The garden runs down to the water.

Yes, in both cottages. The Cottage has a private garden to the river and both have the river bank to explore. Please tell us you are bringing a dog when you book.

The swimming spot is a quiet, clear pool in the woodland a minute's walk from either door, deep enough to swim, with the old stone bridge downstream. It is a natural river, so there is no lifeguard: swim within your ability, check the depth and flow before you get in, and take care with children and after heavy rain when the river rises and runs faster. Guests swim all year; wetsuits are a good idea outside summer.

Two kayaks live on the bank at the Cottage for guests to use for the whole stay — paddle upstream under the trees and drift back down. Buoyancy aids and a sensible eye on the water level are your responsibility. If you are staying at the Mill and would like to use them, ask us.

Check-in is from 3pm and checkout by 10am. Both cottages have keypad entry, so there is no key to collect — we send you a code before you arrive, and you can turn up when it suits you. The heating is on and the house warmed through before you walk in.

Bed linen, feather duvets, towels, heating, hot water, wifi, a hairdryer and free parking by the door are all included in both cottages. The Cottage also has an iron, a TV, a sound system and board games; the Mill has a Bluetooth speaker instead of a TV.

The Cottage is from £153 a night and the Mill from £117 a night; prices vary by season and length of stay. For now, dates and booking go through our Airbnb listings, where you book and pay as usual — the calendars on this site are updated from them every hour. Direct booking is coming; join the mailing list to hear first about new dates, quiet weeks and offers.