Oxford to Bath By Bike

This route is graded easy to moderate, with rides ranging from 36km to 46km and total daily ascents ranging from 220m to 386m. Starting from Oxford and finishing in Bath, you'll cycle through some of the best scenery of southern England, passing through some of the finest Cotswolds villages along the way.

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

Solo Travellers

This route is graded easy to moderate, with daily rides ranging from 36–42 km (22–26 miles) and total daily ascents of 240–495 m (790–1,625 ft). It’s ideal for occasional riders looking to explore a region from the saddle, and who are comfortable riding up to around 40 km (25 miles) per day over several consecutive days. The shorter daily distances leave plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, pause for coffee, settle in for a long lunch, and take in the sights before reaching your destination.

You’ll cycle mainly on quiet country lanes, with only brief stretches on busier roads as you approach towns, and follow gentle canal paths as you near Bath.

The terrain is generally rolling, and the route features a pleasant mix of tarmac roads, easy gravel tracks, and well-maintained cycle paths.

You will experience a variety of accommodations on this tour, a mixture of 4 and 5-star boutique country inns and B&Bs with rooms that offer warm welcomes and traditional hospitality.

Single Rooms and Solo Travellers

Meals

Additional Nights

If you wish to add additional nights along the way or at the beginning and end of your itinerary please contact us. You may choose to add some rest days, or extra days where there is plenty of opportunity for sightseeing.

Navigation is straightforward using the Macs Adventure 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.

We have also included some self-guided walking tours in the main towns, such as Bibury, Cirencester and Lacock.

There is no bad time but the best months for cycling are in spring, summer and autumn when the weather is fairer. Spring is great as the wildflowers will be in bloom and the local towns and villages will be quieter during the day. By October the Cotswolds are covered in lovely orange hues as the leaves start to fall in the Autumn. You can start this tour on any day of the week between the start of April and the end of October, subject to availability. The Cotswolds are very popular so it is best to book as far in advance as you are able to.

By nature, the South West of England is prone to varying types of weather throughout the year. Always be prepared for changeable conditions when cycling in England. Waterproofs are essential all year round. In the summer months, be prepared for hot weather also (ensure you have sunscreen and plenty of water) and in the shoulder seasons of March or October expect colder temperatures (it’s not a bad idea to pack cycling gloves and a buff). 

Before you set off each day, it is also important that you pay attention to any weather warnings in place. We recommend visiting https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/  (the UK’s official source for weather warnings). Do not attempt to cycle if any serious weather warnings are in place, as weather conditions may affect surfaces.

From London Paddington station there are regular direct trains to Oxford, which take approximately 1 hour.

London Heathrow Airport - take the Heathrow Express train to London Paddington, taking just 15-20 minutes.

London Stansted Airport - take the Stansted Express train to Liverpool Street station. Then the Elizabeth Line on the London Underground to Paddington (which takes approx. 10 minutes). 

Bristol Airport is around an hour away from Bath on public transport and has good links to other airports in the UK and across Europe. Regular trains connect Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads. The A1 Airport Flyer bus departs from outside Bristol Temple Meads to the airport.

Fast and frequent train services also connect Bath to London Paddington (1h30).

London Heathrow Airport - from Paddington take the Heathrow Express train to London Heathrow Airport, taking just 15-20 minutes.

London Gatwick Airport - take the Elizabeth Line on the London Underground from Paddington to Farringdon (which takes approx. 10 minutes).  Take the national rail train from Farringdon to Gatwick Airport (approx. 40 minutes).

Luggage transfers between overnight locations are included in the tour. We request that one bag should not weigh more than 20 kg/44lbs.

At Macs Adventure we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.  Ninety-nine per cent of the time they will only transfer one bag per person, but the allowed weight ranges from anything between 15 and 20kg (33-44lbs) per bag, depending on the tour you are taking.  We do not have control over the limits that these providers set. Therefore, it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees) which we must respect.