England - Cycling The Cotswolds (trip)

England - Cycling The Cotswolds

  • Chipping Campden Airport, near England, UK
  • Active & Adventure
United Kingdom

from £835* per person7 DaysApril-October
Boutique accommodations Exertion level: 4
Operator: Pure Adventures 24 people max
COTSWOLDS - The Cotswolds are situated in the heart of Central England, less than two hour's drive west of London. Popular with both the English themselves and visitors from all over the world, the Cotswolds are well known for gentle hillsides ('wolds'), sleepy villages and for being so 'typically English'. This tour gives a wonderfully varied ride to the ‘wool’ town of Northleach passing by a roman villa. A circular route then takes you to the enchanting village of Bibury. The coaching town of Burford is your next stop, before returning to Northleach via the Windrush Valley. Stopovers are in Chipping Camden, Winchcombe, Northleach or Bourton on The Water. We provide quality b&b lodging and the riding offers options for varied levels.

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Locations visited/nearby

United Kingdom

0 testimonials about this trip.

3 testimonials about the provider, Pure Adventures:

  • Reviewer: Andy C.
    'The trip was great! I lived in France for 5 years and took many great trips around Europe, but this may well have been the most memorable!'
  • Reviewer: B. Van Hook
    The trip exceeded my expectations in just about every way. It was awesome and challenging to be alone on a bike in a foreign country. I would recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure who is in good health.
  • Reviewer: Heidi Ray located in CO USA
    Costa Brava Explorer - This is a WONDERFUL tour.  Bo was amazing and helpful, as were his directions and additional information in the hand-outs of things to see and recommended stops and restaurants.  I will recommend Pure Adventures to my bicyclist friends, and will certainly return to you for our next European bicycle adventure!

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
  • Self-guided (includes hotels, maps, luggage transfer, etc but no guide).

Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival Day is very flexible depending on time of arrival as we have 7 different routes from here which can include a visit to the National Trust's "Hidcote Manor Garden" situated close by. Chipping Campden is medieval wool town and described in many Tourist Guides as "the most beautiful village street in all England". Chipping Campden is ideal to spend a pleasurable evening with its varied restaurants, pubs and hotels. As you are 11 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon you can consider theatre tickets and transport to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre - please enquire upon booking. Mileage variable, depends on time of arrival. Dinner on your own.

Day 2 | Loop trip; Rides: 20-30 miles.
Cycle from Chipping Campden, through delightful Broad Campden with its many thatched cottages and well tended gardens and onto Blockley. Blockley with its steep streets has remained an unspoilt village and it once owned six silk mills in the early 19th century. Carry on towards Upper and Lower Slaughter, passing through small villages and then return to Chipping Campden. Return to Chipping Campden. Night in B&B. (B)

Day 3 | Ride to Winchcombe; Rides: 14-26 miles.
Leaving Chipping Campden following the escarpment passing Broadway Tower Country Park and arriving in Snowshill. Snowshill is a very pretty village and it also has National Trust Snowshill Manor to explore with its collection of bygones. Arrive in the small unspoilt medieval town of Winchcombe where you stay for your next two nights. Winchcombe is home to Sudeley Castle dating from 1441 complete with Elizabethan Garden - well worth a visit! (B)

Day 4 | Loop ride back to Winchcombe; Rides: 20-30 miles
From Winchcombe discover Stanway village with its Jacobean Manor House and neighboring village of Stanton tucked at the bottom of the hill and then travel into Worcestershire to Elmley Castle with its "black and white" cottages. Cycle around Bredon Hill (all the way or part - the choice is yours). Pass by Beckford Silk Mill and watch silk printing - (a very good tea room as well!) and on to Overbury (a village still owned by the Holland-Martin family and where the telephone boxes are painted green). A leisurely easy paced ride back to Winchcombe. (B)

Day 5 | Ride to Northleach; Rides: 18-23 miles
Leaving Winchcombe you cycle past Belas Knap a Stone Age burial mound or long barrow dating from 2500 BC. Cycling along the ridge of the Cotswolds and into the beautiful Coln Valley passing Chedworth Roman Villa with its well preserved mosaic flooring and bath suites. Your final destination is Northleach a Middle Ages "Wool Town", where you will spend two nights. (B)

Day 6 | Loop ride back to Northleach; Ride 30 miles
A circular excursion from Northleach will take you to Bibury where the river Coln runs through the main street with Arlington Row cottages to one side, stand on the bridge and watch the trout swim past! Further on to the lovely old town of Burford on the edge of Oxfordshire. Burford has an impressive main street lined with a series of fine old houses. Leaving Oxfordshire behind travel along the Windrush valley with its collection of pretty villages and back into Northleach. (B)

Day 7 | Short Ride and Departure
Depending on your chosen time of departure you may, if you wish, cycle back to Moreton-in-Marsh where you will be met with your luggage or we will collect you and your luggage and return you to the railway station at Moreton-in-Marsh for your onward journey. Optional 15 miles. (B)
Day 1 | Arrival Day is very flexible depending on time of arrival as we have 7 different routes from here which can include a visit to the National Trust's "Hidcote Manor Garden" situated close by. Chipping Campden is medieval wool town and described in many Tourist Guides as "the most beautiful village street in all England". Chipping Campden is ideal to spend a pleasurable evening with its varied restaurants, pubs and hotels. Dinner on your own.

Day 2 | Loop trip back to Stratford-upon-Avon
Cycle to Stratford-upon-Avon passing by the well known National Trust Hidcote Manor Garden and Kiftsgate Court Garden. A cycling path takes you to the center of Stratford-upon-Avon. Visit Holy Trinity Church where William Shakespeare is buried, his birthplace and Ann Hathaway's cottage, the childhood home of Shakespear's wife. John Harvard, founder of Harvard University, was born here too. Return to Chipping Campden. Night in B&B. (B)

Day 3 | Ride to Winchcombe
Leaving Chipping Campden following the escarpment passing Broadway Tower Country Park and arriving in Snowshill. Snowshill is a very pretty village and it also has National Trust Snowshill Manor to explore with its collection of bygones. Arrive in the small unspoilt medieval town of Winchcombe where you stay for your next two nights. Winchcombe is home to Sudeley Castle dating from 1441 complete with Elizabethan Garden - well worth a visit! (B)

Day 4 | Loop ride back to Winchcombe
From Winchcombe discover Stanway village with its Jacobean Manor House and neighboring village of Stanton tucked at the bottom of the hill and then travel into Worcestershire to Elmley Castle with its "black and white" cottages. Cycle around Bredon Hill (all the way or part - the choice is yours). Pass by Beckford Silk Mill and watch silk printing - (a very good tea room as well!) and on to Overbury (a village still owned by the Holland-Martin family and where the telephone boxes are painted green). A leisurely easy paced ride back to Winchcombe. (B)

Day 5 | Ride to Northleach
Leaving Winchcombe you cycle past Belas Knap a Stone Age burial mound or long barrow dating from 2500 BC. Cycling along the ridge of the Cotswolds and into the beautiful Coln Valley passing Chedworth Roman Villa with its well preserved mosaic flooring and bath suites. Your final destination is Northleach a Middle Ages "Wool Town", where you will spend two nights. (B)

Day 6 | Loop ride back to Northleach
A circular excursion from Northleach will take you to Bibury where the river Coln runs through the main street with Arlington Row cottages to one side, stand on the bridge and watch the trout swim past! Further on to the lovely old town of Burford on the edge of Oxfordshire. Burford has an impressive main street lined with a series of fine old houses. Leaving Oxfordshire behind travel along the Windrush valley with its collection of pretty villages and back into Northleach. (B)

Day 7 | Short Ride and Departure
Depending on your chosen time of departure you may, if you wish, cycle to North Cerney and onto the Roman town of Cirencester, finishing back in Northleach.. We will then collect you and your luggage and return you to the railway station at Moreton-in-Marsh for your onward journey. (B)

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