek resort, which is set on a lake in a nature reserve, is worth visiting to help unwind from the everyday busy life, especially now that it’s Christmas season. A tranquil atmosphere, dreamy views over the water, amazing spa and fine dining opportunities – everything that we needed for the weekend we found here.
We live in a very busy city of London and we think it’s important to have a few days of quiet every once in a while, which is initially what attracted us to stay at this elegant place.
Set near the picturesque village of Cotswolds, about two hours away from London and an hour away from the Bristol airport, De Vere Cotswold Water Park is situated right in the heart of 152 lakes that spread across the unique Cotswold water park.
This area was created out of an area of gravel pits and was filled up with water to form lakes. The hotel itself is made from Cotswolds stone and glass, where contemporary warehouse style meets local traditions and ambience.
De Vere Cotswold Water Park looks out to Lake number 6, which is home to countless waterfalls and trails for hiking and cycling around the lake.
If walking or cycling doesn’t appeal to you, there are several other activities to choose from nearby. For example, kayaking, canoeing, sailing or even more adrenalin-fuelled sports like water-skiing and windsurfing are all available.
You can also either visit the Cotswolds Wildlife Park and Gardens, which is only a half an hour drive away, or one of the many cosy towns like Cirencester, a 10 minutes’ drive away. Or you can simply go wildlife spotting and bird watching, in the animals’ natural havens.
Our stylish deluxe room, which had a stunning lake-view and floor-to-ceiling windows, was on the second floor and provided us an amazing experience with a nature “on your door step” experience.
We sat on the balcony with our morning cups of coffees and evening glasses of wine and observed many different kinds of animals interacting in their habitats: the swans teaching their babies how to catch food, the ducks quarrelling about something that was probably important, and various other birds that passed by that we couldn’t quite identify what they were. In the backdrop of all this wildlife, there were amazing sunsets over the lake in the evenings…
I could stay in such a relaxing atmosphere for ages, but it’s time to explore the SPA facilities.
I have to say that the SPA in De Vere Cotswold Water Park was really amazing! It’s a must-visit place, especially now in the wintertime and during Christmas break. With a fully equipped gym, a hydro-spa swimming pool, a sauna, an aroma steam room, spa facilities and a range of beauty treatments, we left these places feeling our best every time.
To achieve the ultimate tranquillity, one has to try out the floatation room or ancient Rasul Therapy experience. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to try these exclusive experiences, so we are definitely planning to come back to try these experiences this winter. Overall, the SPA grounds are bright, spacious and modern.
There are three dining opportunities at De Vere Cotswold Water Park – the Lounge bar, the Brasserie (where the breakfast is served) and the Old Boathouse Pub, which is located nearby.
We loved the Old Boathouse Pub for its old fashioned style, its picturesque views and outside decking and of course for its amazing food, which showcases a mix of classic British cuisine and feature dishes, like aged steaks.
Our unforgettable weekend came to an end and we really enjoyed our relaxing days, lazy mornings and tranquil evenings without any of the hustle and bustle of the city life.
One more thing I would like to emphasize about De Vere Cotswold Water Park – is the high calibre service and the concierge desk in the lobby. Guests can easily ask to rent a bike or help organise other activities like dinner or even organise a wedding with dramatic lake views (as the hotel has seven different venues and civil ceremonies).
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Written by Irina Golubeva
I still remember my first trip. It was to London. I fell in love with this city the moment I saw it. Just - "click", and my heartbeat quickened. I was chosen by it. Red and funny double-decker buses, serious black cabs, the gorgeous Buckingham palace... That's it! I am your admirer forever! From that moment I have visited many places and have been to many countries. Traveling became my passion. My long lasting love, which I hope will never end.
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