Retreats at Gulliver´s Hall
Bisley, Stroud, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
In partnership with luxury wilderness specialists RVIVAL, Gulliver's Hall Modern-Day Hunter-Gatherer retreat invites guests on a journey back to basics… but in luxurious style. In the thick of 320 private Cotswolds acres, in the country home of a farmer and the founder of a forest education enterprise, this exclusive retreat has been created with 21st-century wildlings in mind. Field-to-fork living has never been more flamboyant.
Base Camp
An intriguing estate filled with Mongolian murals and extravagant colour pops, Gulliver’s Hall's eccentric interiors work hard to ensure they aren’t eclipsed by its plethora of luxurious facilities: from the outdoor heated pool to the cinema room, there’s self-care essentials around every ornate door to ease all that survival training. Blending ancestral tales with elegant maximalism, the house and its extensive grounds are an ode to the owner’s parents, who forged a life here in the 1960s. Today, simply being in Gulliver's Hall brings vitality to the soul.
The Experience
Discover the artistry of woodwork in the company of a local craftsman, learning the endangered skill of knife making, and the ancient practices of turning raw materials into heirloom creations. From falconry to feasting, Scandinavian-style spas to cinema rooms, there’s more to this rewilding retreat than meets the eye. Think workshops on sustainable living, and the opportunity to identify and gather your ingredients list. Prior to transforming your finds into culinary masterpieces, you'll learn the art of shelter construction, fire-building, and water purification.
The Fare
Days spent immersed in the art of mindful cooking, lessons on ethical sourcing, and the importance of local farmers: this culinary retreat at Gulliver’s Hall bridges the gap between luxury and back-to-nature philosophies. With the goal of deepening your connection with the natural world, you'll discover methods of living in harmony with the land, where days spent getting your hands dirty foraging for wild herbs lead to eves spent preparing the most creative of dishes with true local provenance, paired with fine wines and inspirational company.
The Facts
- Alternative group optionsUp to 6 or up to 15 guests
- Bedrooms and bathroomsThe main house comprises of seven bedrooms and sleeps 15, with a further three bedrooms in the pool house sleeping six. On the first floor of the main house there are five bedrooms. The master bedroom includes a super king-size bed and en suite with pink art deco style bath and separate rainfall shower. The further four bedrooms on this floor include: two bedrooms with double beds (one with en suite shower room), one bedroom with king-size bed and en suite shower room, and one with super king-size bed and en suite shower room. There is also a family bathroom with shower over on this floor. On the second floor are two bedrooms, one with double bed and one with three single beds, sharing the family shower room. In the pool house are three further bedrooms; one with king-size bed on the ground floor with en suite shower and WC and two further bedrooms on the first floor with king-size beds, sharing the family shower room.
- FeaturesOutdoor heated swimming pool (April-October), sunken spa bath, sauna, steam room, outdoor shower, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, paella burner, games and cinema room, tennis court, croquet lawn
- Arrivals and departuresArrival Day: FridayArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- PracticalitiesThere is parking for ten cars on the private driveway.
- Mod consSonos multiroom speakers, Smart TVs, projector, Nespresso machines, Quooker hot, cold, and sparkling watertapInternet and communications: Wi-Fi internetMobile signal: Check reception maps
- Eco-friendlyTwo type 2 electric car charging points, water to the house pumped from a spring using hydraulic ram
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questionsEV charger locationsCheck mobile signalRecommend to a friend
Enquire and book
The Modern-Day Hunter-Gatherer retreat is a ticketed event hosted by RVIVAL and is fully inclusive of catering, retreat specialists, all activities and accommodation.
| Date | 3-night stay | 4-night stay |
|---|---|---|
| 1st December 2023 | £4,200 per person | N/A |
| 4th December 2023 | N/A | £4,600 per person |
| 19th January 2024 | £4,200 per person | N/A |
| 22nd January 2024 | N/A | £4,600 per person |
Please note, places are limited, and the retreats are subject to minimum guest numbers to proceed.
If you are looking to arrange a group stay, please visit Gulliver's Hall to secure your preferred dates.
Bisley
The epitome of Cotswold charm, the market town of Bisley is positively bursting with chocolate-box cottages and honey-hued inns. Surrounded by typical rolling English countryside, Bisley is an ideal base for hikers, bikers and nature enthusiasts.
Getting there
- On the Map Gulliver's Hall sits in the Cotswold AONB, just four miles from Stroud.
- By Car Approximately two and a half hours from London and half an hour from both Gloucester and Cheltenham.
- By Train Stroud is the nearest train station, 11 minutes away by car.
- By Air Birmingham and Heathrow airports are around an hour and two hours away respectively.
From the owner
“At the heart of Gulliver´s Hall was the desire to share the peace and tranquillity with others. We´re passionate about the locality, these retreats enable guests to really immerse themselves in all that makes the part of the world in which we live so very special.”
The unique seclusion of the house on the shoulder of the hillside overlooking the wooded valley of Toadsmoor has provided home and shelter to farming families for over 700 years.
Today, through the reimagining of Gulliver's Hall our aim be to create the same sense of sanctuary for those who come to stay. With the house as a base to which to head back after a day spent immersed in the setting, the Modern-Day Hunter-Gatherer retreat affords guests seeking more than the ordinary when it comes to pool and Pimms days, but to understand more about the beauty of the natural habitat in which we are ensconced.
The back to nature and back to basics approach, where guests are truly able to get their hands dirty, enables them to have an experience that is far-removed from the daily grind, where fresh air experiences frame the daily agenda. Enabling guests to have the space and time to spend on themselves, whilst meeting inspirational like-minded folk will ensure they leave feeling rejuvenated and inspired!
Martin and Kate
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
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Smart sleepovers
Condé Nast Traveller
September 2023Design tricks from the UK´s most stylish holiday lets
The Telegraph
September 2023Homes from House & Garden you can rent for a holiday
House & Garden
September 2023Travel by design
Condé Nast Traveller
September 2023The UK´s best stargazing spots
House & Garden
September 202325 wild and wonderful UK places to stay
The Times
September 2023The best UK lodge and chalet holidays
The Independent
August 2023A guide to Bodmin
Condé Nast Traveller
August 2023
Collections > Wilderness Retreats > UK > Gloucestershire > Stroud > Retreats at Gulliver´s Hall
Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
