Cycling in the Heart of the Cotswolds

This cycling tour is suitable for most regular cyclists. You’ll spend much of the day in the saddle and you should be experienced with this to enjoy your holiday. There are gentle ascents and descents and you should be fit enough to fully enjoy the tour.

Before your tour, we recommend cycling a couple of consecutive days, so you get used to riding back-to-back days and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to take into account the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

There will be some gentle inclines and declines at times. This cycling route follows a combination of quiet country roads and busier routes when approaching and departing towns. Please always be mindful of other roads users at all times, especially when cycling on routes shared with traffic.

You'll stay in small, family-run hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses, all hand-picked for a warm welcome and great locations.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome on this tour. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement, subject to availability.

Breakfast is included throughout your tour, usually a continental spread of breads, butter, preserves, pastries, cereal, yogurt, cheese, ham and fruit with tea and coffee, plus the option of a traditional English cooked breakfast. Let us know about any special dietary requirements when you book.

Lunch and dinner aren't included, but you'll find suggestions for local places to eat in your route notes, and your hosts are always happy to recommend somewhere good. The Cotswolds has plenty of European dining options, alongside classic, cosy English pubs serving hearty dishes like steak and ale pie, fish and chips or bangers and mash. You're also never far from a café serving a traditional cream tea, well worth trying at least once during your tour.

This tour runs from April to October. There's no bad time to cycle in the Cotswolds, though spring and autumn are especially recommended for the colors, and these months tend to be quieter too.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

If you have additional or heavier bags, the luggage transfer company may ask for a supplement. If you'd like to store luggage during the tour, this can usually be arranged in advance, so just get in touch with us for details.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Getting to the start

The best way to reach Moreton-in-Marsh is by train. There's a direct train from London Paddington that takes about an hour and a half. If you fly into one of London's airports, take the Heathrow Express into London Paddington and pick up a train to Moreton-in-Marsh from there, or if you land at another London airport such as Gatwick, make your way by bus or train into central London first. You can also fly into Birmingham Airport, with a journey time under 3 hours to Moreton-in-Marsh by public transport. Birmingham has flights from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Jersey, Isle of Man, Inverness, Dundee, Derry, Belfast, Dublin, Shannon and many European and international destinations. Check the National Rail website for train times and schedules. It's also possible to drive to Moreton-in-Marsh, where on-street parking is available, though there's no secure parking option.

If you choose the Cycling in the Heart of the Cotswolds Short Break tour, your tour also ends in Moreton-in-Marsh, with the same travel options in reverse: a direct train to London Paddington takes about an hour and a half (via the Heathrow Express if you're flying from one of the London airports), or you can travel to Birmingham Airport in 1.5 to 3 hours by public transport, usually by train via Worcester.

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem – please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The following bikes are available for hire:

Hybrid Bike: Ridgeback Velocity, including a mud guard and kick stand.
Ebike: Motus Raleigh or Scott Sub Tour Wave Bike, Bosch powered with a minimum 500Wh battery, lights and mudguards.
Road Bike: Scott Addict, carbon fibre frame and forks, 105 Shimano 2x11 speed gearing and hydraulic disc brakes. Suitable for experienced cyclists who understand the riding position and have the physical fitness needed for this style of biking.

Tandems are not available for this tour. Brand and model may vary depending on availability, and the minimum age for e-bike hire is 16.

Please provide the following when booking:
- Your height, for bike sizing
- Head circumference, if you'd like to hire a helmet

Bike hire includes a spare inner tube, helmet (though we recommend bringing your own), repair kit and pump, pannier bag (not on the road bike), one lock, a phone mount, and a battery charger for e-bikes. Many people choose an e-bike for the extra battery-powered assistance, though e-bikes are heavier than standard bicycles. Gravel and road bikes are only recommended for experienced cyclists who understand the riding position and have the fitness needed for this style of biking.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation