Oxford to Bath Cycle

Day 1: Arrive in Oxford

Arrive in Oxford. Visit some of the treasures of the city from the Bodleian Library to the Ashmolean.
Staying overnight at Oxford Coach & Horses or similar

Day 2: Oxford to Woodstock 37km/23.5mi

Follow the canal out of Oxford with pubs and tea shops available for a pit-stop. Leave the canal and visit Rousham Gardens, designed by William Kent in the 18th Century which remains much as he left it. Continue on to Woodstock and time permitting visit Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at The Blenheim Buttery or similar

Day 3: Woodstock to Burford 40km/25mi

Leave Woodstock through Blenheim Park with another opportunity to visit the Palace and Gardens. Follow country lanes through farmland and visit picturesque villages like Minster Lovell and Swinbrook on the way to Burford, known for its its three-arched medieval bridge.
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at The Angel Inn or similar

Day 4: Burford to Bibury 50km/31.5mi

Follow the River Windrush towards Sherborne with a chance to visit the National Trusts' Sherborne Park Estate before continuing to Northleach where you can find half-timbered buildings and merchants' houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. There are two short detours off the main route to visit Chedworth Roman Villa and North Cerney Gardens before turning towards Bibury and follow the River Coln into this beautiful village.
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at Cotteswold House B&B or similar

Day 5: Bibury to Cirencester 34km/21.5mi

The route goes to Cricklade via Fairford, known for its fine 'wool' church and once an important coaching town, and then turns toward Cirencester and follows a cycle route through the lakes, near the Thames Path. Cirencester, the 'capital of the Cotswolds' has many attractions including the Corinium Museum, dedicated to the city's Roman history and the Abbey grounds, site of St Mary's Abbey.
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at The Old Brewhouse or similar

Day 6: Cirencester to Tetbury 28km/17.5mi

Today the route is shorter allowing time for visiting one (or more) of three spectacular Estates. Rodmarton Manor (open Wednesdays and Saturdays) is a unique 20th Century Arts and Crafts Manor with an 8 acre Cotswold garden; Chavenage House (open Thursdays and Sundays) is an Elizabethan house of mellow grey Cotswold stone and was used in the Poldark series as 'Trenwith', the Poldark family home. After arriving in Tetbury it is also possible to go by taxi (pay locally) to Highgrove Royal Gardens, the private residence of HRH The Prince of Wales. (Early booking essential).
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at The Royal Oak or similar

Day 7: Tetbury to Castle Combe 32km/20mi

A short cycle ride takes you to Westonbirt Arboretum, the National Arboretum has one of the most beautiful and important plant collections in the world. Continue through the village of Sherston and on to the picturesque village of Castle Combe.
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at Castle Inn or similar

Day 8: Castle Combe to Bath 19km/12mi or 49km/31mi

Today there is a choice of a longer or shorter route - the shorter option is a direct route into Bath allowing more time exploring the city. The longer route is an exciting ride through the villages of Biddeston and Lacock. The route turns onto the cycle path by the canal at Semington and follows it all the way into Bath via Bradford-on-Avon.
Breakfast included
Stay overnight at Hill House or similar

Day 9: Leave Bath

Depart after breakfast