Your holiday starts and ends in the thriving market town of Moreton-in-Marsh. On your arrival you can check into your accommodation where you will be based for the first three nights of your holiday and where you will find a welcome pack waiting for you, containing information about your holiday including points of interest, places to eat and drink, and other useful local info.

With excellent public transport links including a direct rail link to London, and plenty of freely available public parking if you intend to drive, Moreton-in-Marsh is a great base for the start of your holiday. The hotel is situated within a short walk of the train station and very close to Moreton High Street, which is lined with independent shops, pubs and cafes, so there is plenty to do during your stay here when you are not on your bike.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 650 Metres Approx.

This morning you’ll be met by our local representative who will provide you with your hire bikes, if hiring, as well as an explanation of the days ahead with helpful tips on points of interest along the way.

Today’s ride is a fantastic introductory loop which takes you deep into the heart of the Cotswolds to experience the outstanding natural beauty and historical wonders dating back to Saxon times. With some of the best views of the holiday, you can expect some cheeky climbs! The first day of the tour still presents a very achievable challenge with plenty of time and stopping points along the way to split up the day.

After a morning following quiet, tree-lined roads, you’ll come to your first climb of the week out of Chipping Campden, famed for the most desirable high street in England! At the top of the hill, it’s well worth the minor detour up to Broadway Tower, with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. Your efforts on the climb are rewarded with a lovely descent past Snowshill Manor, and down to Guiting Powder. If you haven’t been tempted by the local cafes so far then it’s worth stopping off for a magnificent lunch at the revered Hollow Bottom Inn before winding your way back north to Batsford and onto Moreton. If there’s time, you may also wish to pay a visit to Batsford Arboretum and Falconry Centre, home to around 150 Birds of Prey and free-flying demonstrations each day, which is just off your route a few miles before Moreton.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 540 Metres Approx.

After exploring the western and central Cotswolds yesterday, today’s loop takes you to the quiet roads and picturesque villages in the northern and eastern Cotswolds.

A gentle morning’s ride takes you through the villages of Todenham, Burmington and Whichford, surrounded by unspoilt rolling hills. You have a few climbs to take you to Little Rollright and the Rollright Stones, where you have a chance to explore these neolithic and bronze age boulder monuments, before descending to the lively market town of Chipping Norton. ‘Chippy’, as it is affectionately known by locals, is a real, working Cotswold market town renowned for its antique shops, Grade I listed St Mary’s Church, and diverse shopping offer, making it a great place to stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, you’ll pedal westwards and through the village of Adelstrop, made famous by Edward Thomas’ poem, before heading back to Moreton for your third evening at your accommodation here.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 380 Metres Approx.

Leaving Moreton behind, you’ll wind your way southwards to the charming market town of Stow-on-the-Wold in the heart of the Cotswolds. A gently undulating afternoon takes you through the small but characterful villages of Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter, situated on the upper reaches of the River Eye. It’s well worth a visit to the 19th-century water mill with an undershot waterwheel, surrounded by limestone cottages on the banks of the gently flowing river.

The final few miles take you on to Bourton-on-the-Water, your second destination of the week. With plenty of time to explore, take the opportunity to visit Bourton’s many quaint shops, cafes and attractions. Some favourites include the Motoring Museum & Toy Collection, the Model Village, Birdland, or simply picking a comfy seat along the River Windrush and watching the ducks (and the world) go by. Cap off your evening with an ice cream by the river before a good night’s rest.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 500 Metres Approx.

Today’s loop ride from Bourton takes you 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 and its honey-coloured 17th century stone houses which 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 woollen 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-on-the-Water is equally picturesque, as you pass through more chocolate box villages and ride past stately homes along the gentle banks of the River Windrush.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 410 Metres Approx.

Today’s ride is the flattest of the week, as following an early morning climb, you descend to the winding River Windrush, whose course you follow for the remainder of the morning through the villages of Windrush, Burford, Swinbrook and Minster Lovell. You skirt north and east along quiet roads around the bustling market town of Witney to reach the village of Hanborough before riding on toward Woodstock. Taking in more pretty countryside views you arrive at your destination via quiet roads and shared-use paths.

Woodstock is an historic Oxfordshire market town home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace, the seat of the Duke of Marlborough and one of England’s largest houses. The palace is notable for many reasons, including being the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Those interested in history, fine art, and English history will all find plenty to enjoy and hours can be spent enjoying Capability Brown’s stunningly landscaped park – the quintessential landscape of the English aristocracy. The palace, park and gardens are open to the public for an entry fee.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 575 Metres Approx.

Your final day’s riding takes you out of Woodstock via an off-road path surrounded by nature, before following quiet country roads for most of the rest of the day. A few cheeky climbs take you to the villages of Little Tew, Great Tew and the Great Tew Estate, which is an archetypal English country estate. Pedalling your way through this gently rolling part of the Cotswolds, you can enjoy the peace of the area which is more off the beaten track than some of the tourist hotspots from previous days’ rides.

After arriving in the village of Kingham, you soon head north for the final stint of the holiday, which takes you back to Moreton-in-Marsh, where you started the week. Enjoy a drink, a meal and relax in one of the many pubs, bars and restaurants for your final evening in this beautiful part of the world before your departure tomorrow morning.

• Meals: Breakfast

With plenty of miles in your legs and memories made, you can set off on your onward journey home from Moreton-in-Marsh after breakfast.