A family home designed for families
We’re Naomi and Derek and together we run Daisy Chain, a lakeside holiday home in the Cotswolds designed for families to reconnect, relax and make memories together.
Ours is a story that began back in 2010, with a big birthday and a simple idea.
How Daisy Chain began
Naomi’s parents were both turning 70 and we needed to do something different. This birthday needed marking – it deserved so much more than a hastily signed birthday card, a bunch of flowers and an M&S sweater (because, let’s face it, it’s hard to choose presents).
We had a problem. How could we mark this milestone? We had two young children as did Naomi’s brother. We all had busy lives – young children, jobs – the idea of planning a big event felt impossible. Then we realised the best gift wasn’t a thing at all. It was time together.
We decided a half term holiday away together would be perfect: grandchildren, parents and grandparents all staying in one house together. Even though our children were young enough not to be caught in the ‘school holiday’ trap yet, with 2 teachers in the family there was no escaping it.
Next, we needed to find the perfect location. With us all living in different parts of the country, we looked for somewhere central, where no-one had a mammoth journey to survive, because let’s face it, a long journey with toddlers is not fun.
We stumbled across Cotswold Water Park. We had no idea what it was. The words ‘Water Park’ conjured up visions of log flumes and wave machines. But it seemed that this Water Park was different. After some research we kind of worked out what it was – a collection of lakes, some of which had holiday homes built around them. In particular we found the Lower Mill Estate. We loved the focus that it had on nature – it was described as being a nature reserve, and yet it also had lots of activities available including swimming pools, tennis courts and playgrounds.
We booked a house overlooking the largest lake on the Lower Mill Estate… and we were smitten.
Magical autumn sunrises over the water.
Grandparents birdwatching.
Children swimming every day.
And time together as an extended family.
It was everything we’d hoped for.
In fact, we loved our holiday so much that we returned the next year. It was when the same house wasn’t available the following year, we realised just how much the little details mattered. The views, the layout, the sense of calm. This house wasn’t as close to the lake and the views from the ground floor living room just didn’t hit the same.
It was during this holiday that we discovered that Daisy Chain was for sale. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Creating the kind of holiday home we’d always wanted
From day one, we were determined that Daisy Chain would stand out. So many places described themselves as “family-friendly,” but few really thought about what families need.
When we travelled with our young children, we’d find ourselves packing half the house: high chairs, toys, bedtime stories, plastic plates and cups. Once, despite being told there would be a cot available, it wasn’t to be seen anywhere. And then there was the house with a glass dining table. Cue worried parents – was a glass table really safe to have around our children? We wanted to make sure other families never had to deal with that stress.
That’s why Daisy Chain comes with everything you could possibly need: from highchairs to children’s tableware, from bath toys to blackout blinds.
One guest put it perfectly:
It’s that attention to detail that helps families breathe out the moment they arrive.
“Everything we could possibly need was ready for us at the house.”
Everything Included in the Price
We hate hidden extras – those unexpected charges that creep in once you’ve arrived. That’s why we include everything in the price, even a Canadian canoe.
After all, most people who stay by a lake want to get out on the water!
Yes, you can hire canoes on the estate, but bookings are time-limited and weather-dependent and add to the cost of your holiday. At Daisy Chain, the canoe is ready whenever you are: sunrise paddles, lazy afternoons, or peaceful dusk adventures as the nature reserve settles for the night.
A place to connect and to slow down
We are obsessed with families experiencing what we’ve found during our holidays at Daisy Chain: connecting families together in an environment where everyone can enjoy their holiday – grandchildren, parents and grandparents. It is a joy that so many other families have discovered the magic of Daisy Chain for their own families. As one long-time guest wrote, “I have lost count of how many times we have returned to Daisy Chain,” because for them, it’s “the perfect family getaway” that keeps calling them back year after year.
As our children have grown up (and we added another to the two of our original holiday!) we have loved spending time close to nature. In the early years there were beavers on one of the lakes. During the winter, we would wake the kids up before dawn and have an adventure to the lakeside. We’d hideaway at the lakeside and be rewarded with views of beavers swimming through the mist, or even better, nibbling the bark from fallen branches at the water’s edge.
One magical evening, we portaged our canoe onto the beaver’s lake and watched them swimming around us, their tails slapping the water as they dived. It was an evening we’ll never forget.
And then we’ve seen otters, initially on other lakes on the Lower Mill Estate, but more recently on Somerford Lagoon, the lake on which Daisy Chain sits and sometimes swimming past the reeds outside the house. It’s a wonderful sight.
Just this September, one Sunday morning as we were beginning to pack up our things to go home, our eyes were caught by movement on the canoe (which had been moored on the lake over night). It was not one, but two kingfishers. The kingfishers stayed around for over half an hour – it was an amazing sight and one we’ll never forget.
Our guests tell us the same thing again and again. That they can truly switch off here, describing Daisy Chain as “so peaceful… with beautiful views of the lake and surrounding nature,” and a place that brings “a calming atmosphere” that melts away the busyness of everyday life.
The details that make a difference
Whilst we loved our first holidays on the Lower Mill Estate, they also opened our eyes to things that could be done so much better. We didn’t really know what we would find in the houses we stayed in, or quite how to find them, or even whether our holiday included access to the swimming pools. That’s why we created our own digital guidebook, packed with everything guests need to know before and during their stay. From maps to activity recommendations, instructions about how to light the log burner to pictures of the pots and pans in the kitchen you’ll find it in our guidebook.
“Very, very useful. The perfect summary,” said one recent guest.
It’s just one of the ways we try to make your stay effortless, from first click to final goodbye.
A warm invitation
Daisy Chain isn’t just a holiday home. It’s a fabulously family friendly lakeside holiday home designed to make family holidays effortless. It’s a space where generations can reconnect, where mornings start with sunrise over the lake and evenings end with laughter around the log burner.If you’re dreaming of a peaceful escape that’s easy, comfortable and filled with connection, we’d love to welcome you to Daisy Chain.
Take a look at our availability or get in touch to start planning your stay.