Cycling in the Heart of the Cotswolds

7 Days & 6 Nights 4.7 Read 12 reviews

Pedal through the quintessential Cotswold countryside, a jewel of England
Observe the changing light reflect off honey-coloured cottages and green hills
Explore Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare’s birthplace
Experience delicious gourmet food in cosy local pubs and restaurants
Wander through the diverse gardens at Sezincote and Stanway

Follow cycle routes through quintessentially perfect Cotswold countryside and villages, such as Chipping Camden and Upper Slaughter. Honey-coloured stone houses, hedgerowed lanes, gloriously blossoming and colourful gardens all contribute towards what has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. During this self-guided cycling tour every day has a highlight, from the discovery of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, to the romantic water gardens at Sezincote and the Brailes, an area mentioned in the Domesday Book. You will be cycling through many iconic areas of the Cotswolds and even a cycle through Stratford-upon-Avon is included, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. With only one change of accommodation on this tour you can unpack and relax.

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

If you want to cycle through some of the Cotswold’s most iconic countryside and pretty villages at your own pace, stopping to explore en route, then this tour is for you. Also enjoy the local cuisine in the many gourmet pubs and restaurants and the additional bonus of cycling into Stratford-upon-Avon and visiting some of the area’s most amazing manor houses and incredible gardens. With only one change of accommodation you’ll have more time for relaxation and discovery of the area.

Tour Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Short Break

Activity Level & Terrain

You will need to have a fairly good fitness level to fully enjoy this trip. Although the Cotswolds generally is not very hilly there will be some gentle inclines and declines at times. Most of the cycling on this tour is along quiet country roads and through the rural and very pretty countryside, towns and villages. At times (but only for very short rides) you will have to ride along main roads in order to link the routes, or perhaps access another smaller road.

Accommodations

During this trip you will stay in small, family run hotels, B&B's or guesthouses. All accommodations are hand-picked to assure a warm welcome great locations.

Single Rooms & Solo Cyclists

If you're travelling with friends or family but prefer your own room, single rooms are subject to availability and a supplementary payment. This trip is also available to solo cyclists, also subject to a supplementary payment.

Meals

Breakfast is included in the cost of your tour. Breakfast can vary but normally includes a continental breakfast, which includes breads, butter, preserves, pastries, cereal, yoghurt, cheese, ham, fruit and tea and coffee and the option of a traditional English cooked breakfast. If you have special dietary requirements do let us know at the time of booking.

Lunches and dinners are not included but you will find suggestions in your route notes of local places to dine and your B&B hosts are always happy to advise on the best places to eat! You can easily find many European dining options within the Cotswolds but there are many local, cosy, traditional English pubs, serving simple filling dishes such as steak and ale pie, fish and chips or bangers n’ mash (sausages and mash potato). Being in the heart of the Cotswolds, you’re also never far from a café serving a cream tea. Worth indulging in at least once during your week cycling!

Included

6 Nights in B&B's and guesthouses
6 Breakfasts
Baggage transfer
Taxi transfer from Broadway to Moreton-in-Marsh on day 7
Information pack
Access to route notes, detailed maps, and GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office

Excluded

Travel to Moreton-in-Marsh / from Broadway
Bike hire
Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
Personal equipment
Travel insurance (required)

Extras

Additional nights along the route
Bike hire

When To Go

This trip is available from April to October.

Getting to the Start

The best way of getting to Moreton-in-Marsh is by train. There is a direct train from London Paddington Station which takes about one and a half hours. If you fly into London Heathrow, you can then take the Heathrow Express train to London Paddington and from here a train to Moreton-in Marsh. You may fly into any of the other London Airports, such as London Gatwick, make your way by bus or train into central London and then to London Paddington.

It is also possible to fly into Birmingham Airport when travelling to Moreton-in-Marsh with a journey time under 3 hours 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.

You can find further information about train times and schedules on the National Rail website.

It is also possible to drive to Moreton-in-Marsh. On-street parking is available however there is no secure parking.

Luggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person. Please ensure that you do not bring more than one bag of 20kg as if this occurs, the luggage transfer company will ask you to pay an additional fee for an extra bag which they will provide (£8) plus a charge of £6.00 per day for moving the extra bag. This additional payment, should it be necessary, needs to be made locally to the driver and in cash. We ask that all bags are ready for 9am and if not an additional supplement may also be payable locally to ensure that we can get your luggage to its destination on time.

If you are travelling from far afield and do have more than one bag it is possible to arrange for the extra luggage to be stored whilst you are on the tour for a fee of £25 per bag. These additional bags would be picked up from your accommodation at the start point of your tour and dropped off wherever you finish depending on the itinerary you are doing. Please contact us if you are interested in this option.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Transfers

A taxi transfer from Broadway at the end of the tour is included to Moreton-on-Marsh train station. The journey takes about 20 minutes, depending on traffic.

Equipment

Bike hire is available as an optional extra. Full-aluminium and good-quality hybrid bikes are available and the bike will be delivered to you. The bike will be a Ridgeback Velocity Hybrid. Full details about the bike will be in your information pack. All rentals include a helmet, combination lock, a pump, a pannier with spare inner tube, tyre levers, and a handlebar bag.

There are also a small number of electric bikes for hire, which provides a power-assisted ride. For more information on Ebikes please click here.

Please note that if you do want to rent a bike you need to provide us with your height so that we can make sure that the bike is going to be a good fit.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

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What is the best way to get to/from the start and end point?

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Moreton-on-Marsh

Today you will arrive in Moreton-on-Marsh located at the head of the beautiful Evenlode Valley. This thriving market town has just one main street which is lined with shops and galleries.

Perhaps you would like to arrive on a Tuesday as this is when Moreton-on-Marsh is host to the largest open-air street market in the Cotswolds. Also of interest is the White Hart Royal Hotel, a former manor house that sheltered King Charles I during the Civil War.

For dinner tonight there are plenty of restaurants from which to choose.

Overnight Moreton-in-Marsh

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Redesdale Arms | Hotel

Redesdale Arms Hotel is a 17th-century coaching house which has a contemporary decor with stylish bedrooms and you can enjoy log fires in the winter and a patio garden in the summer. The rooms are spread between the original main house, dating back to 1650, and to the rear of the building in the original stable block or courtyard. Two of their rooms feature whirlpool baths and many have spacious walk-in showers. All the rooms are equipped with Digital TV, CD players and new king-size beds. The restaurant has an AA Rosette award and the menu boasts good quality produce including local game and vegetables, and Cornish seafood.

White Hart Royal Hotel | Hotel

The White Hart Royal, with individually designed bedrooms, is a historic 17^th century coaching inn. All bedrooms have complimentary tea and coffee making facilities, mineral water and biscuits. From the revenue the hotel receives they donate the cost of a new baby tree to the local woodland trust. In this way they not only contribute towards a great local ’green’ cause, they also provide guests with the feel good factor of knowing that having an overnight stay here a little tree will grow!

Acacia Guest House | Bed and breakfast

Acacia Guesthouse is a small B&B in Moreton in Marsh. All rooms are equipped with flat screen tv's,, free wi-fi, tea/coffee making facilities, clock radio alarms, use of ironing board facilities, and hairdryer. Dorothy and Michael will cater for your every need with freshly soured local products for that homely breakfast. Just off the high street there is a choice of local restaurants to choose from for your evening meal.

Day 2 Cycle loop through Chipping Norton 29 miles / 47 km

The cycling route today takes you through pretty rural routes, and initially to the town of Chipping Norton. The town’s name means “market town north” and began as a small settlement at the foot of a hill on which there was a motte and Bailey Castle. Just north of the town you will cycle past the Rollright Stones, a complex of three Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments. They are now known as the Kings Men, the King Stone and the Whispering Knights and were all built at different times during the late prehistoric age.

Continue on your route through quaint villages, such as Little Compton and Paxton, before arriving back into Moreton-on-Marsh.

Overnight Moreton-in-Marsh

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Redesdale Arms | Hotel

White Hart Royal Hotel | Hotel

Acacia Guest House | Bed and breakfast

Day 3 Cycle loop through the Brailes 27 miles / 43.5 km

Today’s loop takes you to the west of Moreton-on-Marsh and through Upper and Lower Brailes situated in the county of Warwickshire and in the northern part of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Expect some hilly terrain today as the Brailes are surrounded by small hills. Brailes derives from a Saxon word for wood, and in the Domesday book was described as an important manor. You then cycle through more pretty villages with stone farms, cottages and gardens overflowing with flowers en route.

Overnight Moreton-in-Marsh

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Redesdale Arms | Hotel

White Hart Royal Hotel | Hotel

Acacia Guest House | Bed and breakfast

Day 4 Cycle to Broadway via Upper and Lower Slaughter 23 miles / 37 km

Todays route takes you through some of the most iconic Cotswold countryside and villages. Upon leaving Moreton-on-Marsh your route takes you close to Sezincote House, built with an Indian influence, and inspiration for the architect of the Brighton Pavilion. The house is set within a romantic water garden and it is definitely worth stopping to stroll through the house and gardens.

Continue on until you reach the twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. The name is derived from the old English “slohtre”, which means a muddy place. The epitome of Cotswold charm,these villages should not be missed and you will enjoy spending time here exploring.

After this visit you now concentrate on getting some miles under your belt. The route to Broadway takes you through undulating countryside and to Snowshill. Here, if you have time, it is worth stopping at Snowshill House and its Arts and Crafts style terraced gardens.

Overnight Broadway

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Olive Branch | Bed and breakfast

Olive Branch, a grade II listed building, has been trading as a Guest House for nearly 70 years. It has the reputation of being a warm and friendly, family run 'home from home' with many guests returning year after year. All rooms have colour TV, tea/coffee making facilities, and hair dryers. Wifi is also available. The owner's comfortable lounge is available for you to relax in after a day’s walking. Breakfast is served in the Cotswold stone dining room with Inglenook fireplace and original flagstone floor. You will be treated to the delights of Pam’s home baking and David’s delicious English breakfast.

Windrush House | Bed and breakfast

Set in beautiful grounds, Windrush House is located just metres from the village centre yet provides a quiet place to relax. They have a guest lounge and a large landscaped garden to chill out in. All the bedrooms have flat screen TV’s, Wi-Fi access, bathrobes and tea and coffee making facilities.They all benefit from en-suite shower rooms. They also have a small fridge available for guest use, located on the landing.

Broadway Hotel | Hotel

The Broadway Hotel, served over 400 years ago as a rural retreat still offers a feeling of tranquillity to be enjoyed by today’s visitors. The bedrooms are individually furnished, warm and inviting, with attention to detail in every bedroom. Each of the nineteen guest rooms have a flat-screen TV, beverage tray, hairdryer and en-suite bathrooms generously stocked with complimentary Molton Brown products. The Tattersalls Brasserie is in the beautiful new Atrium, the elegant, light filled brasserie offers an extensive a la carte menu with a good selection of fresh and seasonal dishes along with a choice of 31 day dry aged free range steaks.

Day 5 Cycle loop through Stratford-upon-Avon 43 miles / 69.5 km

Today there are a few different options to choose from. The first is to take a 43 mile bike ride that takes you in a loop from Broadway to Stratford-upon-Avon and back. If you take this cycle ride you will probably arrive in Stratford around lunchtime, and you will have a little time to explore this town, famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

The second option is a shorter ride of around 23 miles in the morning. This route takes you through Chipping Camden, a charming and historic town, once famous for its wool trade. This afternoon perhaps you would like to take a bus into Stratford to see where The Bard was born and explore.

The third option is to take a day of rest. Broadway is a really picturesque town to stroll through and perhaps you may wish to search out some antique and book shops, or have lunch in a tea room or local pub. You may also take the bus into Stratford-upon-Avon if you wish.

Overnight Broadway

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Olive Branch | Bed and breakfast

Windrush House | Bed and breakfast

Broadway Hotel | Hotel

Day 6 Broadway loop via Stanway House and Gardens 29 miles / 47 km

The route today takes you on a loop to the south and west of Broadway. Head out of town to the west and along pretty country lanes to Elmley Castle, a small village and where the ruins of the castle remain. Continue through the charming villages of Ashton under Hill, Alderton and Gretton.

Just south of Broadway is Stanway, a scenic village and where it is worth stopping to see Stanway Manor House and Gardens. Explore this outstanding Jacobean Manor House and the 18th century water gardens, the finest in all of England.

Arrive back in Broadway for your final evening. With plenty of restaurants and pubs to choose from, perhaps you would like to have a final dinner and a toast to celebrate your week of wonderful cycling.

Overnight Broadway

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Olive Branch | Bed and breakfast

Windrush House | Bed and breakfast

Broadway Hotel | Hotel

Day 7 Onward Travel