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United Kingdom

Cotswolds - Bourton-on-the-Water

Guided Leisure Cycling Holiday

Grade

1
2
3
4
5

Duration

5 days

Prices from

£985 P.P.
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As quintessentially English as countryside comes, the Cotswolds are a great destination to explore by bike. Meandering lanes and rolling hills offer up the perfect location for this cycling holiday. Picturesque villages, historic churches and thatched cottages make this holiday one not to miss if you're looking to take in some picture post-card views. 
Staying at historic Harrington House, you will enjoy beautiful rolling countryside and picturesque golden stone villages on our leisurely rides.
There is a delight around every corner, and beautiful architecture which spans the centuries: from Tudor through to Georgian and beyond, all to be found in charming market towns along the way.
Over the course of three rides from our base in Bourton on the Water, we’ll really get to take in all that the Cotswolds have to offer - heading south for a loop to the wool-working centre of Bibury, north to the timeless towns of Winchcombe and Broadway, and east through the delightful Stow-on the Wold.
Cycling in the Cotswolds is not without its challenges, but for every short climb, there are beautiful views across the rolling and unspoilt ‘wolds’.
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Holiday Highlights

  • Staying at Harrington House, a comfortable HF Country House in the centre of picturesque Bourton
  • Three days guided cycling with an experienced leader
  • Enjoying leisurely rides through beautiful rolling countryside
  • Visiting the famous Cotswold market town of Stow-on-the-Wold
  • Visiting the historic village of Bibury, famous for its stone cottages which once housed weavers
  • Cycling through beautiful chocolate box villages

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Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival Bourton-on-the-Water
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  • Meals: Dinner

Today is set aside to allow you to arrive into Bourton at your convenience. You will meet your leader and the rest of the group, and enjoy a leisurely evening meal at Harrington House.

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Day 2
Bibury Loop
26 Miles / 42 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Ascent: 600 Metres Approx.

Our first ride takes us south via the village of Northleach, with its lovely wool church, to the peaceful Coln valley. The key attraction here is the much photographed village of Bibury, whose honey-coloured 17th century stone houses are typical of the area’s rustic settlements.

In the Middle Ages, the Cotswolds were known for the quality of wool produced in the area, and many merchants became rich, building many impressive houses and churches as signs of their wealth. Bibury was built to house cloth weavers who supplied woolen cloth for nearby mills and was described by William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England”, a bold claim you can verify yourself!

Your return to Bourton is equally picturesque, as you pass through more chocolate box villages and ride past stately homes.

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Day 3
Adelstrop and Stow-on-the-Wold
30 Miles / 48 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Ascent: 600 Metres Approx.

Today we’ll head east, crossing the Cotswolds to Shipton-under-Wychwood in the Evenlode Valley. We’ll continue north to the village of Adelstrop, made famous by Edward Thomas’ poem, then on to the charming market town of Stow-on-the-Wold. With our ride nearly complete, its only a short distance along the back roads to Bourton-on-the-Water.

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Day 4
Winchcombe & Broadway
35 Miles / 56 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Ascent: 900 Metres Approx.

Today’s a slightly longer day in the saddle with a bit more climbing, but you’ll be raring to go by now! We’ve got a great ride planned, that explores villages off the beaten track as well as the well-known villages of Winchcombe, Broadway and Snowshill. We’ll pass through the beautiful grounds of Stanway Estate, ride along the base of the Cotswold escarpment, and follow quiet roads with plenty of interesting places to explore along the way. A hilly start, followed by a flatter ride from Winchcombe, an ascent to Snowshill, then a well-earned descent back to Harrington Hall.

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Day 5
Departure Bourton-on-the-Water
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  • Meals: Breakfast

Today we’ll have a leisurely breakfast together, and with plenty of miles in our legs and memories made, you’ll set off on your onward journeys home.

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The Cycling

Terrain

The Cotswolds is renowned for an extensive network of rolling country lanes and whilst we do occasionally have to cross slightly busier roads, the only times we really venture off the quiet lanes are when we visit some of the region’s lovely small towns and villages or when our route takes us onto occasional designated cycle paths.

The rural lanes are often very narrow but are, when away from the towns and villages, generally low on traffic, making for a peaceful and relaxed riding experience.

Whilst the roads can be described as “mainly rolling” our routes do take in occasional steeper climbs but these are few and far between and are never particularly lengthy.

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Leisure Cycling Grade

1
2
3
4
5
Grade 2-3: Gentle/Moderate

Aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 holidays

Suitable for those looking for some cycle friendly routes

Features some modest climbs

Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc).

Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!

For more information about our grading system click here.

Is this suitable for you?

Holidays that are graded as a 2-3, will have aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 holidays. These tours are still suitable for those perhaps who have recently got into cycling, and offer an array of accessible, cycle friendly routes, cycle paths and quiet roads, however there will be some days / sections where you may have to tackle some ups and downs, the occasional steeper climb and perhaps some varying terrain (forest tracks, gravel paths etc). Suitable for those with a decent level of physical fitness, looking for some leisurely rides with occasional (achievable!) challenges along the way.

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Dates & Prices

Private Departures

Private Departures

Are you keen to only travel with your family or friends? Struggling to find the right date? Well, we can organise a private departure for this tour and tailor aspects to suit your group's specific needs. Contact our friendly team and we'll help you turn your dream into reality.

Start Date
End Date
Duration
Price p.p.
Start Date
06/05/2024
Return Date
10/05/2024
Duration
5 days
Price
£985.00
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Start Date
29/07/2024
Return Date
02/08/2024
Duration
5 days
Price
£985.00
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Whats Included Tick

A) Shared twin (or double) room (single room may be available on request, for a supplement)

B) Full tour service including guides and a back-up vehicle carrying spares, snacks and extra equipment not needed on your bike

C) At least one leader qualified in First Aid

D) Full-board including picnic lunch and en route refreshments

E) Secure bike storage and bike wash facilities

F) Train station collections / drop-offs on scheduled arrival and departure days

What's not Included Cross

A) Personal clothing and equipment

B) Travel insurance

C) Bar bills, telephone calls, souvenirs, etc.

D) Bike & helmet rental (available if required)

E) Travel or flight costs and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)

F) Single room option (may be available if required)

G) Entrance fees to cultural or historical sites and visitor centres

H) Other optional activities

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The Essentials

Travel Options

Your destination is Harrington House in Bourton-on-the-Water. If you intend to drive we will provide directions. Parking is available at the accommodation where vehicles can be left at the owners risk.

If you prefer to travel by train the most convenient station is Moreton-in-Marsh. Group train station transfers are included in the holiday price and there will be a Skedaddle transfer at 16.00 from Moreton-in-Marsh train station to Bourton-on-the-Water.

On your departure day (day 5), there will be a Skedaddle transfer from Bourton-on-the-Water to Moreton-in-Marsh train station at 09.30. Please do not book any return trains from Moreton-in-Marsh prior to 11.00.

Please check with us before making any travel arrangements to make sure we have reached the minimum number required to guarantee your holiday and to ensure your arrangements fit with our scheduled transfers and logistics.

Please note If you make alternative travel arrangements, which fall outside of the planned train station transfers, there may be an additional charge for individual transfers.

Accommodation

On this holiday, you will be based at an HF Country House. HF Holidays run a number of Country Houses around the UK, which are all within National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and which offer the perfect comfortable environment to return to after a day out on two wheels.

Dating from the Tudor period, and of considerable historic interest, Harrington House mirrors the mellow architectural style of the Cotswolds. Its peaceful atmosphere and proximity to the charming centre of Bourton-on-the-Water make it ideal for those who want to relax after a ride, and explore this charming corner of England.

In the main house there is a small lounge, an attractive dining room and a cosy bar.

At the rear of the house there is an attractive walled garden with a large croquet lawn. This is a perfect spot to relax after a great day in the saddle, assuming that the sun is shining!

Please note – single rooms can be very limited. You are however welcome to share a room with another solo traveller if you’re joining the tour alone.

Bike Hire

If you would like to rent a bike we have both hybrid and electric bikes available.

The hybrid bikes are generally Giant Roam (male frame) or Liv Rove (female frame) with a wide gear range suitable for the route and terrain, semi-slick tyres, hydraulic disc brakes and a relaxed riding position.

Our electric bikes are generally Giant E+ pedal assist bikes with batteries suitable for the daily distances on this holiday and hydraulic disc brakes. E-bikes come with step through frames as standard but some cross bar frames may be available if preferred. Please let us know if you have a preference.

A rack and two panniers, and one bottle cage are provided with all our rental bikes, along with an emergency repair kit in a seat-post bag containing a puncture repair kit, a multi-tool, a spare innertube and a bike pump.

We are also able to provide helmets, if you’d like one to be provided, please request this at the time of booking.

You are welcome to bring along your own saddles, or own pedals if renting a hybrid bike, but please let us know if advance if you plan to do so.

If you are planning to bring your own e-bike, please let us know the make and model of your bike and we can check its suitability.

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