The Pet Inspectors Rufus and Heidi enjoy long country walks, chasing pheasants and a Sunday roast at the luxury Water Meadow Cottage on the Blenheim Estate.
Pet Inspectors writes Rufus…
As dogs with a certain sense of style and a love of cosy corners, we were thrilled when we heard we were going to stay at Water Meadow Cottage, a luxury cottage on the Blenheim Estate in Oxfordshire.
Our gorgeous Hiro + Wolf leads were snapped on and we ready to go. Heidi and I can get a bit bored on long trips, so we were pleased that our journey time to the cottage was less than 90 minutes.
Whizzing along the M40, we were there in no time. Simon met us at the door alongside a collection of pheasants (apparently there is a pheasant farm next door).
We all loved the decor – much of it dark and dramatic but at the same time very relaxing, with a brown squashy sofa in front of an eco-friendly bioethanol fire.
But best of all, in the well-stocked pantry beyond the stylish kitchen there was a welcome note for me and Heidi, along with our own furry throw parcelled up in ribbon, two bags of food, poo bags and even a little toy. So thoughtful!
Upstairs were two stylish bedrooms and a bathroom with a free-standing bath and all the mod cons. After a lovely cup of tea and toast we had a run round the garden, sending a dozen pheasants fleeing over the fence.
The cottage has a lovely setting beside a bridge and stream, with a summer house and barbecue. After our tea we were taken to a nearby gastropub, the Trout – a famous waterside inn in Wolvercote.
Rory and Denise loved their fish dishes and we had a sneaky taster under the table. Everyone was terribly friendly and we rubbed noses with a couple of super friendly shih-tzus. Back at the cottage we curled up together on our gorgeous throw, dreaming of rabbits and pheasants.
Next day we set off for Blenheim. Although the cottage is on the estate, to get to the palace and its surrounding beautiful gardens and parkland you have to go through the main gates on the opposite side of the estate. Rory and Denise fell in love with the palace and gardens and decided to go for the year’s subscription which was on offer for £22.
The grounds are absolutely gorgeous and full of geese, rabbits and pheasants – very diverting. But best of all they were filming Cinderella, a Disney movie starring Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham-Carter that is due out in 2015, which meant the grounds were filled with soldiers on horses and really friendly film crew to chat to.
Rory and Denise both had a tour round the Palace (they had to go separately as dogs are not allowed in the Palace) and Denise met a lovely couple from Vancouver who we bumped into again later over a meal at the nearby Woodstock Arms.
On Sunday we returned to Blenheim and had a fabulously muddy two hour walk all over the Estate. Heidi was very badly behaved and tried to escape to chase the pheasants, but I managed to keep her in check!
After our bracing walk we headed back to Woodstock to the Star Inn for a delicious Sunday roast. As usual we got lots of attention and Rory very kindly saved us a juicy bone for the journey home!
We can thoroughly recommend Water Meadow Cottage to all our human and doggie friends alike!
If you want to know more or go to Water Meadow Cottage yourself – pick up your bone and call the Pet Concierge on 0203 642 3162 or email us at –woof@petspyjamas.com
