Best of the Cotswolds Cycling

Cycling information

Most of the cycling is along quiet country roads and up and down rolling hills. There are plenty of places to stop and explore along the routes making this trip a most relaxing break.

Day 1: Arrive in Broadway

Arrive in Broadway, gateway to the North Cotswolds, the village has a wide main street lined with independent shops, restaurants, hotels and plenty of antique shops.
Stay overnight at Windrush House or similar

Day 2: Winchcombe - 47km/29.5mi

After your briefing and bike set-up you'll leave the wide streets of Broadway for Childswickham with its differing building styles. On to Aston Somerville on the edge of the Vale of Evesham renowned for market gardening. Continuing on the flat to Wormington with the Cotswold escarpment in the distance before Toddington the home of the Warwickshire and North Gloucestershire narrow gauge railway. Explore the narrow streets of Winchcombe and visit Sudeley Castle. The return to Broadway is via Didbrook, Hailes and Hailes Abbey, a former Cistercian Abbey. Cycle through typical English Parkland observing the sheep grazing which made the area so famous amongst the mature trees and the thatched Cricket Club Pavillion of Stanway. Continue to the picture perfect village of Stanton before returning to Broadway.
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at Windrush House or similar

Day 3: Chipping Campden - 29km/18.5mi

Today you will cycle to the Jewel of the Cotswolds, Chipping Campden. With the Cotswold escarpment on your right the first village you'll come to is Willersey with its idyllic duck pond followed by Weston sub Edge and Aston sub Edge before tackling the first hill of the day to Chipping Campden. Explore this beautiful Wool town and its medieval history before taking the short ride to its little sister Broad Campden with an array of thatched cottages. Return to Chipping Campden for the second hill to Dovers Hill, the site of the local Olimpicks! Enjoy fantastic views over the Vale of Evesham and continue along the top of the Cotswold Escarpment to Broadway Tower the brainchild of Capabilty Brown over 200 years ago. Continuing along the escarpment but slowly downhill past the Lavender farm to the beautiful Cotswold hillside village of Snowshill with its honey coloured stone cottages and Tudor Manor House. Free wheel all the way downhill back to Broadway!!
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at Windrush House or similar

Day 4: Broadway to Bourton-on-the-Water - 40km/25mi

Today starts with another chance to visit the National Trust property of Snowshill before your route takes you on quiet country lanes, past farmland and Guiting Wood to the pretty villages of Guiting Power and Naunton. Stop for refreshments in one of the villages - a great choice of pubs and cafes. Take your time and arrive in Bourton-on-the-Water, your base for the next 3 nights.
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at The Manor Close B&B or similar

Day 5: Burford - 33km/21mi or 44km/27.5mi

Today's cycle ride takes you on some of the best 'off the beaten track' routes in the Cotswolds to the beautiful villages of Great Rissington, Great Barrington and Burford with its charming high street sloping down to the Windrush river. The return to Bourton-on-the-Water goes via Northleach with its beautiful wool church and the interesting alleys around the Market Place. The shorter route misses out Burford.
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at The Manor Close B&B or similar

Day 6: Stow-on-the-Wold 44km/27.5mi

Your route today takes you through the villages of Bledington, Kingham and Broadwell to Stow-on-the-Wold, a market town on the convergence of many major roads, including the Roman Fosse Way and the highest of the Cotswold towns. Return through Lower Slaughter to visit the Motoring Museum in Bourton-on-the-Water.
Breakfast included

Day 7: Depart after breakfast