Lower Mill is located five miles south of the historic Roman town of Cirencester, making it an excellent base for exploring the wider Cotswold area. See also: Local activities and Sports below.

Much of the 500 acre estate is given over to natural habitat and there are several sites of special scientific interest. Lower Mill takes its name from the historic water mill found at the entrance, one of only two still working on the river Thames, which flows through the area. 

There are many picturesque local pubs and restaurants within a short drive and The Bakers Arms in Somerford Keynes (serving food all week) is within walking distance. An organic shop is also located by the water mill for daily essentials. As well as a wide variety of birdlife on the eight lakes found at Lower Mill, other residents include barn owls, deer, otters and the only "wild" beaver population in the UK. 

Lower Mill is closed from 5 January to 6 February each year, to protect the overwintering birds that visit the lakes.

Local activities for families with children
A 10 minute walk from Lower Mill is Cotswold Country Park and Beach, where you can hire cycles and boats, have a sailing or windsurfing lesson, fish, play on the sandy beach or be a daredevil with the professional instructors at the Aerial Adventure Centre.

Within a ten minute drive is Butts Farm, where you can see and feed baby animals and shop at the award-winning farm shop and butcher. A little further afield, near Cheltenham, is a rare breeds Cotswold Farm Park, with indoor and outdoor animal displays and demonstrations. The farm is owned by Adam Henson and is featured on Country File.

If you prefer your animals a bit more scary, then the Cotswold Wildlife Park is for you. Situated near Burford, it has everything from owls and baby tapirs to crocodiles, snakes, rhino, zebra, leopards and lions. It also has a water garden, narrow gauge railway, adventure playground, restaurant and a brass rubbing centre. Something for all the family.

Sports
Less than ten minutes away by car is the 18 hole, par 70, pay and play, South Cerney Golf Course and Driving Range, with clubhouse.

Cycles can be hired nearby at Go By Cycle.

Lower Mill itself and the surrounding area provide plenty of options for walking, running and on or off road cycling.

The lakes on Lower Mill can be used for non-motorised water sports (except in winter, to protect the birds), whilst waterskiing, wakeboarding and fun inflatable rides can be found in nearby South Cerney (two clubs, one ticket lake and a cable ski).

For the keen fisherman/woman, Lower Mill is home to many species of fish for all anglers. All the lakes are river/spring fed gravel pits and two of the lakes (Mill and Farmhouse) are home to a stock of very large carp to well over 30lb, providing some fantastic angling (especially stalking). For non-carp anglers there is a good head of tench in both these main course lakes. Pike are spread throughout the lakes at Lower Mill and have exceeded the 20lb barrier in Mill Lake and Somerford Lagoon! There is also a seasonal fly-fishing lake (Flagham Fen), which is stocked with rainbow trout.

Locally in the Water Park there is the South Cerney angling club course waters, holding all sorts of course fish from small carp and roach in match ponds up to 35lb mirror in the larger lakes. There are also syndicate lakes for course and fly-fishing, as well as 2 or 3-day fly-fishing ticket lakes.

Other Cotswold Attractions
If you can drag yourselves away from Lower Mill, you will find that it provides a fantastic base for exploring the many beautiful Cotswold towns and villages nearby. For a taster of these click here.

The picturesque town of Cirencester (the Roman capital of Britain) is just five miles away, with lots of lovely shops, restaurants, a market, excellent museum and even a Roman amphitheatre where you might be lucky enough to see gladiators on historical re-enactment days. Click here for more details.

For eating in “Ciren”, we recommend Made by Bob in the Corn Hall, Soushi and Indian Rasoi.

There are lots of lovely pubs serving food closer to Lower Mill: we will give you the details of these before you arrive. Within walking distance is the cosy Bakers’ Arms, in Somerford Keynes, which serves food and good beer and has a garden with childrens’ play area – perfect for a sunny summer’s afternoon! We also recommend The Potting Shed at Crudwell which has won a Good Pub Guide award for “New Pub of the Year 2010”.

There are many famous sporting events and visitor attractions locally; for details please follow the links below:

• Badminton Horse Trials
• Cheltenham racecourse and Festival (including Cheltenham Gold Cup)
• Fairford Air Show
• Cotswold Air Show at Kemble
• Westonbirt Arboretum
• Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

For a bigger list of attractions, please click here.

Estate Ethos
Lower Mill Estate is a private community of architect designed homes set within a private 500 acre nature reserve, with two Sites of Special Scientific Interest and a £6m ArtSpa^TM.

The majority of the houses within the nature reserve are used by their owners as weekend/holiday homes. Many of the owners are families with young children or couples who enjoy the peace, nature and tranquillity of Lower Mill and all the varied outdoor activities available, from walking, sailing, fishing, cycling, tennis and swimming to owner-organised community festivals on the August Bank holiday and New Year holidays.

The few houses that are available to rent are best suited to family gatherings and guests who want to relax in a beautiful home and enjoy the amazing natural outdoor environment and ArtSpa^TM. It is not suited to noisy parties as noise travels easily across the water and disturbs others. Hen and stag parties are prohibited. All guests are asked to sign in advance a Code of Conduct governing behaviour at Lower Mill. This sets out the main Estate Rules and forms part of the rental contract. The Code of Conduct is designed to make all guests aware of the ethos of Lower Mill before they arrive, to and to promote consideration for others. This ensures that the expectations of both guests and owners are respected and that the enjoyment of Lower Mill is enhanced for all. 


What the papers say

"There are exemplary developments such as the Lower Mill Estate in Gloucestershire, where sustainable construction, ecology and design come together in one feel-good eco cuddle."
Kevin McCloud, The Sunday Times

"We just love being here - the minute you get out of the car, you just get this overwhelming feeling of tranquillity."
The Daily Telegraph

"A complete showpiece village of landmark new homes by some of the best architects in Britain and the world."
The Sunday Times

"I have to report that it certainly transcends the merely very good, peeking well into the remarkable sector of the market."
Financial Times

"What it offers seems to be a combination of ease and comfort: the level of involvement in everything from planning to moving in, to swimming with otters, is up to you..."
Country Life

"International architects have designed strikingly modern houses for a waterside development in the Cotswolds."
Today Programme Radio 4

"Perhaps a quality standard to aim for is that offered by the upmarket homes to be found not far away in the nature reserve of Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds."
Sunday Times

"Only one fifth of the development is for housing, with the remainder set aside for the nature reserve."
The Times

"The cacophony of natural sounds on Lower Mill is completely captivating."
Financial Times