United Kingdom : The Cotswolds

Classic Cotswolds Activities

Trip code: M07CW

Multi-activity holiday

7 nights,
hotel-to-hotel

Level: 2
Moderate

11.0Kg CO2e

Headwater
Navigation App

SUMMARY

  • Explore the beautiful scenery of the Cotswolds - England's largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - rolling hills and honey-coloured villages by bike and on foot
  • Visit the market towns of Chipping Campden, Burford and Stow-on-the-Wold
  • Stay in the ancient Saxon capital of Winchcombe and visit Sudeley Castle (last resting place of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's 6th wife)
  • Outstanding views across the Cotswolds from Broadway Tower Country Park
  • Stunning gardens and historical manor houses including National Trust gardens

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • Breakfast daily
  • Briefing at the start of your holiday
  • Headwater navigation app
  • Luggage transfers between hotels
  • Bike hire included

TRIP DESCRIPTION

The Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has scenic rolling hills and meadows and a wealth of quintessentially English villages of honey-coloured stone buildings.

This self-guided 7-night walking and cycling tour takes you through some of the most picturesque villages and some of the best scenery in the north Cotswolds. You'll visit world-famous villages including Chipping Campden and the Slaughters and have the chance to visit Broadway Tower Country Park and Snowshill Manor, a National Trust property full of extraordinary treasures.

Overnight stays are in Moreton-in-Marsh, a town that dates back 1000 years, the ancient Saxon capital of Winchcombe with Sudeley Castle close by and Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds'. Accommodation is in a mix of friendly inns and B&Bs with breakfast included daily. There are lots of options each day for places to eat lunch and dinner.

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DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

 

Day 1: Arrive in Moreton-in-Marsh

Arrive in Moreton-in-Marsh and explore some of the antique shops and art galleries.

You stay at The White Hart Royal Hotel.

hotel details

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The White Hart Royal Hotel, Moreton-in-Marsh

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
WiFi
Safe
Tea/coffee


Set in a 17th-century former coaching inn, the White Hart Royal Hotel is located in Moreton-in-Marsh’s historic town centre and boasts regal connections as King Charles I took shelter here during the English Civil War. A four-poster bed, private garden, spacious wet room and a roll-top bath feature in some of the individually designed bedrooms. Flagstone floors and an original inglenook fireplace are in the traditional Snug Bar and guests can also make use of the hotel’s two period lounges. Fresh, local ingredients are served on the traditional British menu in the Courtyard Restaurant.

Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used

Day 2: Cycle Moreton-in-Marsh to Winchcombe (via Chipping Campden) - 42km/26mi

Depending on your day of arrival, you will be met at 9am for your briefing and will be provided with your bikes for the holiday, adjusted to your specifications.

Cycle along country lanes into Chipping Campden, known for its elegant High Street. Continue uphill to Broadway Tower Country Park, worth a detour for the amazing views of the Cotswolds. You'll then pass through the lavender fields at Snowshill, an amazing kick to the senses around harvest time (early July). Snowshill Manor, a National Trust property full of the extraordinary treasures collected by Charles Wade, can also be visited before continuing on through Stanway and on to Winchcombe.

You stay at The White Hart Inn.

hotel details



The White Hart Inn, Winchcombe

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Mastercard
AmEx
TV
Tea/coffee


Set in Winchcombe, just over half a mile from Sudeley Castle, The White Hart Inn offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a garden. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout. The inn features eight ensuite bedrooms. All guest rooms come with a flat screen TV and tea & coffee making facilities. Full English Breakfast is included daily.

Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used

Day 3: Winchcombe circular walk through the Sudeley Valley or to Belas Knap 9km/6mi or 17.5km/11mi

Today you have a choice of two 9km walks, one walk takes you through the Sudeley Valley, across fields up to St Kenelm's Well for views over Winchcombe and the surrounding countryside before returning to Winchcombe via Sudeley Castle. The alternative walk follows a section of the Cotswold Way through farm and woodland to Belas Knap, a neolithic, chambered long barrow. Or, do both!

Day 4: Cycle Winchcombe to Bourton-on-the-Water - 31km/19mi

Cycle through the charming villages of Guiting Power, Lower Swell and Lower Slaughter, all of which will offer ideal chocolate-box photo opportunities. There will be plenty of chances to stop for refreshments, from the 'post office' in Guiting Power offering superb tea and cake, to the wonderful Slaughters Country Inn with its lovely garden. Continue to Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' and your base for the next 3 nights.

You stay at The Manor Close B&B.

hotel details



The Manor Close B&B, Bourton-on-the-Water

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

WiFi
TV


The Manor Close B&B offers a warm and friendly welcome and brings the best of Bourton-on-the-Water to your doorstep. With its English country house feel, guest rooms offer amenities such as a flat screen TV and complimentary WiFi. The property also features a Full English Breakfast with all ingredients being locally sourced wherever possible including the eggs that are both locally sourced and free range. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking.

Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.

Day 5: Bourton-on-the-Water circular cycle loop through the Barringtons - 33km/21mi or 44km/27mi

Today's cycle route takes you through the beautiful villages of Great Rissington and Great Barrington on some of the best 'off the beaten track' routes in the Cotswolds. There is an optional extension of the route to visit Burford with its charming high street sloping down to the Windrush river and Northleach with its beautiful wool church and museum of Mechanical Music before returning to Winchcombe.

Day 6: Bourton-on-the-Water circular walk through the Slaughters 8km/5mi or 16km/9.5mi

You have a choice of a longer or shorter walking route today. The longer route takes you first along the River Windrush to Naunton with its ancient dovecote and continues through Upper and Lower Slaughter, the shorter route takes you on a loop though the Slaughters allowing more time to explore these pretty villages.

Day 7: Cycle Bourton-on-the-Water to Moreton-in-Marsh - 24km/15mi or 35km/22mi or 49km/30mi

Return to Moreton-in-Marsh through the Evenlode valley with a choice of three routes, direct to Morteon-in-Marsh, with a detour to historic Stow-on-the Wold, the highest of the Cotswold towns, located on the Roman Fosse Way or to the pretty villages of Bledington, Kingham and Churchill.

Day 8: Leave Moreton-in-Marsh

Depart after breakfast.

Extending your holiday

If you'd like to extend your trip with extra hotel nights we recommend: The White Hart Royal Hotel, Moreton-in-Marsh; The Kennard, Bath; The Oxford Coach & Horses B&B, Oxford.

hotel details



The White Hart Royal Hotel, Moreton-in-Marsh

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
WiFi
Safe
Tea/coffee


Set in a 17th-century former coaching inn, the White Hart Royal Hotel is located in Moreton-in-Marsh’s historic town centre and boasts regal connections as King Charles I took shelter here during the English Civil War. A four-poster bed, private garden, spacious wet room and a roll-top bath feature in some of the individually designed bedrooms. Flagstone floors and an original inglenook fireplace are in the traditional Snug Bar and guests can also make use of the hotel’s two period lounges. Fresh, local ingredients are served on the traditional British menu in the Courtyard Restaurant.

Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used



The Kennard, Bath

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Tea/coffee


The Kennard is located on a quiet residential street in easy walking distance from some of the best restaurants and shopping areas of Bath, as well as close to Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths, Pulteney Bridge, Holburne Museum and the Victoria Art Gallery. This boutique Guest House offers 12 refurbished and individually decorated bedrooms over five floors, with views either over the garden and city, or out over the street below. There is free Wi-Fi, a small sitting area and an honesty bar at the property and full English breakfast (or continental buffet) is included.



The Oxford Coach & Horses B&B, Oxford

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Mastercard
Visa
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Safe
Tea/coffee


The Oxford Coach & Horses is built on the site of an old coaching inn dating from the 18th century and is located within 10 minutes walk from the city centre. This delightful, refurbished coaching inn offers a pleasant retreat and an oasis of calm amid the hustle and bustle nearby and yet far enough away from it all. Said to be the last coaching inn in Oxford before the road to London was put in, the Oxford Coach & Horses is a family-owned business with eight bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, a flat screen TV, high-speed Wi-Fi, a safe and plenty of storage space. There is also tea & coffee making facilities. The property is small enough to provide a friendly welcome with the advantage of having up-to-date facilities to make your visit relaxed and comfortable. The B&B is just around the corner from a vast range of international cuisine in the St Clements and Cowley Road area.

CHOOSE A DEPARTURE DATE

We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website.

Please contact our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 to for further details or to discuss alternavie trip options.

REVIEWS

Excellent service: we have made several trips with Headwater over the years and have always been very pleased with their friendliness, expertise, efficiency and reliability. On this occasion, we asked for some add-on arrangements at the end of the trip, which were very quickly understood and responded to. Altogether, an enjoyable and confidence-inspiring booking experience!

Richard C, 10 May 2024

Absolutely responsive and accommodating.

14 Nov 2023

Good and efficient at getting booking done

7 Jul 2023

process handled very well.

Alexander Sutherland, 8 Jun 2023


Multi-activity holiday

7 nights,
hotel-to-hotel

Level: 2
Moderate

11.0Kg CO2e

Headwater
Navigation App

 

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