Cotswolds & Stonehenge, England Cycling Tour

A self-guided cycling holiday from Oxford to Bath!
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Home | Bike Tours | England | Cotswolds

OXFORD, THE COTSWOLDS, BATH, SALISBURY & STONEHENGE

8 days − Self Guided

Fine Hotels & Country Pubs

From

£ 2,199

Cycle Quintessential England and its beautiful Cotswolds. This Self Guided bike tour takes you past thatched cottages, tiny bridges over bubbling brooks, stately willows on lawns of magnificent manors, haunted glens and medieval pubs where kings and queens passed the night, all of which make up the fascinating fabric of this tiny corner of England.

Your bike journey not only takes you from Oxford, the seat of fine education at the edge of the Cotswolds but over to ancient Bath, known by the Romans as Aquae Sulis for its thermal waters, and ends near the most renown English neolithic spiritual sight, Stonehenge.

Get off the bike and enjoy that perfect English tradition of pub life and taste the refreshing pale ales of the area served in medieval inns. This is an experience laden bike tour, which sights galore and local specialities of the region, like the fresh produce and seafood and the array of baking cakes and tarts to tempt any palate.

Staying in some historically steeped villages, this is definitely a trip for those who enjoy relaxing travel on two wheels, and watching millenniums of history slip by at each turn of the wheel.

Dates

1 Apr 2024 to 31 Oct 2024

1 Apr 2025 to 31 Oct 2025

%

Riding Level

Moderate with
Longer Hills

75KM Daily Average

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

  • Oxford’s bustling charm and its impressive College buildings
  • Stay in historic 16th century coaching inns in quiet villages
  • Stately Bath, an UNESCO heritage city with its Roman baths, lovely Cathedral and literary references
  • Famous Cotswold Medieval town of Chipping Campden
  • Cotswold Cream Teas and Ale Brewing experiences
  • Megalithic stone burial mounds and Sarsen Block Paths
  • Mythical Stonehenge, a wonder of the world

THE CC ADVANTAGE

An area CC specialises in, with the company owner, who is English, spending his university years in Bath and extensively cycling the area

A route carefully planned around the local roads highlighting all the famous villages of this beautiful area

We know what it takes to order a pint of the best bitter, or to teach you how to make the perfect cup of English tea!

 

 

Wow, what a great trip around the Cotswolds!

Everything was so well organized. Nothing was too much trouble. Great food, hotels and cycling.

Thank you!

J. Albright

Vancouver, Canada

Route Map
itinerary
DAY 1. OXFORD

Arrive in Oxford on Monday and check into your hotel located in the heart of this venerable city. Home to one of the world’s most famous universities where the influential of our western civilisation have passed through its hallways.  The Library, Study Halls and College, all make up this attractive place with their soaring windows and Georgian architecture.  Discover the little tea rooms, the unique boutiques and the river dotted with punters and rowing eights. Watch the bikes whizz past as it is one of England’s cycle friendly places with most residents using it for their main source of transportation.


DAY 2. OXFORD TO MORETON IN MARSH

RIDE: 75 km | 533 m

Your host will meet you this morning with your bikes and have an intro to your tour. Enjoy a short city tour if you wish before leaving Oxford and heading for the Cotswold village of Woodstock. Here don’t miss one of England´s most famous Palaces and heart of the most influential families of modern England, Blenheim Palace, family home of the Duke of Marlborough, and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill with its soaring drawing rooms and fine. Ride into the Cotswolds, where its stone fences and grazing sheep our companions for the afternoon until we end in the small town of Moreton in Marsh, a settlement since the Iron Age and where your welcoming inn for the next 2 nights sits near the Roman Fosse.

See more

DAY 3. CIRCULAR RIDE TO STRATFORD AND CHIPPING CAMPDEN

RIDE: 86 km | 750 m

Ride to the lovely famous gardens of Hidcote and Kiftsgate for your own horticultural inspiration before biking down the Cotswold’s scarp to Stratford upon Avon. The great bard, Shakespeare was born here and the village receives close to 2.5 million visitors each year who come to visit his home. Cycle on to the sweet little chocolate box village of Broadway before climbing back up the scarp past Snowshill Manor and delightful fields of lavender to impressive Broadway Tower with its refreshment stop overlooking 12 counties. It’s a short pedal on to Chipping Campden where once monarchs meandered (16th century King Charles II stayed here prior to fleeing in the 2nd Civil war) the gem of the Cotswolds, before returning to Moreton. What a great day!


DAY 4. MORETON IN MARSH TO BIBURY

RIDE: 67 km | 620 m | Extra Mileage available Today’s ride is a highlight of classic Cotswold landscapes and via former famous wool town, Stow on the Wold, (stop and pick up an antique or two at its shops!) and the lovely Slaughters and Bourton on Water. So pretty! Cycle through the Windrush valley to Burford, known as one of the most attractive towns in the Cotswolds and where we make our exit to explore mysterious Wiltshire. Steeped in history, it was the first Cotswold town to be granted a charter in 1087 and its high street, set on a steeped hill, gives you an example of every type of architectural period. Pedal on an old Roman road to arrive in Bibury, famous for its weavers’ cottages and pretty River Coln. Additional mileage from Bibury for those wanting to explore the tiny Coln valley.


DAY 5. BIBURY TO LACOCK

RIDE: 101 km | 586 m

Today ride to the Cotswold capital of Cirencester, which is a stately place and has been important since Roman times. An interesting area with some good spots to stop at. Prince Charles’ farm, Highgrove is at the market town of Tetbury, and you can take a drink there. Another spot if horticulture is your bag, visit the National Arboretum at Westonbirt. End the day in the village of Lacock. It is a charming place with a history back to the 13th century and a wonderful medieval abbey to view.


DAY 6. LACOCK TO BATH AND BACK

RIDE: 66 km | 590 m

An exciting day today with an out and back to one of the most famous English cities, Bath. Ramble over to the 18th century Pulteney Bridges and try and fit in your camera viewfinder the Royal Crescent, open design of Georgian homes. Another literary giant came from here and you can visit the interesting Jane Austin museum today.  Amble around Bath Abbey which offers a breath-taking expanse of stained glass that is a delight when the morning light shines through and the elegant gardens and parks that offset one of England´s best examples of Georgian towns are tranquil shady spots to sit.  Leave Bath by heading into former railway tunnels and briefly along a magnificent canal to take in yet another characterful town at Bradford on Avon. Here there is a short climb as you head back to Lacock. Truly a day to remember!! Read our Blog on what to visit in Bath


DAY 7. LACOCK TO SALISBURY

RIDE:  77 km | 445 m

Today’s cycling is taking you into the Wiltshire district which is very much attuned to the Neolithic lives with fertility circles, massive sarsen stones and long barrows (hill burial tombs) spread over this area. Now a place for the modern day Druid to worship, they surely are worth a stop and photo shot. It is a peaceful rural countryside in the Avon valley. This tranquillity leads you to within a heart beat of Stonehenge and your final night’s stay in the historic cathedral city of Salisbury, a fascinating place.


DAY 8. TOUR STONEHENGE AND DEPART

Cycling in England, Visit StonehengeThis morning you can depart after breakfast to explore further reaches of England or also have the option to take a private transfer to the World Heritage site at Stonehenge with a 2 hour private guided tour. One of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments it surely is a most dramatic way to end your ride through this very historic corner of England.

We transfer you to Salisbury station and say, “Goodbye, come again soon!

Trip details

Leisure Tour : Self Guided

Bikes: Road / Hybrid / Ebike

Route: Oxford – Chipping Campden – Cotswolds – Lacock – Bath – Salisbury – optional Xtra Stonehenge

Riding Level

Moderate: distances are a daily average of 65 km

Food

All 7 full English breakfasts

Accommodation

Carefully chosen hotels and a country inns for 7 nights | Option to take the Deluxe Accommodation Package

All bedrooms are private en-suite

Included

Hybrid bike and helmet hire, pannier, water bottle, lock, puncture repair kit and spare inner tube

5% off on your next tour with us!

7 nights Accommodation & Overnight storage of bicycles at hotels

Services of our friendly local host to welcome and brief you, share their local knowledge and look after you

Written summary Route Directions and Maps with your route marked

Luggage transfers of bags daily

Emergency 24 hour phone number and support

Custom Guide Book of history, customs & where to eat, Helmet Bag

GPS navigation by App on own mobile phone provided. Waterproof mobile phone holder, power bank and mains charger (free to keep at the end of the tour!)

Not Included

Quality Ebike Hire (£220) | Road Bike (£220)

Airfares, travel to and from the trip start and finish points

Entrances to attractions, boat fares, museums

Lunches and dinners

Entrance to Stonehenge Package: A private 2 hour guided tour of Stonehenge and private transfer to Stonehenge and at end to Salisbury station available – £220

Lodgings

Slow down, put the brakes on and put your feet up at the end of the day here. What better way on your English cycling tour, to do it than experience British hospitality in historic places, pubs and inns? The Cotswolds hotels chosen for this tour offer great service in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy the sunshine in their gardens or cosy up next to the fire.
There is something for everyone and you can always close the day with a cup of tea or a nip of brandy to ease into the land of nod.
Just don’t get started on the ghost tales!

** Please enquire about the option of hotel upgrades, which is the Deluxe Cycling Tour we are offering.

Traditional hotel in the Cotswolds area - Cycling Country Bike Tours
Best Hotels on Bike Trip in the Cotswolds
Cycle Trip to England's Cotswolds
Bike Trip Hotel in the English Cotswolds
Bike Tour in England's Cotswolds
Cycling England's Cotswolds area, enjoying fine Hotels
 
Reviews

Cycling In EnglandTestimonials from previous cyclists are always available and we enjoy receiving the feedback after tours. It helps us improve our services and offer you an even better experience. Please feel free to contact us if you would like a reference to talk to. Others have also posted reviews on the independent travel website .

DATES & RATES

COTSWOLDS BIKE TOUR

8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS

THURSDAY STARTS

From £ 2,199

SINGLE SUPP. FROM £ 675

CLASSIC COTSWOLDS

CLASSIC COUNTRY INNS

From £2,199

Single Supp.: £675

 

DELUXE COTSWOLDS

DELUXE HOTELS

PLEASE ASK

Idea: Join this tour up by first cycling from Oxford to London on our Royal England bike tour.
Make it a Great British Cycling Adventure.

SELECT YOUR DATE AND CHECK AVAILABILITY HERE

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