Dormy House, near Broadway

Cotswold Village Rooms Dormy House hotel exterior

The Accommodation

Just off a quiet lane named Buckle Street, at the top of Willersey Hill, near the village of Broadway sits Dormy House, a lovely hotel with all the credentials for a perfect stay.

Originally a 17th century Cotswold farmhouse, Dormy House has an intimate, relaxed, and utterly comfortable feel that flows throughout the place. Gorgeous fresh flowers, bowls of red apples, log fires, squashy sofas, and staff that make you feel that all is well in the world. Charming doorman in tailored Cotswold wool jacket and jeans greets at the door and helps with bags. Even Hunter wellies and umbrellas are at the ready for rambles and muddy walks.

Thirty eight rooms with names including The Attic, The Snug, The Den and The Hideaway. All are stylishly individual, some with their own sitting room, some suites with bath and double walk-in showers, and all with a tablet in each room to make it impossibly easy to cater for every whim. Order smoked salmon and scrambled egg on toasted brioche for breakfast, get a delivery of fresh milk to your room, buff up your body with a treatment in the House Spa, check out the equipment in the gym, mull over the lunch and dinner menu in The Garden Room or The Potting Shed, or relax with afternoon tea – room service has never been so much fun.

Self-contained and spacious suites are also set around the courtyard. Milk pails by the front door for sticks and brollies, king-size beds, sofa beds for children, walking maps, and even bed and biscuits ready for canine guests on a mini-break. Some suites have an individual courtyard terrace with table and chairs. Expect to see the sky, the stars and hear the peace and sounds of the countryside.

Eating at Dormy House is a must. The kitchens use the best seasonal ingredients with produce sourced locally as much as possible. Wine cellars are stocked from wine merchants, Corney and Barrow, established in London in 1780.

Dormy House is just a short distance down the lane from the Farncombe Estate where its sister hotels, the lovely Foxhill Manor and The Fish offer an equally memorable stay.

Honestly, you’ll find it hard to leave…..

Village and Location

Dormy House is just a short drive or walk down the lane to the family-owned Farncombe Estate of which it is part. The Estate sits in its own sweeping parkland setting in the Cotswolds with fabulous views overlooking the Vale of Evesham.

Just over a mile from Farncombe Estate is Broadway, an elegant village with bags of history. A lovely wide main street runs through with fine medieval stone houses that appear to gently glow in the sunshine, grassy verges and greens, horses graze in fields, independent shops and galleries, and all kinds of places to stop and be revived.

Drawn by its natural light and beauty, Broadway has been home to quite a few artists and writers over the years including Elgar, John Singer Sargeant, J.M Barrie, Vaughan Williams and the American artist and writer Francis Davis Millet, who died in the sinking of the Titanic. In 1932 his son donated a sum of money for the lych-gates to be built at the ancient St Eadburgha’s church in Broadway, in memory of his father – look up on its beams for a Latin inscription.

While here do take some time to visit the Ashmolean Museum which is based in Tudor House, a former 17th century coaching inn. Also, veer off half-way along the main street by the Lygon Arms to visit the Gordon Russell Museum to see the work of the 20th century furniture maker.

For walkers, Broadway Hill overlooks the village and is the highest point in the northern Cotswolds and part of the Cotswold Way. Climb the 20m high Broadway Tower which sits on a hilltop site in the Broadway Country Park and take in some fabulous views. Not far also, at the other end of the village, take the road up to Snowshill Manor and Garden, a unique National Trust property with plenty of quirkiness and character.