Cosy barns in the cool Cotswolds

The gently rolling hills and picture-postcard villages of the Cotswolds seem a million miles away from the busy M4 west of London.  
But the motorway provides a quick escape route from the capital, putting the Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire countryside within a two-hour drive. As such, the area is popular with commuters and those who want a reachable second home for weekend getaways.



Buyers looking for “country cool” are forsaking honey-colour stone cottages in need of renovation and opting for brand new contemporary-design houses, according to estate agent Butler Sherborn. The Paddocks, in the village of Marcham, is a scheme of four barn-style modern houses. Interiors have double-height, open-plan living spaces, underfloor heating and manageable gardens. Prices from £775,000 to £1.49 million. Call 01865 510000.