Berkshire self catering cottage, sleeps 2
Single storey cottage, annexed to the owners’ property and dating back to 1720.
Situated on the main Pangbourne to Streatley road (A329) at the junction of two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (namely, The Chilterns and North Wessex Downs), the property is in an extremely tranquil, rural setting being well set back from the road. The picturesque Thames side villages of Goring and Streatley, which provide lovely riverside walks, are nearby. Goring has its own Railway Station and village shops with car parking approximately 20 minutes walk away. Facilities include food store/newsagent, chemist, gift shops and bank. Linden Cottage is also situated immediately at the foot of The National Trust’s, The Holies, Lardon Chase and Lough Down, which comprise 67 acres of chalk grassland supporting many wild flowers and butterflies. There is direct access to a bridleway and Linden Cottage is within easy access of The Ridgeway path. Ideal base for walkers and cyclists. Within walking distance of public houses and restaurants including English, Chinese and Indian.
• Basildon House (National Trust) and Beale Park are approximately 2 miles distant.
• Mapledurham House and Watermill is approximately 4 miles distant.
• Reading and The Oracle shopping centre are approximately 9 miles distant.
• Oxford is approximately 20 miles distant.
• M4 Junction 12 is approximately 8 miles distant..
Rooms, food and facilities
- Double bedroom (sleeps two)
- Additional double futon in lounge sleeps 1 person (minimum age 10 years)
- En-suite shower room
- Lounge with Open Plan Kitchen, Television, Fridge, Cooker, Microwave, Iron & Ironing Board
- Bed Linen Included
- Car Parking and Garden Area
- Horses and free range chickens on site.
- Grazing/trailer parking available for horses at £15 per horse per week extra
- No smoking/pets
- Basic provisions provided on arrival including toilet roll, tea towel, soap, washing up liquid.
How to find us
Directions from Goring Train Station
Exit the front of the train station and turn left. After about 100 yards, turn left over the railway. Proceed through the village and over the Thames river bridge. At the traffic lights turn left onto the A329 towards Pangbourne/M4. Proceed through a canopy of trees and the property will be found after approx. 1 mile at the bottom of the dip in the road on the right hand side.
Directions from M4 Junction 12
Take the A4 (Bath Road) turn off from the roundabout signposted towards Theale and Newbury (not Reading). Proceed straight over the next roundabout and at the next roundabout take the third exit A340 Tidmarsh Road signposted Pangbourne. Proceed for approximately 1 mile crossing over the M4 and continue through Tidmarsh. On entering Pangbourne village proceed over the box junction and straight over the mini roundabout. Proceed under the railway bridge and continue along the A329 with the River Thames on your right hand side. Continue past Beale Park on the right and over the double bend railway bridge. Proceed through the village of Lower Basildon. Travel past Hook End Lane on the left and continue through a canopy of trees. At the bottom of the next dip in the road, pull in left, immediately in front of the Streatley sign, into a gravel parking area. The entrance to Linden Cottage is at the rear of the parking area.
Directions from Oxford
Leave Oxford on the A4074. Continue for approximately 12 miles. At the Monge Well roundabout take the second exit onto Nosworthy Way (A4130). At the next roundabout take the first exit onto the A329 signposted Pangbourne and Reading. Continue for approximately 4 miles through the village of Moulsford and continue for approximately another 4 miles until you reach the traffic lights at Goring (The Bull pub is on the right hand side). Proceed over the traffic lights. Continue through the canopy of trees and after approximately ¼ mile, at the bottom of the dip in the road, turn right into a gravel parking area . The entrance to Linden Cottage is at the rear of the parking area.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Energy
We are currently building an additional eco sustainable cottage which will be constructed from Structurally Insulated Panels and will include sustainable energy saving technologies including a solar photovoltaic system to provide free electricity to the cottage during daylight hours significantly reducing CO2 emissions over grid bought electricity. There will also be installed, a whole house mechanically ventilated system recovering 90% of heat normally wasted by traditional ventilation systems. An air sourced heat pump will supply underfloor heating and a solar thermal system supported by an air source heat pump will provide hot water. The cottage will have high levels of insulation approaching code 5 for the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Waste
We currently have recycling facilities conveniently located and easily accessible to guests consisting of separate bins for paper/cardboard, tins and plastics, and glass. There are full details in the property detailing which day the waste is collected. We produce our own compost by collecting horse manure from our paddocks which we give away for free to local residents/allotment holders.
We are on a private drainage system and have recently refurbished our Victorian septic tank and completely replaced a dilapidated drainage field. We have a policy of not using any cleaning chemicals which may interfere with the efficient operation of the system.
Similarly, we do not use any chemicals/fertiliser on our land and our paddocks are managed as wildflower meadows.
Community
Our ethos and market strategy is focused on sustainability and supporting the local community. We have established close links with numerous local businesses, encouraging all our guests to use local services, particularly the village shops. For example, we have recently established a link with Nappers Delicatessen which has been in business for many years and is a much needed focal point in the village. They sell a variety of local produce and will deliver food to our guests. We also have an arrangement with a local mountain bike specialist who will hire bicycles and deliver them for guests prior to arrival. We also refer enquiries that we are unable to fulfil to another local self catering establishment in a neighbouring village and vice versa. We include full details of opening hours of local shops and facilities etc in the cottage. We also have all the local tourist attraction leaflets and guide books/maps available in the cottage to guests. We also have a full list of local restaurants/pubs in the cottage, including a variety of international cuisine including Indian, Chinese, Italian and French. We have eaten at most of these establishments are can recommend to guests according to taste and budget.
Landscape
We are situated immediately adjacent to an area of Special Scientific Interest and are in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, namely The Holies owned by the National Trust. We have good knowledge of the local fauna and wildlife and advise and encourage our guests to explore and experience this wonderful site. For example we have a resident population of Red Kites and Buzzards and The Holies, being a chalkland grassland, is known for the Chalkhill Blue Butterfly and a variety of wild Orchids. We are also immediately opposite the Thames and advise guests on the best places to see such species as Kingfishers, Grebes and other water fowl. Immediately to the rear of our land is an ancient site, Grims Ditch, thought to be prehistoric bank and ditch earthworks which leads to the Ridgeway National Trail. The purpose of these earthworks remain a mystery but as they were too small for military use, they may have served to demarcate territory. Archaeologists agree that Iron Age people built the earthworks around 300BC.
