Sunny Nest, a Cotswold's-based B&B, was booked for me by the travel agency I hired for a self-guided, week-long hiking trip. I spent two nights here, in an upstairs, nicely appointed, comfortable room which looked out on the gardens, with donkeys and horses on view at the property next door. The excellent breakfast, included with the room, was served on the main floor in an airy, pristine dining room.
Perfect, right?
Not exactly.
Sunny Nest is a perfectly good B&B for those who come and go by car but for those on foot I found it somewhat treacherous and not a good fit. The property is located a 15-minute walk from the center of Bourton-on-the-Water but getting there requires one to cross a busy highway without benefit of crosswalks or lights. Assuming you navigate that successfully to get into town you'll also need to navigate it again, upon return, possibly after dark.
The stretch of road that Sunny Nest sits on has no street lamps making the whole experience even more ominous. A taxi driver familiar with the location expressed concerns similar to mine. Had I been traveling solo I'd not have felt at all comfortable venturing out after dark despite the small flashlights the proprietor provides.
Sunny Nest, even with its nearness to the busy road was quiet inside and provided for a good night's sleep. This isn't the sort of B&B where one is invited to sit in any room but their own (or, at least, I wasn't) but I didn't mind hanging out in the privacy of my room. It was leaving the property that was problematic, but not if one has a car. read more