Cotswold by Bike, 8 days

This self-guided cycling holiday is intended to appeal to those who want a gentle introduction to cycling in the English countryside, Although the Cotswold’s is hilly rather than mountainous, a week of marvellous rides will take you through one of the most beautiful and historic parts of England.

Honey coloured stone villages, open wolds, wooded valleys and Roman roads are the background to pretty villages, “wool” churches, famous gardens, a Roman villa and welcoming inns are some of the highlights welcoming you in Cotswold.

Each cycling day offers a flexible option for an easy route or leisurely easy route that you can decide before beginning the day.

Trip Duration: 8 days

Interested in this trip? < MAKE AN ENQUIRY > and our Active Travel Specialists will get in touch with you.

You need to have a spirit for adventure, independence and self-management on this self-guided trip.

Activity	Cycling, Self-Guided
Country	United Kingdom
Cycling Grade	Grade 2+ – Beginner Plus
Season	03 – March, 04 – April, 05 – May, 06 – June, 07 – July, 08 – August, 09 – September, 10 – October

Itinerary

Key Highlights
~ Cycling through the Heart of England
~ Quaint Stone Built Villages
~ Riding Across Rolling Hills
~ Biking Between Village Pubs and Old Coaching Inns

Day 1 Arrive Cheltenham

The Bradley, your guesthouse dates back to 1840, and remains one the most important complete historical regency houses in Cheltenham with a wonderful collection of antiques.

Meal: Nil

Stay: Bradley Guesthouse

Day 2 Cheltenham – Fampton Mansell

Ride 1: via Elkstone, the Duntisbournes & Daglingworth

A lovely ride is uphill at the beginning. From Elkstone, the route goes through easier, undulating countryside. The ride down the Duntisbourne valley is surely a treat! The churches at Elkstone, Duntisbourne Rouse & Daglingworth are particularly worth visiting. There are not many pub stops in the middle of the ride; you will need to visit The Green Dragon at Cockleford or the Highwayman on the A417. There are no other shops in Cheltenham.

Ride 2: via Cowley, Sheepscombe, Painswick & Slad

An interesting, varied but hilly ride with attractive countryside and scenery with some famous towns and villages. Visit Painswick an elegant wool town; Slad, the home of Laurie Lee – the famous Cotswold author. Stroud the industrial centre of the valleys and Bisley another beautiful wool town. Although there are several steep hills, the destinations are worth the effort.

Check in to a 16th century stone inn overlooking the beautiful, wooded, Chalford Valley.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: The Crown Inn

Cycling Distance: 32 KM OR 49 KM approx.

Day 3 Fampton – Bibury

Ride 1: via South Cerney & Meysey Hampton

This easy ride circles through South Cerney & the Water Park. It passes through several quiet villages & the flat south Cotswolds countryside. Finish in Barnsley where the church & Barnsley House Garden are worth visiting.

Ride 2: via Tetbury, Cherington, Ashton Keynes & Down Ampney

This easy ride visits Tetbury an attractive Wool town, then goes east to Ashton Keynes & the Cotswold Water Park. It goes through several quiet villages southeast of Cirencester before going north back into the Cotwolds to the beautiful stone village of Barnsley.

Stay 2 nights in Barnsley. The accommodation offers a warm welcome in its family-friendly 15th century Cotswold stone building with a lounge bar, restaurant and garden.

Meal: Breakfast

Stay: The Catherine Wheel

Cycling Distance: 36 KM OR 53 KM approx.

Day 4 Bibury Loop Ride

Ride 1: a short ride to Cirencester

An easy ride goes to Cirencester via Welsh Way & Whiteway. Then return via Preston & Ampney.

Ride 2: Fairford via the Coln Valley & the Eastleaches

This beautiful ride goes down the Coln Valley, which has several typical, pretty, Cotswold villages. The Woollen Mill at Filkins is interesting, & you can buy some real Cotswold souvenirs. Fairford is a good place for tea, & the stained glass windows are a must.

Meal: Breakfast

Stay: The Catherine Wheel

Cycling Distance: 24 KM OR 50 KM approx.

Day 5 Bibury – Guiting Power

Ride 1: via Chedworth Roman Villa, Northleach & Notgrove

An enjoyable ride over undulating countryside. The Roman Villa is very interesting, and Northleach is an attractive ’wool’ town with a lovely church.

Ride 2: via the Windrush Valley, Burford, Bourton on the Water & the Slaughters

An interesting, enjoyable and fairly easy ride. It goes through many picturesque Cotswold villages – Windrush and the Slaughters are particularly delightful. Burford is an attractive town & Bourton is a busy tourist centre.

Stay 2 nights in a tastefully restored 16th century Cotswold stone farmhouse in the centre of a small and isolated typical Cotswold village.

Meal: Breakfast

Stay: Hotel in Guiting Guesthouse

Cycling Distance: 36 KM OR 53 KM approx.

Day 6 Guiting Power Loop Ride

Ride 1: A short ride to the Slaughters & Lower Swell

This undulating ride goes through beautiful countryside & attractive quiet villages. Upper Slaughter is a lovely place to picnic & spend time by the ford on a fine day.

Ride 2: to Snowshill & Chipping Campden via Blockley & Sezincote (a) – with extensions to Broadway (b) & Hidcote Manor Gardens (c)

The lovely ride goes across rolling countryside to Snowshill & Chipping Campden – two classic Cotswold towns. It can be extended to visit Broadway & Hidcote Manor Gardens. The ride is quite hilly, & the small roads round Chipping Campden may get busy during holiday weekends.

Meal: Breakfast

Stay: Guiting Guesthouse

Cycling Distance: 23 KM OR 42 KM(a) OR 45 KM(b) OR 56 KM(c) approx.

Day 7 Guiting Power – Cheltenham

Ride 1: via Winchcombe & Brockhampton

Covers some beautiful countryside, with good views from the hills. It is quite hilly, particularly down into & up from Winchcombe, but it gives you a good knowledge of the Cotswold scarp! Winchcombe is well worth visiting, & it is easy to spend several hours there.

Ride 2: via Northleach, Chedworth Roman Villa, Withington & Seven Springs

Ride through beautiful countryside, some attractive villages, and to Northleach – an important ’wool’ town – with an interesting ’wool’ church. The Roman Villa is fascinating.

Meal: Breakfast

Stay: Bradley Guesthouse

Cycling Distance: 29 KM OR 41 KM approx.

Day 8 Depart Cheltenham

Simply rest and relax until it’s time for your onward journey or check out (1100 hours) and the tour concludes.

Meal: Breakfast

Inclusions

~ 7 nights accommodation with ensuite facilities basing on twin sharing;

~ 7 breakfasts;

~ luggage transfer where necessary, 1 piece per person not excedding 20 KG;

~ information pack including route notes & maps

~ emergency hotline.

Exclusions

~ air/rail travel;

~ visa arrangement;

~ bicycle, available for hire;

~ personal travel insurance;

~ expenditure of personal effects;

~ meals not mentioned in the itinerary;

~ anything not specified in the itinerary.

Important Notes

~ Non – refundable deposit, 20% of total tour price is required at the time of booking. Full or balance payment is 60 days prior to departure.

~ This trip is good for 1 cyclist to go.

~ Should you require a visa to enter United Kingdom, it is your responsibility to obtain such document before departure.

~ Bicycle hire cost GBP 105. E-bike is available at GBP 190. Bicycle needs to be prebooked and to be paid locally. You will be provided with a modern hybrid bicycle, suitable for on and off-road use, with 21 gears. You will also receive a helmet, lock, spare inner tube, tyre levers, repair kit and handlebar bag. Panniers can also be hired for an extra cost and must be prebooked.

~ All cyclists are required to wear helmets (compulsory, no helmet no ride) and covered shoes when cycling. Cyclists may be denied cycling if not dressed appropriately.

~ Because cycling requires certain level of cardio and stamina exertion, it is not suitable for participants with chronic and/or acute disease. Please consider your physical condition before booking. Cyclists must ensure they are medically and physically able to ride.

~ Trip grading is an indication on the difficulty of the activities included. Preparation and engaging in regular exercise to maintain good physical condition and active lifestyle prior to the trip will be most beneficial in ensuring you have full enjoyment of the trip. We are glad to discuss your concerns and answer your queries.

~ Our utmost priority is always the safety of the cyclists. Therefore inclusion of the itinerary may be altered by the Travel Wander due to (not limited) to bad weather, local conditions, accommodation book out, the skill levels of the cyclists and/or other unexpected circumstances beyond our control. We reserve the right to make changes necessary and there will be no refund should you decide to discontinue with the trip.

~ Cyclist(s) can bring their own bicycle(s). Travel Wander cannot be held responsible for breakdown of member’s own bicycle. In the event of a breakdown which results in trip not being completed, Travel Wander shall not be liable to refund any tour cost.

~ Every effort is made to ensure the trip and included experiences take place during the ideal time or period of the year, however certain sights are subject to weather conditions and seasonal variations that are not within the control of Travel Wander. Although you may get to see and/or experience, we cannot guarantee the sightings.

~ Provision of meals during the trip showcases local authenticity, cuisine and food culture of the places we are visiting. All food allergies and dietary restrictions must be disclosed to Travel Wander at the time of booking. We will use reasonable efforts to accommodate special requirements or requests but this is not always possible given the nature of the destinations visited and availability of options. We cannot guarantee that dietary needs or restrictions can be accommodated. Travel Wander is not liable for failure to accommodate or fulfil such requests. Meal supplementary charges may be imposed to meet your dietary needs.

~ Because cycling requires a certain level of cardio and stamina exertion, it is not suitable for cyclists with chronic and/or acute disease. Please consider your physical condition before booking. Cyclists must ensure they are medically and physically able to cycle.

~ If cyclist presents difficulty in completing the ride of the day, we strongly discourage the cyclist from continuing for the day with top priority on the safety of the cyclist (and travel companions) in mind. The cyclist can fast track to the next accommodation making use of public transportation (where available) or booking private transfer at cyclist’s own expense. Cyclists can use mobile applications such as Google Search, Google Map, etc. to source for fast-track options.

~ Cyclist may choose to terminate the ride early during any time of the planned cycling day or make it a rest day, and fast track to the next accommodation by making use of public transportation (where available) or booking private transfer at cyclist’s own expense. Should the cyclist wish to partake in other activities or sightseeing on the rest day, it will be at the cyclist’s own expense. Cyclists can use mobile applications such as Google Search, Google Map, etc. to source for fast-track options.

~ There is no refund for uncompleted cycling distances or missed inclusions.

~ Purchasing comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. See HERE for details.

~ By making a payment to Travel Wander LLP, you (and on behalf of the rest of travelling companions) acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to Travel Wander’s Booking Conditions and Other Important Information: Cancellation and Amendment, Modes of Payment, Privacy Policy, Indemnity Policy, and Terms & Conditions.

Cotswold by Bike, 8 days