Swallows, 1 The Old Stables

The barn was lovely, hosts very friendly, clean accomodation, seeing animals was so nice, just one recommendation, in wet room a handrail in wet room needed

The old stables is a great place for a stay, easy to get to Oxford and the Cotswolds, ideally placed among numerous footpaths accessible from the door so no need to put the dog in the car, it's a working farm so there is machinery moving from early in the morning, the noise is not excessive and didn't bother us as we are early risers anyway.

The farmer did try and get extra money from us for a 'dog charge' which we didn't pay as we'd booked through sykes and included the dog on the booking.

Rachel, Dave and family could not have been more welcoming to my family and Border Collie.

Fantastic stay, peaceful and relaxing. Highly recommend

Beautifully clean, very comfortable, good night sleep.

Friendly caring hosts. Quiet, local amenities a short drive.

Rachel and David made us feel very welcome and at home.

Swallows was exactly as described, comfortable, well equipped and in a lovely location. We enjoyed our stay very much.

This cottage is in a delightful location on a working farm.

Hosts Dave and Rachel were fantastic, and more than happy to show our excited grandson around the farm (feeding the lambs was a particular joy!). The cottage was comfortable, well appointed, and very handily located for tourist hotspots of Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Millets Farm, with the Thames Path a short walk away. A very peaceful and relaxing place, we will definitely be back!

Lovely, cosy farm cottage in an idyllic, peaceful part of the Oxfordshire countryside.

Extremely well equipped, very clean and an ideal base for visiting Oxford, Witney and other towns & villages in the area. Fabulous to wake up every morning to the sound of birdsong and sights of farm animals, as well as be able to walk to the village along tracks and explore the hamlet of Stanton Harcourt, with its thatched cottages, Norman church, manor & inn. Rachael & Dave & their sheepdog were great hosts and introduced us to their newborn lambs. Altogether, a brilliant stay!!

We had a great stay, we loved the cottage and the farm, the location is fabulous.

Thank you to Rachel and Dave who were lovely. We will definitely be coming back!

My wife and I, along with our three dogs stayed for five days in April 2025 at this lovely barn conversion in beautiful Oxfordshire.

The accommodation is well appointed and in good condition, Rachel and Dave, the owners are lovely and welcoming and very helpful if you have any queries about the accommodation or the locality. We used the accommodation to explore the beautiful Cotswolds and Oxford, the barn conversion is based on a working farm but we were not disturbed by the busy activity of the farm, it is a peaceful and quiet locality only a short drive from Witney and less than half an hour from Oxford. I would not hesitate returning.

Lovely cottage on a working farm.

The cottage is decorated lovely and in a great position for exploring the surrounding areas but nestled away so very quiet and peaceful at night. The owners are very welcoming and helpful. I would definitely recommend a stay here.

A lovely, clean an well appointed house in a lovely setting.

The owners were keen to check we were happy, but they were never obtrusive. Thoroughly enjoyed our week.

Thank you for a wonderfully stay!

My partner and I had a really lovely time and throughly enjoyed our visit and staying on this family run farm. The cottage was very well presented, clean, and homely. It was really nice seeing the horses and the feeding the sheep and meeting Dave and Rachel (the owners) who were very friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had a good stay. The cottage is very well situated and in a lovely secluded location whilst also being close to Oxford, Blenheim palace and lots of other interesting places as well some great pubs and restaurants. We very much forward to our next visit.

Great cottage on a working farm.

Dave and Rachel (The Farmers) were very helpful and friendly. All modern and very clean.

An amazing stay.

The cottage was in a perfect condition, well appointed and an amazing location. Perfect hosts as well. We will always try to stay at this cottage if we visit the area.

Rachel & Dave were wonderful hosts!

Thank you for making us feel so welcome. We hope to stay with you again in the future. Shane & Alex

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

. The owners managed to achieve a fine balance to ensure our needs were met and making us feel welcome ,without being intrusive. The cottage was comfortable The local village was quite pretty and catered for minor essentials. The farmyard was surprisingly peaceful and I would go as far as saying the animals seemed to be on their best behaviour and obliging.

Simply brilliant.

It’s not often get a personal welcome and attention to detail. A very warm and well equipped cottage and importantly to us quiet with easy parking. Thank you so much

We had a lovely stay in this gorgeous holiday accommodation.

Clean and warm, everything we needed. Super friendly and helpful hosts. Beautiful area of the country with so much to do! Five stars all the way.

This was a lovely clean property.

Very friendly owners and a good quiet spot, just what we wanted. I do think it would be good to mention the horses, partly as lots of people love horses but also we would have been aware of the noise of hooves early in the morning ! This is not a complaint just a comment.

Lovely cottage - very comfortable, with everything we needed for our stay.

Our daughter was delighted to have all the animals around and spent a lot of our stay watching them out of the windows of the cottage! Rachel and her family were very friendly and helpful and we very much enjoyed saying hello to the horses, kittens and dogs. Made a great base for visiting friends and sights in Oxford.

Very smart, well equipped and comfortable cottage with very friendly and helpful owners.

Had an amazing week at Mr and Mrs Matheson's farm (Tawney Farm) at Stanton Harcourt.

The property was exactly as described and proved to be an ideal base for visiting the likes of Oxford, Waterperry, Witney, Burford etc.. Mr and Mrs Matheson and their family were so welcoming, and always had time to have a quick chat. Highly recommend the property.

Dave and Rachel made us feel welcome.

Waking up on a working farm to the sounds of the animals was really nice. The stables accommodation has a really nice feel to it and on the walls are some pictures of the old building and the construction of the new. Dogs are welcome and it’s nice to take a walk along the lane in the morning with your 4 legged friend before settling off for a day out.

Dear Family, we loved our stay in your lovely part of the World!

The Shallows is a wonderfull well equipped holiday place with soft towels, great beds and everything you need. Spending so much time with kittens was the best part of the holiday for our kids. We all enjoyed being part of a working farm a lot. Best regards from the Netherlands

We had a lovely break super area on the farm the owners were very friendly and couldn’t do enough for us would certainly go back again

Absolutely amazing stay at Tawney's Farm!

! I highly recommend you come and visit. Our family of four was very comfortable in the modern and spacious accommodation at "Swallows". Everything was immaculate and the cottage was fully stocked. All of the appliances worked perfectly and there was lightning fast internet. The farm is located steps away from the Thames Path hiking trail and the local pub, The Harcourt Arms, is very nice indeed. Stanton Harcourt is a charming village dotted with thatched cottages. There are two cottages and a shepherd's hut and I could imagine larger groups having a blast here. This is a proper working family farm in an amazing setting. We were made to feel most welcome. Our hosts (the farm owners) Rachel and Dave were incredibly kind and friendly. Their kids also work at the farm and it was great to meet them and see them in action! This is buzzing and busy and fun place for families. Our kids were welcome to pet the horses and lambs and the sheepdog, Bo, was a superstar. Thank you Rachel and Dave! We will be back again some time!

Spotlessly clean and well appointed cottage surrounded by a fully working farm.

Our hosts were very friendly and accommodating. Our cocker spaniel loved the long walks and the countryside. Ideally situated for us to visit family and the park and ride into Oxford was great (can’t remember the last time I was on a bus)! We only had a long weekend but felt very rested.

Warm and Cody cottage.

Spotless.

We enjoyed our week at the stable/cottage which was presented beautifully clean and spacious.

It was great to be in the midst of a working farm with cattle, sheep, and horses all around. The location is quiet but within easy driving of Oxford and Witney and the pub in the local village is recommended. Our hosts were very friendly and keen to know we were enjoying our stay despite their responsibilities with the farm. The Thames Path is only 2 fields away and you can walk either way for peace and tranquility.

great will return

We had the best holiday ever at The Swallows!

Dave and Rachel and their family made us feel so welcome, we absolutely loved chatting to them and they now feel like family! The cottage was exquisite and we loved meeting the cats and horses and Bo the border collie. What a treat for us to spend a week in this magical place. Our favourite walk was across the fields and down to the Thames where we could take our little dog Bells for lovely long walks and see the swans and other water birds and also to the lock and the houseboats that moor here. We also loved exploring the standing stones nearby that Rachel and Dave told us about. The cottage itself was fabulous, absolutely perfect, and so comfortable for the two of us and my dad who is in his 80’s, the walk in shower was ideal for him. We will definitely be back and have already recommended to friends and family that they should visit too.

We had a great time here over New Year.

We had grandparents in Kingfisher next door and we stayed in the Swallows with our 7 and 10 year old. The girls loved seeing the horses and thank you for allowing them to see them. Loads nearby for the girls to do and our cocker spaniel loved the Thames path walks. Very comfortable and great facilities.

Really enjoyed our stay.

The owners are lovely and very helpful. Lovely atmosphere and lots of delightful horses. Would highly recommend.

Lovely property, fully equipped,spacious, comfortable , good internet connection , we were made really welcome by Dave and Rachel the owners , this was our second visit and will not be our last , highly recommend the property.

Our reaction when we entered was, its brand new !

Perfect place to stay, everything we needed was provided. Our hosts were friendly and very helpful and we hope to return in the future. Annelies and Ken Pratt

Lovely cottage and friendly hosts.

Quite difficult to find in first day, could do with a sign at top of lane to property. Cottage has been well thought out, everything you could possibly need for a self catering break. Beautiful surroundings on a working farm

Excellent holiday cottage on a working farm.

Brilliantly located for visiting alot of tourist activities yet feels very remote which was lovely. The kids enjoyed watching the horses and the owners were very friendly and had alot of advice on the local area. The cottage itselt was clean, modern and well stock so you really dont to bring alot which is great when travelling with kids.

We had a lovely stay in the Swallows Cottage celebrating our daughters Birthday, it was immaculately clean and comfortable .

It is situated in beautiful countryside, we loved the fact that it was on a working farm and enjoyed watching the horses . The hosts were great , checking that everything was ok for us , and were very accommodating with our checking in and out times . Will definitely stay there again !

We had a fantastic longer term stay at The Swallows.

Rachel and Dave were lovely, friendly and helpful hosts. They encouraged us to explore the farm and we met various animals and had lots of fun playing with Bo, the sheepdog, which our children really enjoyed. The cottage itself was really nicely furnished, the beds were comfortable and the bedrooms had some helpful space for us to unpack a bit. We had a really enjoyable stay and hope to return one day.

A beautiful, modern and spacious cottage within a calming and peaceful environment of a working farm has everything you would require.

The hosts are extremely friendly and polite. We will definitely be booking to stay here again and will be recommending to friends and family too.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Swallows.

It is a comfortable cottage in a lovely setting. The design is well thought out and the kitchen well equipped. The beds are comfortable. It is an ideal spot for walkers, but also a good location for visiting Oxford, Windsor and Stratford on Avon.

Amazing friendly hosts.

Its a 10/10 for us! We loved the working farm, made even better by the lovely weather. Accommodation is excellent with everything you need for a lovely relaxing holiday, which is exactly what we had. Can't wait to go back.

Very friendly owners.

They gave us useful advice. Great location too.

Beautiful comfortable cottage Very well equipped Comfortable beds, and very clean and fresh Loved watching the farm action form right outside the window, and hearing the horses hooves in the morning.

Owners were lovely and helpful with lots of advice and information, even thought we had a super lazy time and didn't venture out much at all. The cottage was perfect for this. Would highly recommend

Lovely friendly owners and so nice to be on a working farm!

The cottage is perfect , very comfortable and well equipped.

Even though the November weather was cold ,the cottage was really warm . The owners Dave and Rachel made us feel very welcome , we will definitely be returning next year.

The welcome we received at Swallows cottage was impeccable, Rachel & David are welcoming, helpful, friendly & informative.

To wake up in a luxurious cottage & look out of the window to see horses, cows & sheep on a working farm is a welcome sight. Would highly recommend

Our second stay at the farm, and just as great as the first.

Our hosts were super friendly and the kids (9 and 11) had a great time mucking about the farm and going on the many day trips nearby (Oxford, Cotswolds Wildlife Park, Blenheim Palace etc. etc.). Thank you!

The cottage is on a working farm so if you are looking for total quiet this cottage is not for you.

We loved it and watching all the activity was part of the holiday for us. The owners are lovely and will involve you in farm life if you want to be part of what happens, like watching them groom the horses etc.

Great to be on a working farm & see the animals.

The family made us feel very welcome!

Really nice converted stable accommodation on a working farm.

The location was great with lots going on around the farm to keep kids entertained, horses, sheep, kittens, walks and a lovely sheep dog. Rachel and David, were really friendly and helpful hosts, as was everyone else working on the farm or riding their horses... Nice touch to the accomodation was the front yard set up, which provided a dog secure outside area overlooking the horse paddock. With Oxford and the Cotswolds on your doorstep, lots of great places to visit within easy access. Would recommend highly

We rented both comfortable, very well-equipped Stables cottages for a family 'reunion'.

Rachel, David and family were so welcoming and shared interesting insights into their life on the farm, with visits from the horse dentist and blacksmith taking place that week. The location was ideal, watching birds around the pond, with rural walks from the door to discover boating on the reservoir and the history of Stanton Harcourt with its Devil's Quots and many places to visit further afield, recommended by the owners. We visited both Blenheim and Oxford and hired a canal boat for a day on the Oxford Canal. We were lucky to have perfect summer weather, ideal for relaxing evening meals on the gas barbeques, watching the sun set. I still remember the clip-clop of the horses' hooves on the cobbles yard - a really restortative, relaxing break.

We had an absolutely fantastic time.

Our city kids (9 and 11) enjoyed the farm life tremendously. Dave, Rachel, Clare and others were so kind in giving their time to show us the various goings on. We were lucky to be there at the right time to see the lambs feeding, with the kittens and the wonderful (though bonkers-in-a-good-way) collie Bo being the icing on the cake. We also enjoyed the various day trips around and about to Bibury, Oxford and others, and a fine walk along the Thames path from the farm to a local pub on the river. It's a working farm so we got the full experience, including olfactory (which waxed and waned, and we didn't mind). Thank you so much, we will be back.

Fantastic holiday venue.

Superb accommodation. Being on a working farm was a bonus. Hosts were attentive and helpful.

Great to be on a working farm especially at lambing time with lots of activity but still very peaceful.

Great to have so many walks for the dog without needing to get in the car.Well positioned for the Cotswolds and getting into Oxford .Would definitely recommend

Wonderful little cottage, all brand new inside, comfortable beds, exceptionally clean.

Owners were lovely, very welcoming and friendly. Kids enjoyed having so many animals so close by. We'd happily stay again.

We had such a fabulous time at the farm!

Our six year old daughter is horse mad so she completely loved having the horses just outside our window. Rachel, Dave and Claire and everyone on the farm were extremely friendly and took the time to answer all our questions about the animals. Joey the sheep was a firm favourite with us too. The two kittens would have come home with us with our daughter had her way! The accommodation is gorgeous. Spacious but very cosy too. And the location is brilliant for local walks and fab pubs. We're planning to return when the weather is better (it rained the whole weekend, but we still had a fabulous time!). Thank you!

fantastic accommodation in a lovely setting and lovely hosts.

Several decent pubs within a 10 minute drive, think we will revisit next year. The children loved playing with the dog, the sheep and the kittens !

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Swallows.

The converted stables are built to a very high standard with everything you could ask for provided. Dave and Rachel and everybody on the farm were very friendly and would always stop to chat despite being busy on this working farm. Very peaceful setting with the Thames Path just a field away. If you love horses, this is the place to stay, plus Beau the dog and Joey the sheep who thinks he's a dog

We had an excellent stay in the old stables, the accommodation is very well equipped and is located in a good location with plenty to see and do such as walks down to the locks on the Thames or city sightseeing in Oxford, we went to the Cotswold's which are worth a visit , we also went to the Cotswold's wildlife park and gardens and can highly recommend this, another place to visit is the Millets farm shop and garden centre it also has a play centre (spouts) for children which is excellent.

One of the best parts of this holiday was seeing the animals on the farm our grandson enjoyed feeding Joey the sheep but above all the welcome you receive from Dave, Rachael,son and daughter all are extremely friendly and cannot do enough for you they are very busy running the farm and the riding stables but they will always take the time to stop for a chat perfect hosts.

My family and I (my husband and two children ages 9 and 5) had a fantastic time staying on the farm.

The accommodation was excellent and incredibly comfortable. We all loved being on the farm, watching the goings on from our house and wandering around the farm yard spending time with Joey the lamb, Bow the sheepdog and all the lovely sheep and horses! There were also lots of interesting things to do in the surrounding area. We went to one of the pubs at Newbridge and then took a boat up the river, we went to Oxford for the day, we visited a Falconry and also Cotwold Wildlfe park. It was so lovely coming back to the farm at the end of a day out and seeing the animals and taking an evening walk in the fields. We felt thoroughly relaxed and rejuvenated at the end of our trip. We will definitely be visiting again.

Rachel and family were wonderful, friendly and chatty.

The cottage was ultra clean with everything needed for a comfortable holiday. Farm life goes on around you but the cottage is so well insulated you are not disturbed. We were going to bring the horses, but had a change of plan, wish we had as I wouldn't question their care had we of brought them. Thank you I hope to be back again xx

Swallows is a beautiful, practical and comfortable holiday cottage set next to the farmyard of a working farm.

We enjoyed a superb family holiday with our teenage daughters and dog and all of us would love to return to Tawney’s farm as soon as possible. The accommodation is perfect as it is stylish yet sturdy enough to feel relaxed in on a family holiday. The kitchen is well equipped, the wet room shower is excellent and the beds are very comfortable. The cottage is well insulated with underfloor heating and I imagine it will be just as comfortable in winter as summer. The outdoor space was great to relax in and watch farm life and ideal for a BBQ in the evening. My daughters (and myself) were thrilled to be able to bottle feed Joey the lamb- a highlight of our stay. My horse-mad daughter loved being close to the horses and could even watch the through the lounge and bedroom window. Thank you to all the Matheson family for making us feel so welcome. We couldn’t have hoped for more accommodating hosts and we all really enjoyed talking to them during our stay.

We had an amazing week at The Old Stables!

Gorgeous brand new place where everything has been thought about. BBQ, herb garden and everything in the kitchen you could possibly need. Everyone on the farm was so friendly and helpful and our 2 year old daughter had the best week of her life! Feeding lambs, meeting new born kittens and watching the horses come and go. The location is great too, very idilic but close to lots of things to see and do. Brilliant week...... we shall be back! Thank you so much!

From the point of booking our break, the whole process was very simple, communication was great and everything we needed to know was made available.

The stay at Swallows, 1 the old stables was everything we hoped it would be and more. Imagine a modern stylish barn conversion containing everything you need, set in beautiful countryside surrounded by animals and run by wonderfully relaxed, positive happy people and you're close. We were made to feel welcome from the second we arrived. We followed the winding road past fields of sheep and horses up to the farmhouse and barns, the key was in a key safe at the door, we entered the accommodation and were taken back at the quality and cleanliness, everything was thought of to make our stay an easy one. There was even milk and some amazing cookies waiting for us! The pillows were so good that my wife ordered some for our home. The Thames pathway runs along the back of the farm and offers some amazing walks. There was so much to do in the area but in all honesty we could've easily relaxed at the farm all day watching the world go by and having fun at the farm. We had our two children and dog with us and providing you respect and appreciate where you are then you're pretty much free to roam. We kept our dog on the lead whilst walking around the farm but there was plenty of opportunity for him to run around whilst out and about. Our children were able to see and learn about all the animals, we even got to watch a farrier changing some horse shoes. Everyone at the farm was so friendly and helpful and made our stay what it was. If you want a clean, modern relaxing break but with enough happening around you to keep you interested, in a beautiful location then this is perfect. It exceeded all our expectations and was exactly what we needed.