With Valentine’s Day approaching Mark Edwards goes rural

It’s always tempting to dream of foreign holidays and tropical getaways, with white sands and a turquoise sea lapping at the feet. But the reality for most of us, is that snatching a night away, is a much more likely and realistic purpose. And with the Cotswolds on our doorstep, we are spoilt for choice.

Which is how I found myself, for once, turning off and following the enticing big green sign for The Fox Inn at Great Barrington, just beyond Burford, having passed by on endless occasions, while trundling along the A40 to Cheltenham.

A mile or so off the main road, this delightful country inn has everything you could want. It has been very cleverly transformed to meet the needs of those looking for good old pub grub, and anyone requiring a more formal meal.

With only seven rooms, the accommodation gets booked up very quickly, and business is booming. And it is easy to see why.

Looking out of the main window of the premier room, the River Windrush runs by and fields stretch away into the distance – a wonderful escape from everyday life.

The bedroom is huge, and the bed vast. The same could be said of the power shower, a fabulously designed area which certainly does not scrimp on space in any way.

Four of the seven rooms are dubbed luxury riverside mews rooms, with three other luxury pub rooms. Having checked in, we took advantage of a pleasant day by going on a walk through the picturesque countryside. Landlord Paul explained there was a variety of different distances we could cover, and was happy to provide us with a route that suited our needs.

We plumped for the shortest one, an amble through the countryside which took us past horses, sheep, cattle and various dog walkers, making us appreciate just how peaceful this part of the world is.

To get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this is the place to be.

By the time we arrived back, we were both ready for food, opting to eat in the less-formal bar, rather than in the restaurant. The place was busy with a good atmosphere. Most people were eating, but a few were clearly in just to sample the ales.

The menu provided a good selection of homecooked food and we chose the Stilton and broccoli soup, a thick, creamy and piping hot starter accompanied with ample bread, and then a generous plate of lasagne, with chips and salad. This was followed by a must-have plum crumble and custard.

While the other guests retired to their rooms, we were enjoying ourselves too much to go to bed and instead ended our night with games of dominoes, cards and crib in the bar.

Breakfast was served in the restaurant, with plenty of cereal, yoghurts and fruit and then a cooked breakfast to finish.

The relaxed nature of The Fox Inn ensured we left with bellies full and fond memories of our stay. A perfect escape.

So next time you are planning your getaway, think closer to home. So close, in fact, you don’t have to leave Oxfordshire. Just about.

The facts

WHERE: The Fox Inn, Great Barrington, near Burford
BOOK: Call 01451 844385 or go to foxinnbarrington.com
DRINK: The pub is open all day (within reason), every day.
EAT: Food is served: Mon-Fri noon to 2.30pm and 6.30-9.30pm.
Saturday and Sunday: 12noon to 9.30pm
VISIT: The Fox is on the edge of the Cotswolds, close to Burford, with its independent shops and antique dealers. For something wilder, visit the Cotswold Wildlife Park, also near Burford (open every day).