Peace in the Valley
For a tranquil break in the Cotswolds, escape to Feldon Valley, writes Rachel Roberts
Some magical places make your entire being relax. Feldon Valley, tucked away in the Cotswolds, is one of them. We’d arrived after too long a stay in London’s car park, also known as the M25, so the immediate calming effect was most welcome. All the tension evaporated on the first glimpse of Feldon Valley, a stone’s throw from Moreton-in-marsh and seemingly conjured up in the middle of what feels like a secret woodland. Billed as a retreat, it offers 25 ensuite bedrooms set across luxury lodge-style accommodation, a contemporary fine-dining restaurant, The Kitchen, an 18-hole golf course and a cute, renovated shepherd’s hut for massages and beauty treatments.
The accommodation, comprising four small lodges and 13 bedrooms housed in the main building, has an understated Scandinavian aesthetic. Think low-rise simplicity, using natural timber and stone for the exteriors, and floor-to-ceiling glass. Owner Thariq Ahmad wanted the retreat to blend in sympathetically with the landscape, and it does so beautifully.
Feldon Valley’s story began when Thariq had an ambitious plan to redevelop the existing Brailes Golf Course. The new incarnation of the golf course welcomed its first players in 2018 and guests began checking in to the lodges in 2019.
Our home for the night was one of the four lodges, reached by a short amble along the boardwalk from the main building. We spotted some of the 200-plus bird and bat boxes that were also incorporated in a drive to support and contribute to the land. Dotted around an area there are also hedgehog houses, bee hives, and a barn owl box – the birds have long nested here, and their importance is acknowledged by being chosen as Feldon Valley’s logo.
We chatted with a friendly groundskeeper who was busy tidying up the woodland in readiness for autumn. He told us to listen out for the ‘coo-coo-coo’ of the resident barn owls when darkness fell, and that if we rose early enough, we might spy some of the deer that regularly drop by.
Alongside this proactive care for nature, sustainability is key to the retreat’s ethos. During an outstanding dining experience in The Kitchen, we sampled creations from head chef Victoria Hamilton, using seasonal produce sourced from local independent suppliers. For example,
Paddock Farm provides beef from 100 per cent pasture-fed Hereford cattle and sourdough bread comes courtesy of the award-winning Marks Cotswold Bakery in Chipping Norton.
There’s also an expanding kitchen garden that yields seasonal fruits and vegetables, and honey from the bee hives is coming. While The Kitchen was named by a newspaper as one of the Top 30 Best Places to Eat Al Fresco (outdoor tables overlook the golf course and rolling Cotswolds hills) it has yet to bag any awards. However, there will be a concerted effort in 2024 to tickle the right judges’ tastebuds, so it’s just a matter of time before The Kitchen – seating up to 80 – gets the recognition it deserves.
Feldon Valley is also a popular choice for wedding parties. The lodges are cleverly configured, allowing increased capacity by opening an interconnecting door. Travel cots are available and fourlegged friends are also welcome for an additional cost.
Our lodge, at the very end of the boardwalk, provided an extrapeaceful space come bedtime. For guests keen to squeeze the most out of a summer’s evening, a terrace outside
A lodge at Feldon Valley, main; The Kitchen dining room, top; the golf course, above
the main lodge features two firepits, a perfect spot to enjoy an after-dinner tipple or two.
Apart from a flatscreen TV in the main building’s communal lounge area, they are absent elsewhere in a bid to promote further relaxation. Wifi is available, though. A muted colour palette used throughout also adds to the serenity, and we drifted into sleep, as right on cue, the resident barn owls began their nightly call.
We slept late the following morning and while miffed to have missed the deer, we woke up feeling deliciously rested. Alas, we had to hit the road after breakfast (the same high standard as dinner), with no time to try out any treatments holistic therapist Sally Cave offers in the onsite Shepherd’s Hut ‘spa’.
For those who do plan some extra R&R, Sally uses completely organic, natural and vegan-friendly products, so you can float off on a cloud, knowing you’re being both kind to yourself and the environment. And the silver lining for us? We’ve got the perfect excuse to return.
An expanding kitchen garden yields seasonal fruits and vegetables
Prices for a one-night stay in a standard main lodge start from £152, based on two people sharing, including breakfast, Feldonvalley. co.uk