United Kingdom

Cotswolds Explorer

Self-Guided Leisure Cycling Tour

Grade

1
2
3
4
5

Duration

8 days

Prices from

$1,895 P.P.

E-BIKE HIRE AVAILABLE

This holiday is well-suited to both regular bikes and pedal assist e-bikes, and you can choose to hire either when you book your holiday with us. Confident cyclists will enjoy the boost from a battery for those cheeky climbs, and with less effort required on the bike, you’ll have more energy at the end of the day for off-the-bike activities.  

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This multi-centre based holiday in the heart of the Cotswolds takes in a week of beautiful cycling through some of the most quintessentially English countryside you can imagine. This 8 day circular tour offers everything you could want from a leisure cycling holiday - quiet lanes and cycle paths, rich history and architecture, arts and culture, charming traditional inns serving delicious meals, and green, rolling landscapes dotted with idyllic postcard villages.
 
The riding is gentle overall with daily distances giving plenty of time for stops at the many beautiful and historic sites you pass during each day. The Cotswolds offers hills aplenty, but our itinerary cherry-picks the best rides and sees the few cheeky climbs spaced out evenly throughout the week. Whether riding an e-bike or standard hybrid, you'll find the rides contain just the right balance of exertion and easy miles, keeping the focus squarely on the tremendous Cotswolds views around every corner. To recharge you'll be spoilt for choice with exceptional options for lunch, refreshments and evening meals along the way, featuring delightful country inns, cafes and tearooms with some of the UK's finest local produce proudly featured.
 
You'll start the tour in the thriving market town of Moreton-in-Marsh, where our friendly local representative will provide a warm welcome and point you in the right direction, helping put in context the famous sights and landmarks you'll encounter over the next week. Your first days riding will take in some of the most picturesque villages in the northern Cotswolds, before pedalling south to Bourton-on-the Water, famed for its honey-coloured stone architecture and idyllic village scenes, where you will spend two more nights. Based from here, you will have the chance to explore the timeless towns of Stow-on-the-Wold and Bibury.
 
With one enchanting view after another, the riding never gets old in this part of the world. After Bourton, you make your way to the east of the Cotswolds and the town of Woodstock, and the chance to see the impressive Blenheim Palace. By the time you return to Moreton-in-Marsh after six days of riding, having been immersed in rolling countryside, chocolate box villages and charming market towns, you'll be ready to relax for your final evening in this quaint town with a seemingly slower pace of life.
 
For those left with an itch for even more riding, why not consider continuing on our other new self-guided tour starting nearby in Lechlade, the highest navigable point on the River Thames, and riding over five days to London taking in the Chilterns and Windsor Castle on the way?
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Highlights

  • The famous Cotswolds market towns of Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold
  • Riverside relaxation in Bourton-on-the-Water, the “Venice of the Cotswolds”
  • Leisurely riding through beautiful rolling countryside
  • The historic village of Bibury, famous for its beautiful stone cottages
  • Cycling through charming chocolate box villages
  • Stately home of Blenheim Palace with 2000 acres of gardens and magnificent architecture

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Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival into Moreton-in-Marsh

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.

Day 2
Chipping Campden and Broadway Loop
32 Miles / 51 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 650 Metres Approx.
  • 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.

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Day 3
Rollright Stones and Chipping Norton Loop
30 Miles / 48 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 540 Metres Approx.
  • 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.

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Day 4
Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water
20 Miles / 32 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 380 Metres Approx.
  • 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.

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Day 5
Bibury Loop
27 Miles / 43 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 500 Metres Approx.
  • 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.

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Day 6
Bourton-on-the-Water to Woodstock
29 Miles / 46 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 410 Metres Approx.
  • 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.

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Day 7
Woodstock to Moreton-in-Marsh
35 Miles / 56 Kms Approx.
Ascent: 575 Metres Approx.
  • 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.

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Day 8
Departure from Moreton-in-Marsh
  • 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.

Understanding Profiles

Use these profiles to see:

  • Distance in Km (horizontal axis)
  • Ascent / Descent in metres (vertical axis)

Click 'see gradient' to see:

  • Distance in Km (horizontal axis)
  • % Gradient (vertical axis)

Please check the scales on both graphs, and both axes as they both may differ from day to day.

White vertical lines indicate unpaved sections or slightly rougher terrain. Using both graphs, alongside the grading and terrain information provided, will give you a full picture of how flat, bumpy or steep the climbing on your particular tour is going to be. Please keep in mind this is an indicative guide and GPS units and software produce different statistical information.

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The Cycling

Terrain

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

Although the route is relatively easy going, opting for an e-bike would make it even more relaxed and allow for more time spent exploring the sights along the way.

For more information about riding an electric bike on our holidays please click here

This holiday uses a part of the National Cycle Network, a route from the charity, Sustrans, who are working to make it easier for everyone to cycle in the UK. Skedaddle will donate to Sustrans for every mile that you and others ride on this route with us. If you fancy donating more to Sustrans, you can choose to make your own donation for the development of the National Cycle Network when you make a booking with us.

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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 trips

Suitable for those looking for some cycle friendly routes

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?

Trips that are graded as a 2-3, will have aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 rides. 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.  

For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.

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Dates & Prices

Daily departures available from April to mid October.

You can either make a booking online or over the phone. Once we have your details, we’ll be able to check availability.

Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit

Book now with a $375 deposit and nothing more to pay until 60 days before departure. Choose a date to start your booking and see all prices, including bike hire and single room supplements.

Select a date to view prices and book
Start Date
End Date
Duration
Price p.p.
Start Date
Return Date
--/--/----
Duration
8 days
Price
$1,895.00

Whats Included Tick

A) Accommodation (shared twin/ double rooms)

B) Meals as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

C) Access to an app for holiday information and navigation

D) A printed map

E) Luggage transfer service

F) Local Skedaddle representative

G) Emergency tool kit, pump etc. (if renting your bike from Skedaddle)

H) Financial Protection through ABTOT

What's not Included Cross

A) Bike and helmet rental (available if required)

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

C) Meals not stated in the itinerary

D) Single room (available if required)

E) Travel insurance

F) Personal clothing and equipment

G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)

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

I) Other optional activities

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The Essentials

Travel Options

The start and finish points for this holiday is Moreton-in-Marsh. The town has excellent public transport links including a direct rail link to London, and your hotel will be within a short walk of the station. If bringing your own bikes you’ll need to reserve them for your train journey.

The nearest airports are London Heathrow (LHR) and Birmingham (BHX), both have direct and one stop flights connecting North America through multiple carriers and both airports have good rail connections for catching the train to Moreton-in-Marsh.

If you are planning on driving, there is plenty of free on-street parking around the town near the hotel where you can leave your car for the week.

Accommodation

In the UK we use good quality 3 or 4 star hotels, B&Bs, inns and family-run guesthouses that are cycle friendly, located close to the cycling route and showcase the style and hospitality of the area you are visiting.

Where possible we prioritise locally owned businesses and those offering locally sourced food, drink and speciality products. This all promotes sustainability in-line with our responsible travel policy.

All our UK trips are operated on a double/twin-share basis. Single occupancy rooms can be provided for a supplement and are subject to availability at the time of booking.

Bike Hire

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

The hybrid bikes are generally Scott Sub Sport 30 bikes with a gear range suitable for the route and terrain, semi-slick tyres, hydraulic disc brakes and a relaxed riding position. Provided with a low step through frame for ladies and a slightly sloping top tube for gents.

The electric bikes are generally Gazelle Ultimate T10 and Gazelle Chamonix T10 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.

All bikes are equipped with a rear rack, mudguards, lights, cycling computers, map holders, pannier bags, D locks and a rack pack containing basic tools including a pump and puncture repair kit.

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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