A Midweek Escape to the Cotswolds Capital - With Your Dog

BEHIND THE SCENES AT TRINITY FARMHOUSE, BAGENDON

Two miles from the centre of Cirencester – the so-called Capital of the Cotswolds – a Victorian farmhouse sits in an acre of secure, wraparound gardens, backing onto the fairways of Cirencester Golf Club. Step through the electric gates, and the outside world falls away. The grounds stretch in every direction, and both dogs and their owners visibly exhale the moment they arrive.

Trinity Farmhouse is the kind of place that stops you in your tracks before you’ve even stepped inside. The grounds stretch out around the house on all sides, enclosed by secure gates – and for dog owners, that changes everything. No leads, no worries, no checking the garden fence. Your dog has the run of an entire acre from the moment the car door opens.

We caught up with Anna Jones, who owns Trinity Farmhouse with her husband Martin, to find out what makes this Cotswolds farmhouse such a favourite with dog-owning families – and why midweek might just be the best-kept secret in the Cotswolds.

What drew you to Bagendon?

“To be honest, it was love at first sight when we saw the house. We put in an offer on the day, and we moved in within six weeks,” Anna tells us. “As a keen runner, the five-kilometre loop round the village from the house couldn’t be more beautiful. We also loved the proximity to Cirencester and Kemble, so felt we really had the best of both worlds.”

That balance is what makes Trinity Farmhouse work so well as a holiday base. The secure acre of grounds gives you your own private countryside retreat, with the golf course behind you and Cirencester’s restaurants, independent shops and Cirencester Park’s three thousand acres of walking are just minutes away.

The design – a modern twist on a classic farmhouse

Anna and Martin worked with Cotswolds-based interior studio Crittall Interiors to transform their family home into something rather special for guests.

“We wanted to honour the traditional bones of the house – the farmhouse kitchen, the Aga – while completely lightening and modernising the space,” Anna explains. “A modern minimalist twist on a classic Cotswolds farmhouse. Understated luxury rather than traditional country.”

The result is a five-bedroom farmhouse that sleeps up to twelve, with deep green kitchen units grounding the Aga-warmed kitchen, a formal dining room, and two living rooms – one of which has been turned into a proper family space with table tennis and room for everyone to spread out.

“This was our family home before we opened it up, so practicality was everything. We had so much fun with the kids’ bunk bedroom and the second living room – creating a proper playroom space that works for families with little ones while still feeling beautifully considered throughout.”

Guests are consistently surprised by the contrast: a traditional Victorian farmhouse from the outside, with a light, modern, considered interior once they step through the door.

An acre of freedom for your dog

For dog owners, the secure acre of grounds is the standout feature – and Anna knows exactly why it matters.

“An acre of secure grounds completely changes the dynamic of a dog-friendly holiday. The secure gates and wraparound grounds mean owners can genuinely switch off. Dogs can explore, run, sniff every corner of the garden to their heart’s content – and nobody has to worry.”

“It’s also a game changer on those inevitable soggy British days when you can’t quite persuade the whole party to head out for a walk. The dogs still get their freedom and exercise without everyone having to pull on their wellies.”

And then she says something that perfectly captures why space matters so much on a dog-friendly holiday: “When your dog is happy and safe, YOU can actually relax. And isn’t that the whole point of a holiday?”

Up to two dogs are welcome per stay, and they have the run of all the downstairs rooms. Treats are provided for every four-legged guest on arrival – though most owners bring their own bowls and bedding, as the familiar scents from home help dogs settle in.

And it’s not just dogs who’ve enjoyed those secure grounds. “Our most unusual request so far? A pair of rabbits,” Anna laughs. “And honestly, with that wraparound secure garden, it was perfect.”

Does Anna have dogs of her own?

“I grew up with Sam, a beautiful black lab who was part of our family for sixteen years. So dogs have always been in my heart,” she tells us. “But life took us abroad multiple times over the last fifteen years, and it never felt fair to bring a dog into that uncertainty.”

The family are now settled and the moment finally feels right. “Our daughter asks pretty much every single day – we’re looking at labradoodles, so watch this space.”

In the meantime, dogs are never far from Trinity. Every year the extended family reunites at the house, and that always includes Teddy – a very energetic lab who treats every inch of the grounds like his own personal adventure playground – along with Bobby and Twitch, who take a rather more considered approach to life and find their favourite spots curled up by the Aga.

What do dog-owning guests say?

“Without question, it always comes back to the garden,” Anna says. “Time and again guests tell us that the space and security completely transforms their holiday experience. When you arrive with dogs, there’s always that moment of relief when you realise they can truly roam free.”

“One guest summed it up beautifully – they arrived as a party of eight adults, two kids and two dogs, and said it still felt spacious. Another told us simply: ‘The very large, truly secure garden was a blessing for the dogs.’“

The first walk: Bagendon village loop

Ask Anna where to send a guest with their dog on arrival, and she doesn’t hesitate.

“There’s a footpath under the bridge just outside the house which takes you off the road. Grab a coffee at the fab Fire and Flow before continuing along the lane to Bagendon village.”

It’s the kind of gentle, no-car walk you can do the moment you arrive – a perfect way to let the dog stretch its legs and get your bearings before settling in for the evening. From there, Cirencester Park’s three thousand acres of woodland and parkland are just two miles away for when you’re ready for something longer.

Pub pick: The Bell at Sapperton

For a midweek dinner with the dog tucked happily under the table, Anna’s recommendation is The Bell at Sapperton – about ten minutes’ drive from the house.

“It’s our family favourite and super dog-friendly. A great outdoor space for the summer or a roaring fire in the winter.”

The Bell is independently run, with a celebrated wine wall and seasonal menus that make the most of local produce. They also have rooms, making it a destination in its own right – though with Trinity Farmhouse waiting for you at the end of the lane, you probably won’t need them.

If you’ve never been to the Cotswolds…

We asked Anna what someone visiting the Cotswolds for the first time absolutely shouldn’t miss.

“This is genuinely the hardest question because the honest answer is – all of it,” she says. “But Cirencester is the perfect base. Cirencester Park is stunning for a walk, and depending on the time of year you can catch polo there – one of those quintessentially British experiences you simply can’t get anywhere else.”

Her recommendations fan out from there: Cotswold Farm Park for families with younger children, the farm shop trail (with Daylesford as the headline act), and for everyone else – “pick a pretty village, find a country pub, order a long lunch and stay longer than you planned. That’s the Cotswolds doing exactly what it does best.”

“Come with no fixed plan and an appetite for discovery. You genuinely cannot go wrong.”

Why midweek is the local’s secret

This is where Trinity Farmhouse really comes into its own. The Cotswolds is one of England’s most popular weekend escapes – and that means the honeypot villages can feel busy on a Saturday. Midweek, the whole region transforms.

“Almost everywhere in the Cotswolds is better midweek,” Anna confirms. “The villages genuinely feel like a different place Monday to Friday. Parking that can feel impossible on a Saturday? Suddenly easy. The day trippers and coaches that fill the honeypot spots at weekends? Gone.”

Her insider tips: always book pubs even midweek (the best ones fill up whatever the day), catch Cirencester’s Charter Market on Mondays and Fridays for local produce, and visit Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury and Burford during the week when you can actually stop and find somewhere to park.

“Midweek is the local’s secret. And now it’s yours too.”

A perfect midweek at Trinity Farmhouse

So what does a week at Trinity actually look like? Anna paints the picture:

“Monday afternoon you arrive, the kettle goes on, and the Cotswolds starts working its magic immediately. Tuesday morning? No alarm. Lazy breakfast at the house or head straight to Jolly Nice for a bacon butty and a potter around their farm shop.”

From there the week unfolds: Cirencester for a proper explore, finishing with dinner at Sam and Jak. The pretty towns of Bourton-on-the-Water and Burford. A round of golf at the course next door (the driving range is literally steps from the house). And those walks – the kind that clear your head completely.

“Friday comes around and nobody wants to leave. That’s a Trinity week.”

Work from the Cotswolds

For those who can’t fully switch off, there’s one more ace up Trinity Farmhouse’s sleeve: the garden studio.

Originally built for rainy-day overflow and table tennis battles, Anna and Martin realised it could solve a very modern holiday problem. “The reality is that most of us can’t fully switch off for a whole week. So we created a proper designated workspace in the garden studio – fast internet, a great desk setup, perfect for calls and focused work.”

The genius is in the separation. The rest of the family can enjoy the house completely undisturbed, and whoever needs to work gets a beautiful, quiet space away from the main house to do it properly.

“Work from the Cotswolds. We think that’s a pretty good deal.”

Who stays midweek?

The midweek guest mix at Trinity is evolving. Golf groups are a natural fit – the course is right next door – along with retired couples who want to explore the Cotswolds properly without the weekend rush. Remote workers are discovering it too, swapping their home office for a farmhouse kitchen with an Aga and an acre of garden to clear their head in.

“Midweek at Trinity is quieter, more relaxed, and honestly? A bit of a hidden gem.”

Every stay carries a story

Perhaps the most telling thing about Trinity Farmhouse is what Anna says about the guest book.

“We never anticipated becoming the backdrop for so many deeply personal moments. Brides getting ready on their wedding morning, four generations gathering for milestone birthdays, friends finally reuniting after years apart.”

Guests have visited from across the US and all over Europe. “There’s something really special about knowing Trinity is on someone’s bucket list trip to the Cotswolds.”

“When someone takes the time to write in that book, you realise you’re not just running a holiday let. You’re part of their story.”

Trinity Farmhouse sleeps up to twelve guests in five bedrooms, with a secure acre of grounds, garden studio, and the Cotswolds on the doorstep. Up to two dogs welcome. Find out more and book on the Trinity Farmhouse listing.