Swans Down offers a stylish lakeside retreat, perfect for relaxation and adventure. Enjoy luxury spa access, swimming pools, watersports, bike hire and tennis facilities on site. Relax in the hot tub or BBQ on the outside decking area with seating.
Reviews
9.69.6 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
5 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 101500 sq ft
Popular amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet friendly
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Howells Mere 26, Swans Down - Lakeside House, Hot Tub, Spa Access, Sleep 8-10
Swans Down is a stunning & stylish glass fronted lakeside house with hot tub set in a 550 acre beautiful nature reserve. It has excellent onsite facilities & activities, with luxury spa access, swimming pools, watersports, bike hire, tennis, restaurant, bar & pizza shack.
Sleeping up to 8(+2) in 5x bedrooms & 4x bathrooms. 3x double ensuite, 2x twins (1x can be a double) & outside decking area, seating BBQ & hot tub. High ceiling, open plan living area leads to covered balcony area. Pets welcome.
Ground Floor
Bedroom 1 • 5' Double bed • Sliding glass doors to lakeside sundeck • 24" Smart TV • Ample storage • En-suite • Bath with shower over • WC and basin
Bedroom 2 • 5' Double bed • Sliding glass doors to lakeside sundeck • 24" Smart TV • Ample storage • En-suite • Bath with shower over • WC and basin
Bedroom 3 • 2 x 3' single beds • Can be configured as a 6' double • Limited storage
Outside • Hot Tub • South west facing sundeck, fully enclosed • Rattan deck furniture • Table with seating for 6 and 2 extra chairs • Charcoal BBQ
Bathroom • Bath with shower over • WC and basin
First Floor
Living/dining area • Spectacular lake views • 1 x 3/4 seat and 1 x 2/3 seat sofas • 2 x large bean bags • Log burning stove • 50” smart TV, with DVD player • Dining table with seating for 8 • Breakfast bar with seating for 4 • Sliding doors to enclosed balcony
Kitchen • Large, modern and well equipped • 5 ring gas hob • Single oven and grill • Dishwasher • Built in Microwave • 70/30 Fridge Freezer • Free standing separate Fridge • Washing machine • Nespresso Coffee Machine
Bedroom 4 • 2 x single 2' 6" futon beds • Suitable for children • Limited storage
Second Floor
Bedroom 5 • 6' double bed • Open double wardrobe • Bedside cabinets En-suite • Bath with shower over • WC and basin
• 550 acres of private Nature Reserve, including seven Lakes & three Rivers • Excellent Water Sports - Paddle boarding, kayak, canoe & rowing boats • Somerford Lagoon can only be used for non-powered water sports between the 1st of April and the 30th of September • In order to minimise disturbance to overwintering wildfowl, the footpaths to the Southern and Eastern edge of Somerford Lagoon are not accessible from the 1st of October to the 31st of March • Spinney Lake is available for non-powered water sports all year. • Bike Hire & Trails • Excellent & varied Fishing • Tennis Courts & 3G artificial turf multi-use games area • Activity Hub - Bookable activities • Ballihoo Restaurant & Clubhouse Bar • Pizza Shack & Takeaway • Children's play area • Soft play - charges apply • No large single sex parties are permitted on site
Lower Mill Estate Spa
• Free use of the world-class Spa, treatments extra • Indoor & outdoor heated pools • Outdoor eco-pool allows you to swim amongst reeds and lilies • Extensive selection of natural, holistic & nurturing GAIA spa treatments • State of the art, fully equipped Technogym • Beautifully landscaped gardens • Children are welcome if accompanied by an adult
Local Area
• Local & walkable village pub, lakeside Restaurants & Cafe's nearby • Wide choice of local Water Sports, activities & attractions nearby • Close to Cirencester and convenient for exploring the Cotswolds • Good transport links (approx. 1.5 hours from West London)
Property amenities
Pool/Spa
Communal pool
Heated pool
Hot tub
Indoor pool
Sauna
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Parking on site
Kitchen
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Ice maker
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Toaster
Bedrooms
5 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
4 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Towels provided
Living spaces
Living room
Wood stove
Entertainment
DVD player
Smart TV
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Things to do
Heated pool
Optional golf privileges
Cycling nearby
Fishing nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Motor boating nearby
Water skiing nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Does Howells Mere 26, Swans Down - Lakeside House, Hot Tub, Spa Access, Sleep 8-10 have a pool?
Yes, this property has an indoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.
How much does it cost to stay at Howells Mere 26, Swans Down - Lakeside House, Hot Tub, Spa Access, Sleep 8-10?
As of May 27, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Howells Mere 26, Swans Down - Lakeside House, Hot Tub, Spa Access, Sleep 8-10 on May 29, 2026 start from CA $2,872, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Howells Mere 26, Swans Down - Lakeside House, Hot Tub, Spa Access, Sleep 8-10 pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Howells Mere 26, Swans Down - Lakeside House, Hot Tub, Spa Access, Sleep 8-10?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Howells Mere 26, Swans Down - Lakeside House, Hot Tub, Spa Access, Sleep 8-10?
Check-out is at 10:00 AM.
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Howells Mere 26, Swans Down - Lakeside House, Hot Tub, Spa Access, Sleep 8-10 Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
A lovely house in lovely location we will be going back
This is an ideal house and location for celebrating our sons birthday with his family and our daughter family lots to do and good food in the restaurant
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Louise L.
Mar 28, 2025
Great holiday home!
Great location for a family get together. Facilities for all ages. House was perfect size and very comfortable.
Louise L.
From a partner site
8/10 Good
rebecca a.
Oct 11, 2024
Enjoyable stay
Great stay. The property was lovely, enough space around the dining table and living space. The hot tub was a great addition.
rebecca a.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Kate B.
Nov 7, 2024
Husband’s 50th birthday celebration
Really lovely accommodation in perfect setting. Great for a family break, lots to do for kids and adults. We’ll definitely be returning again one day!
Myself, children and friends had a wonderful stay at number 26. The lake house was lovely and a great location. We would definitely recommend.
Rachel F.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Mar 7, 2025
Wonderful stay
We had the most amazing weekend celebrating a special birthday.
The accommodation was spotless and has everything you could possible need for your stay, and the beds were so comfortable, waking up to the views of the lakes was spectacular.
The Hot Tub was an added luxury but so worth it!
I would definitely recommend for large family gatherings like ours as everyone had their own space and bathroom, and then we could all gather in the main rooms very comfortably.
There is also so much to do on site for all ages.
Wouldn't hesitate to book again!
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
May 10, 2025
Special family weekend
We had a delightful weekend. Everything was great. Only things that would have improved it was spa was fully booked so we used the swimming pool by the activity centre. Also would be great if they put a canoe launch of the deck. These are relatively minor and overall a great time was had by everyone.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Nov 4, 2023
Great family house
Great house for family gathering. Ideal layout with living space on middle floor. Lake- front patio with lovely large hot tub. Well supplied with crockery, pans etc.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
May 21, 2024
An awesome weekend
Fantastic accommodation, great surroundings, ideal location for exploring the cotswolds & doing water sports on the surrounding lakes. We really enjoyed the outdoor pool & tennis courts. The staff were really helpful every step of the way leading up to & during our stay. They even let us check in 3hrs early. I would definitely recommend.
We very much enjoyed our stay in this beautiful house with such a stunning view. It was listed as 8 adult and 2 children but I would say it only slept 9 comfortably. Two beds were crammed into a tiny room which wasn’t ideal. Otherwise it was warm, and very well equipped.
Sue D.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Sue L.
Oct 25, 2024
A lovely location
The property was ideal for our family celebration. The hot tub was a great hit with everyone especially at night. It was well equipped with plenty of space. I found the bed hard and one of the shower heads was broken which I was surprised hasn’t been picked up when the property was cleaned. I reported it straight away and customer services were grateful to know. Parking was a bit of an issue as we were a party of 10 including 3 children and a baby so car sharing wasn’t an option. We enjoyed our stay, in particular the location, our hot tub, the pool and tennis.
Sue L.
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Jul 30, 2024
Beautiful location, stunning scenery.
The area of the Cotswolds is idyllic. The Lodge itself was spacious but was looking a bit tired. A refresh is needed, mainly on the external areas. The Lodge is overlooking a lake but has no access for paddle-boarding etc. The lodge sleeps 10 people but there is only room for one car and the visitors bays are quickly taken up. The wine cooler had not been cleaned but customer services dealt with the issue promptly. Overall we had a great weekend and all ten of us enjoyed the stay.
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Keith H.
Oct 29, 2025
A very enjoyable short stay
This is the fourth time we have stayed at Lower Mill Estate, albeit with a gap of several years since we were last there. It was our first stay in this property. We could see that there has been considerable further development of the estate since our last visit. That said, the character of the estate has been maintained and the hub facilities (including swimming and spa) were still very good. It was quiet and felt very safe, and a great place to take our dog.
Swans Down is one of the earlier built properties and was comfortable for a short stay. We loved spending time in the open plan living room on the first floor with great subset views across the lake. The sofas and beanbag chairs are very comfortable for example. We also really enjoyed the wood burning stove. The hot tub was really good.
That said, the house is starting to show its age a little. We found the beds to be less comfortable (too soft) but that may just be our preference. The wear and tear of paintwork, for example in bathrooms, is of course to be expected. Some of the smaller kitchen gadgets need to be tested and where not working (eg Nespresso milk frother), replaced. Cutlery and crockery is all a little mismatched. All of this is probably reflected in the price compared to newer or recently refurbished properties.
Keith H.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
sally k.
Jan 15, 2023
Family New Year
New year 2023 excellent location for family to meet. Spacious and light property, with ensuite facilities per room . The only thing I can say which caused some hilarity at times -we had great difficulty opening the dishwasher! Door firmly stuck when closed, and lack of handles prevents getting a good grip. However, a minor problem overall.
Great to have use of pool and Spa. Advise calling ahead in busy times.
sally k.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
sally k.
Jan 14, 2023
Family New Year
New year 2023 excellent location for family to meet. Spacious and light property, with ensuite facilities per room . The only thing I can say which caused some hilarity at times -we had great difficulty opening the dishwasher! Door firmly stuck when closed, and lack of handles prevents getting a good grip. However, a minor problem overall.
Great to have use of pool and Spa. Advise calling ahead in busy times.