The Cotswolds’ ‘best-kept secret’ lakeside escape revealed

HELLO! magazine has reviewed Log House Holidays, a cluster of eight Finnish‑style log cabins set around a private lake near Cirencester, calling it “The Cotswolds’ best‑kept secret: A family & dog‑friendly escape you’ll want to keep to yourself.”

Hidden away in the Cotswold Water Park, Log House Holidays is a sustainable, family‑run nature reserve covering around 130 acres, with cabins tucked into the pine trees around a 100‑acre lake.

Each cabin has its own hot tub, fire pit, private beach, rowing boat and cosy indoor log fire, with sizes ranging from four‑berth hideaways for couples up to an 11‑berth lodge that can host large family gatherings.

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HELLO!’s writer stayed in Moondara, an eight‑person lakeside cabin described as “a lakeside fairytale,” complete with a sunken hot tub set into the decking, picture‑window views over the water and its own small stretch of sand for paddling or launching the boat.

The review notes that the cabins are genuinely dog‑friendly, with enclosed gardens, throws for sofas and easy access to lakeside paths, and praises the way the site feels secluded despite being only a short drive from Cirencester, Cheltenham and the wider Cotswolds.

According to the owners, the idea behind Log House Holidays was to create Scandinavian‑style cabins that work as both summer hideaways and deep‑winter snug retreats, with log fires, underfloor heating and thick timber walls making them as appealing in January as in July.

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Activities highlighted by HELLO! include lazy days in the hot tub, rowing or paddle‑boarding on the lake, bird‑watching from the shore, and family evenings around the fire pit under dark skies with minimal light pollution.

For those wanting to explore, the site is recommended as a base for trips to Bibury, Bourton‑on‑the‑Water and Cirencester, with welcome packs pointing guests towards pubs, walks and attractions across the Cotswolds.

Prices for a four‑person cabin start at around £800 for a four‑night stay, rising with cabin size, time of year and optional extras.