Big Box - Cabin in Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Brandiers
- Cabin for 2 from £182 per night (read our low price promise)
- One double bed
Overview
Down a sleepy country lane on the edge of the Cotswolds in Wiltshire might be the last place you’d expect to find a stunning piece of modern design, but Big Box, the newest addition to a small clutch of renovated farm buildings, is exactly that. The huge glass frontage lets the light pour in and the doors all open wide to let you bring nature right inside. The fully fitted bathroom shared by the two bedrooms is decorated in soft grey and blue tiles, while the bedrooms themselves and the living area are a beautiful blend of natural wood, Indian murals and the owner's unique style. Between a few examples of owner Peter Lavery’s world-renowned photography and Kimberly’s flair from her former trade as a costume designer, it feels like a funky New York loft has retired to the country.
On Peter and Kimberly’s 35 acres of land you’ll find peaceful woodland, wildflower meadows and quiet spots to picnic. A little lake with rowing boat is a short walk from the cabin, where you’ll also find a BBQ and outdoor bar for catching the last of the day's sun with a chilled beverage and cooking under an open sky. Right next door to the cabin there’s a tennis court that you’re welcome to use, and if you are feeling sporty then Cotswold Water Park is just 5 minutes up the road where you can swim, sail, canoe or water ski. The temptation of course, is simply to fling the curtains back, stretch out on the sofa and while away long afternoons while listening to the clip clop of horses along the nearby country lane, which is fine too of course. It’s your Big Box and you can put whatever you want in it.
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 2 pm
- Check out: Noon
- Bring wellies or walking boots for exploring the wild meadows and woodland
- To keep the cabin clean and homely, please remove shoes at the door
- There is another holiday let on site so you will occasionally see other guests
- Sleeping arrangements
- One double bed
Extra space available
Space for 1 baby no charge. cot and high chair provided
Space for 2 children from £25 per child per night (adults can also stay at same rate) on a double sofa bed that sleeps up to two guests
Space for 1 pet from £25 per pet per stay
Cooking
- Oven and induction hob
- Crockery, utensils and cooking equipment
- BBQ outside cabin and further BBQ down by the pond
- Fridge with small freezer
- Sink and dishwasher
Washing
- Flushing toilet
- Shower and free standing bath
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Wood burner
- Underfloor heating
- Electric lighting throughout
- Bed linen and towels
- Plug sockets in cabin
Entertainment
- Board games, backgammon and books
- Netflix
- Wi-Fi available near the studio
Getting there
Brandiers, Crossing Lane, Upper Minety, Wiltshire, SN16 9PZ
If you need to contact Kimberly and Peter in advance, best to contact them on the landline or by email. Signal at Brandiers is intermittent so they may not receive text messages or calls to the mobile number.
By car
From M4 East
Exit the M4 at Junction 16 taking the A3102 towards Calne. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit continuing on the A3102. You'll pass an Esso petrol station just before arriving at another roundabout. Take the 2nd exit onto the B4042. After about a mile take the right turning on the B4696 towards Ashton Keynes/Cricklade. Continue on B4696 for 3 mile until you reach a junction with traffic lights. Turn left heading on the B4040 towards Malmesbury/Minety. Continue for about a mile on B4040 before turning right onto Dog Trap Lane towards Upper Minety. Follow the road and at the T-junction turn left onto Crossing Lane towards Minety Church. Drive into Upper Minety taking the first right to stay on Crossing Lane. Brandiers is just over half a mile up the lane and is the second last turning on your left before the railway crossing.
From M4 West
Leave the M4 at Junction 17 taking the A429/A350 exit to Chippenham/Cirencester. Continue on the A429 for 13 miles until you reach a roundabout where you'll see a concrete water tower. Take the 4th exit at the roundabout onto B4040 towards Cricklade. Stay on the B4040 for 5 miles, turning left onto Dog Trap Lane towards Upper Minety. Follow the road and at the T-junction turn left onto Crossing Lane towards Minety Church. Drive into Upper Minety taking the first right to stay on Crossing Lane. Brandiers is just over half a mile up the lane and is the second last turning on your left before the railway crossing.
Parking is located 20 metres away in a little drive just before the cabin by the tennis court.
By train
The nearest train station is in Kemble, a 15 minute drive away. The owners can arrange to collect you.
Food & Drink
At Brandiers
Salt, pepper and olive oil provided
Local shops
There is a local village shop in Oaksey for basics, a 10 minute drive away.
Malmesbury and Cirencester are both 7 miles away and have a Waitrose and other supermarkets.
Places to eat
The Wild Duck - traditional Cotswold inn with a great Sunday roast
Bakers Arms at Somerford Keynes - dog-friendly pub serving a menu of locally sourced ingredients
The Wheatsleaf Inn - friendly and cosy pub in the pretty village of Oaksey
Activities
At Brandiers
Take the rowing boat out on the pond
Explore the 35 acres of grounds
There is a tennis court next to the cabin
Places to visit
Explore the beauty of the Cotwolds with limestone villages, rolling countryside and historic castles and stately homes.
Tetbury is nearby with a great collection of antique shops.
The Cotswold Canals are worth exploring, good pubs and walking and cycling here.
Outdoor & Active
Cotswold Water Park is only a 5 minute drive away where you can swim, rent bikes, water ski, sail and canoe.
Bird watch at Ravensroost Wood nature reserve
Festivals & events
WOMAD international arts festival is held annually in August, down the road at Charlton Park Estate
Meet your hosts
Meet Kimberly & Peter
Kimberly and Peter live in the red brick farmhouse at Brandiers, where they have lived for 32 years. Kimberly used to be a costume designer and Peter is a photographer, with his studio located in one of the barns at Brandiers. Kimberly manages their photographic projects and runs the studio with Peter who has worked in locations all over the world. His work ranges from shooting campaigns for ad agencies to creating books and designing for Malmaison and Hotel du Vin. Peter's published an amazing book called Humankind which is portraits of tribes from jungles of Papa New Guinea to Geishas.
Wildlife & Environment
Brandiers is along a peaceful country lane where you may hear the odd horse riding past. There are 35 acres of wildflower meadows and woodland with two small ponds which you can row a boat on. Walking through the woodland to a wildflower meadow takes you to a rustic bar in a hut next to the lake where there is a barbeque area and chairs for guests to use.
Our guests say...
Big Box was brilliant - super cool inside and out, very relaxed owners, privacy, relaxation. An ideal getaway
05/09/2018Laura
Arrived on Monday and was shown round the property by the owner, who was very nice. Property was nice and clean, and had everything we needed for a weeks stay. In a lovely secluded area, shielded from the quiet road but trees and not overlooked by anyone. With it 10 minutes drive of the areas water sports facilities and 30 minutes from Cirencester and other towns. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Bix Box and would love to visit again.
23/07/2018Stuart
We loved it. Gorgeous box, gorgeous accommodation, total chill out zone. Would highly recommend.
29/06/2018Jacqueline
Much needed family time away from our typical busy routine in an idyllic setting, so beautifully designed and put together!
28/05/2018Heather
Beautifully decorated. When the sun shone we could open all the doors and in the evening it felt cosy with the log burning fire. The garden is secure so our child could run free. Great local stuff to do and good restaurant recommendations. The owners were very friendly and accommodating supplying charcoal so we could cook on the BBQ and letting us roam around their land.
13/04/2018Danielle
Love this place? Tell everyone!
Booking Terms
Canopy & Stars low price promise
Book with us in confidence knowing you won’t find that place cheaper elsewhere. All of the prices we display are set and matched by our Owners. (In this world of foreign currency, we do have to say 'subject to exchange rates' for some of our European places.)
What does ‘from price’ mean?
Our ‘from price’ is based on a four night stay in low season and designed to help you to compare different prices across our collection. Some of our Owners vary their nightly rates and check in days throughout the year, so it may differ from the rate quoted below the calendar. It is quite common (although by no means universal) for places to charge a little more in peak season or for shorter stays, to cover changeover costs. Consider booking longer stays during the cooler months if you’re looking for the lowest nightly rates.
Agency Terms & Conditions
Except where otherwise specified, we Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd Company No 09088366 of Merchants House, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RW act only as an Agent in respect of all bookings we take and/or make on your behalf. Sawday’s Canopy & Stars is part of the Alastair Sawday’s Group of Companies. We accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into or for any services or arrangements you purchase (“Booking(s)”) or for the acts or omissions of any supplier(s) or other person(s) or party(ies) connected with any Booking. For all Bookings, your contract will be with the supplier of the Booking in question, and in most cases this will be the owner of the property you’ll be staying at (“Owner(s)”). When making your Booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the Owner of the Booking. Your Booking with us is subject to these Agency Terms & Conditions and any specific booking conditions of the relevant Owner(s) you contract with. The Owner’s booking conditions may limit and/or exclude the Owner’s liability to you.
You may decide to make more than one Booking with us at the same time. The price charged in total for more than one Booking will always equal the prices charged separately for each individual Booking. All Bookings are available to be purchased separately at the same price as they are when more than one Booking is made. This means that any multiple Bookings do not constitute a package as defined in the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.
By making a booking, you agree that:-
- you have read these Agency Terms & Conditions and agree to be bound by them;
- you consent to our use of your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy;
and
- you are over 18 years of age and where there may be age restrictions in place, you declare that you and all members of your party are of the appropriate age.
The Canopy & Stars online booking system enables Guests to make Bookings 24 hours a day. A Booking is confirmed on receipt of a 25% non-refundable deposit for all Bookings with check in dates of more than 10 weeks away. For all Bookings that have a check in date of less than 10 weeks before check in, payment for the Booking will be required in full and the entire Booking will be non-refundable. The Canopy & Stars telephone booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. When using the online enquiry form, for those Properties without online booking, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the Booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm). Online or email enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment. Therefore, if possible, we do recommend that you book on the Canopy & Stars website using the online booking system.
1. Booking and payments
1.1 In order to confirm your chosen Booking, you must pay a non-refundable deposit as required by the Owner of the Booking in question (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of the date of your check-in).
1.2 Your Booking is confirmed and a contract between you and the Owner will exist when we receive payment of the deposit and send you a booking confirmation on the Owner’s behalf. This booking confirmation will normally be sent out within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post, and will contain the details of your Booking and of payments made and due. If you have not received your booking confirmation within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk). Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately. As we act only as booking Agent, we have no responsibility for any errors in any documentation except where an error is made by us.
1.3 Where a deposit has been paid, full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in date and a reminder will be sent to you two weeks prior to this date, where applicable, by email. We automatically take the balance payment using the same card as used to make the deposit payment. It is your reponsibility to advise us if we should use a different card and to contact us by telephone (0117 204 7830) to arrange for alternative payment method. If the balance payment does not successfully go through as there is a problem with your card, such as it expiring, then we will contact you to try and take alternative payment. If we have been unable to take payment after two weeks of the balance due date, then with regret, we will notify the Owner who may cancel your Booking.
1.4 Except where otherwise advised or stated in the booking conditions of the Owner concerned, all monies you pay to us for a Booking will be held on behalf of the Owner(s) concerned.
1.5 Credit Card payments are processed via Alastair Sawday’s Publishing Co. Ltd who provide merchants services facilities to Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd.
2. Cancellation and Amendment by You
2.1 Any cancellation or amendment request must be sent to us by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk) and will be considered and responded to within one working day of receipt. You are also advised to confirm all changes to our Customer Services Department by calling 0117 204 7830. Please ensure that you have received written confirmation of any changes to your Booking prior to travel. Whilst we will always try to help, we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met.
2.2 Amendments and cancellations can only be accepted in accordance with the booking conditions of the Owner of your Arrangements. The Owner may charge the cancellation or amendment charges shown in their booking conditions (which may be as much as 100% of the cost of the Arrangements and will normally increase closer to the date of departure). The Owner may charge cancellation or amendment charges in accordance with its own booking conditions, however for the sake of convenience only, we have outlined the Owner’s charges at clause 2.3 and 2.4 below. Please note that these are the Owner’s own cancellation and amendments charges, not Canopy & Stars’, and therefore the Owner may vary their charges as they wish, without notice to us. The correct charges will be notified to you at the time of your cancellation or amendments.
2.3 Owner’s General Cancellation Charges:
2.3.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.
2.3.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.
2.3.3 Cancellation of any holiday after it has been paid in full and at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, will result in forfeiture of your deposit (or an amount equivalent where one was not paid as the holiday was paid in full) and the balance being returned to you.
2.3.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.
2.4 Owner’s General Amendment Charges:
2.4.1 Alterations to your Booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time alterations will be treated as cancellation. All alterations are subject to availability and may incur a £30 adminstration fee.
2.4.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from alterations will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.
Special note: Generally Owners will charge the above cancellation and amendment charges, however we must stress that these are a guide only and charges may differ from those shown here depending on the Owner. The exact charges will be notified to you by the Owner at the time of cancellation and/or can be found in the Owner’s own booking conditions which are available from the Owner on request.
3. Changes and Cancellations by the Owner
We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if the Owner needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Arrangements or to cancel them. We will also liaise between you and the Owner in relation to any alternative Booking offered by the Owner but we will have no further liability to you.
4. Complaints
Because the contract for your Booking is between you and the Owner, any queries or concerns should be addressed to them. In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner as soon as possible. If you don’t follow this procedure there will be less opportunity for the Owner to investigate and resolve your complaint and so make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Delays may also mean that amount of compensation you may be entitled to may be reduced. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback. It’s important to us and the Owner to know that you’ve enjoyed your stay or if anything could have been improved.
5. Pricing
Canopy & Stars reserve the right to amend advertised prices at any time on behalf of the Owner. We also reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices.Special note: changes and errors sometimes occur.
6. Information & Accuracy
The information and prices shown on this website are varied from time to time and may change between the time you first view a property and make a Booking. You should check that all the details are as you expect prior to making a Booking. It is always possible that, despite our best efforts, some of the properties (including the features and extras available) may be incorrectly described and/or priced. If we discover this is the case after you have made a Booking, we reserve the right to contact you with details of the correct information and/or pricing and will give you the option to:
(1) proceed with the Booking based on the correct information and/or pricing, which may require the payment of an additional amount by you;
OR
(2) subject to availability, change your booking dates to dates when the pricing can be honoured ad so no additional charge to you. In the event that a lower price can be offered for alternative dates then the difference would be refunded;
OR
(3) cancel the Booking. If we do not receive your instructions within 5 days of contacting you, we reserve the right to cancel your Booking without liability to you.
7. Our Responsibility for your Booking
Your contract is with the Owner and its booking conditions apply. As Agent, we accept no responsibility for the actual provision of the Booking. Our responsibilities are limited to making the Booking in accordance with your instructions and acting properly in accordance with our legal duties as an Agent. We accept no responsibility for any information about the Booking that we pass on to you in good faith. However, in the event that we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, our maximum liability to you is limited to twice the cost of your Booking (or the appropriate proportion of this if not everyone on the Booking is affected). We do not exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury that arises as a result of our negligence or that of any of our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
8. Pets
Not all properties accept pets. If you wish to take your pet on holiday, please advise us before booking and we can check whether pets are accepted at the property. You must obtain the prior consent of the Owner before taking any pets to the property. A nightly charge may be made by the Owner for each pet and additional terms may apply.
9. VAT
Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable, the tax is included in the advertised holiday rental price.
10. Visa, passport and health requirements.
Unless you tell us otherwise, we assume that all members of your party are British citizens who hold or will hold full British passports valid for the entire duration of the Arrangements you chose to purchase. Information on visa, passport and health requirements, where given and applicable, is so given on this basis. Requirements may change and you are therefore strongly recommended to check the up to date position with the Owner of the Booking, Passport Office, appropriate embassy or consulate or your doctor as applicable in good time before the commencement of your holiday.
11. Insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance you purchase is adequate and appropriate for your particular needs. Please read your policy details and take them with you on holiday.
12. Special requests
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, cots or room location), please let us know at the time of booking. We will pass on all such requests to the Owner, but unfortunately, we can't guarantee that they will be met and we will have no liability to you if they are not.
13. Group Bookings
Not all Owners accept Bookings for a single sex group (for example, a stag or hen party). Guests wanting to make such a Booking should check with us beforehand to enable us to check whether the Owner is prepared to accept the Booking. We will then advise you accordingly. In event that an Owner does not accept this type of Booking then it is with regret, that the Booking may be cancelled and cancellation fees may apply. It is the Guest’s responsibility to enquire with Canopy & Stars and/or check on our website beforehand to make sure that this type of booking is permitted.
14. Maximum Numbers
Please note that except by prior arrangement confirmed in writing, only the number of persons specified on a booking confirmation may occupy a property. Most owners reserve the right to refuse admittance or revoke a booking if this condition is not observed and you are unlikely to receive any refund.
15. Your Responsibilities
Please note that you have a contract with the Owner of the property. As such you are under a responsibility to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner whilst staying at the property with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. You are responsible for informing the Owner of any losses or damage to the property as soon as possible. Please note that you will be liable to pay the Owner for any losses or damage to the property caused by you or a member of your party (except reasonable wear and tear). Some Owners will also require damage deposits. You must also leave the property by the check-out time specified on your booking. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period and/or refuse any future bookings from you. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner. In addition, the Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property. As agent, we will have no liability to you in these circumstances.
16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions have been drafted in accordance with and are governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any and all disputes arising out of these Agency Terms & Conditions.
17. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
18. Validity clause
In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Agency Terms & Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Agency Terms & Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.
Big Box was brilliant - super cool inside and out, very relaxed owners, privacy, relaxation. An ideal getaway
05/09/2018