Wyck Hill House is a large, 4 star country-house in the Cotswolds with views overlooking 100 acres of ground across the Windrush Valley, sitting just outside the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold.
It was a wet, grey day by the time we arrived in the late afternoon for two days and I found difficulty parking, although there was quite a large area available. The trouble was, a couple of cars had decided to park length ways, thus taking up more space!
The outside of this 18th century property has stone architecture with a classic, but contemporary look. It has 60 rooms and suites, individually designed and retains the original features of their out-house locations which include the Orangery, Coach House and the manor house itself. The Coach House is 200 metres from the house with steps leading up and the Orangery about 100 metres away.
Upon entering reception, my initial reaction was one of ‘darkness.’ There didn’t appear to be much light filtering into the place and I felt rather sorry for the girl sitting at the desk as the area appeared rather tired looking.
The nearby Library and Bar area have Elizabethan style oak-panels and traditional open fires.
There is good access to public areas for wheelchair users on the ground floor. Two rooms in the Garden Wing cater for those quests with disabilities.
The restaurant at Wyck uses local resourced ingredients and the food is very good with a variety of choices, and a modern take on classic dishes The service is very good and we had a delightful, efficient Hungarian waiter who had been there for five and half years. Added on to the dining area is a sun drenched conservatory where you can sit and eat with views all around you. We ate breakfast in there and it was great!
Wyck Hill House has a Spa with 6 treatment rooms which includes 1 dual room, a twelve seater steam room, sauna and relaxation area. It is well to note that it is a dry spa and therefore has no swimming pool.
Our room, number 17 on first floor was huge with a very good view. Bathroom was a good size with heated towel rails but I had a bit of trouble with the shower mechanism – I like one with a removable shower head so you don’t get ‘scalded’ or ‘frozen’ while trying to regulate the temperature!
There were cream chair seats in the room with a small table, large TV and small side tables each side of the bed. The area which held tea facilities, ironing board and clothes etc. was ‘open’ at the front. I think at least the clothes area should have had some kind of closure. A couple of wall sockets appeared not to have been quite finished off! This part of the house appeared to be an extension to the original building, so perhaps one or two things still had to be attended to! Internet connection is available.
No pets allowed.
Weddings, conferences and birthday celebrations can be organised here.
This place is a good base to explore the Cotswolds with Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Campden nearby.
Overall, a comfortable and pleasant stay with good food, but somehow lacked the ‘wow’ factor for me, personally!
