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This
holiday is intended to appeal to those who want a gentle introduction to
cycling in the English countryside, as the Cotswolds are hilly rather
than mountainous. A week of marvelous rides will take you through one of
the most beautiful and historic parts of England. Honey coloured stone
villages, open wolds, wooded valleys and Roman roads are the background
to pretty villages, "wool" churches, famous gardens, a Roman
villa and welcoming inns. Your tour starts in elegant Cheltenham with
its Regency buildings, beautiful gardens, and fashionable centre. Then a
delightful ride takes you over the top of the Wolds and through
Duntisbournes, crossing the River Dunt's pretty fords. The route passes
exquisite village churches with Saxon and Norman features.
This
is followed by an easy ride to Tetbury, an important mediaeval wool
market town. You can stand inside the old market house, and walk down
the ancient Chipping Steps - the course for the Woolsack Races. The ride
then continues through the Cotswold Water Park. From Barnsley you ride
along the River Coln to Bibury - described by William Morris as the most
beautiful village in England - and its famous row of weavers' cottages.
Then down the scenic Windrush Valley, past Windrush village's Norman
church, to Burford, an elegant town with its steep main street leading
down to the river. Your ride also takes you to the Eastleach villages
with their fine churches and historic footbridge, and to the Barringtons.
After a visit to Chedworth Roman Villa, one of the best exposed
Romano-British villas in Britain, the ride takes you through Northleach,
another attractive wool town with a magnificent church, to the
Slaughters, surely the most delightful villages in England. You stay two
nights in a superb guesthouse in Guiting Power, a typical upland
Cotswold village. On the final day you will visit the historic 15th
century Snowshill Manor, take lunch at Broadway, and enjoy the wonderful
views from Broadway Tower. In the afternoon you can visit Sudley Castle,
once home to three of Henry VIII's wives, Katherine Parr, Ann Boleyn and
Lady Jane Grey. Finally, free wheel down Cleeve Hill back to Cheltenham. |
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Grade
Easy
to Moderate. There is a choice of two routes each day 25miles
(Moderate) or 15 miles (Easy)
Season
April
to October.
Travel Information
Starting
point: Cheltenham
End
of tour: Cheltenham
Most
convenient major city and international airport: London
(Heathrow or Gatwick).
Outward
journey from London to starting point:
By train from London Paddington to Cheltenham, then taxi to
hotel. Inward journey to London at end of tour: Train
direct to London Paddington.
The Bikes
Modern
hybrids, suitable for road and off -road use with eighteen to
twenty-one gears. They are provided with a helmet, pannier, lock,
water bottle and water bottle holder, also a spare inner tube,
tyre levers & repair kit. Bike hire is approx £80, and paid locally.
General Information
Breakfast:
in UK will generally consist of sausage, bacon, eggs etc, cereals
and fruit will also be available. It is important for you to tell
us if you have any dietary requirements when you book your holiday
so that we can inform everyone that you are staying with.
Baths:
it is not normal for your room to have a bath, the main reason
being that it takes up a lot of space, some hotels/guesthouses may
have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to
guests, but in the main it is showers.
Single
Supplements:
are payable on most of our tours. 1) The single supplement
guarantees the privacy of your own room, however, rooms can at
times be small and in some places may not enjoy the same
facilities as double/twin rooms. 2) You are not just paying
a supplement on the room but the luggage transfer costs you are
paying in full. The cost of moving 1 bag or 2 bags etc remains the
same. On some of our trips it is possible to reduce the cost of
the single supplement if you happen to be a 3rd person
travelling, or have chosen a date when other clients are booked.
Luggage:
When
staying in hotels, sometimes your luggage will have been taken to
you room awaiting your arrival. However don’t be surprised if
your luggage is waiting for you to take it up to your room.
Accommodation
q
Nights 1 & 7: Your
5 Crown accommodation was built in the 1850’s, a gracious age of
enlightened and generous architecture, close to Cheltenham centre
and all its amenities. Cycle hire company is located at Cheltenham
train station
q
Night 2: A 16th century stone inn overlooking
the beautiful, wooded, Chalford Valley.
q
Nights 3 & 4:
Your accommodation tonight (4 crowns) is a regency style property
which was totally refurbished in 1990 and now offers its guest
purpose-built facilities in a friendly family atmosphere.
q
Nights 5 & 6: Guiting Power: (5 crowns
Highly Commended). A tastefully restored 16th century Cotswold
stone farmhouse in the centre of a small and isolated typical
Cotswold village that has allowed time to pass it by. Our
accommodation, formerly an inn, now an attractive guesthouse in a
picture postcard setting, offers every comfort and a particularly
welcoming atmosphere.
PLEASE
NOTE: It is generally normal practice when staying in hotels that
you check-in on or after 2pm and checkout by 10am the following
morning. Guesthouses/bed & breakfast establishments are
normally check-in on or after 4pm and checkout by 10am.
Included in price of tour
Bed
and breakfast with ensuite facilities when available. Luggage transfers
from Inn to Inn. Full route notes and map package.
Extend your stay
In
Cheltenham or at any other overnight stop along the route.
Please ask for details
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Itinerary Guide
DAY
1: CHELTENHAM CIRCULAR RIDES
Ride
1: a short ride to Churchdown Hill.
Distance
= 13.4 miles
This
is a gently undulating, easy ride until you get to Churchdown and the
steep hill to St. Bartholomew’s Church; but it is worth the push up the
hill - it’s peaceful, and there is a good view over the vale.
Ride
2: to Deerhurst and Wainlodes via Boddington and Churchdown.
Distance
= 29.4 miles.
This
is a fairly flat and easy ride but because part of it is in the area
between Gloucester and Cheltenham even the unclassified roads can be busy;
the quietest area of the ride is to the west of the A38. Deerhurst is well
worth visiting for its Saxon churches and Wainlodes for its magnificent
view of the river Severn.
q
DAY 2: CHELTENHAM TO FRAMPTON MANSELL
Ride
1: via Elkstone, the Duntisbournes & Daglingworth.
Distance
= 19.8 or 16 miles.
This
lovely ride is uphill at the beginning, but from Elkstone goes through
easier, undulating countryside. The ride down the Duntisbourne valley is a
treat. The churches at Elkstone, Duntisbourne Rouse & Daglingworth are
particularly worth visiting. There
are not many pub stops in the middle of the ride;
you will need to visit The Green Dragon at Cockleford or the
Highwayman on the A417. There are no other shops in Cheltenham.
Ride
2: via Cowley, Sheepscombe, Painswick & Slad.
Distance
= 30.4 or 27.3 miles
This
is an interesting, varied but hilly ride with attractive countryside and
scenery and some famous towns and villages. You visit Painswick an elegant
wool town, Slad, the home of Laurie Lee, the famous Cotswold author.
Stroud the industrial centre of the valleys and Bisley another beautiful
wool town. Although there are several steep hills the destinations are
worth the effort.
q
DAY 3: FRAMPTON
MANSELL TO BIBURY
Ride
1: via South Cerney &
Meysey Hampton.
Distance
= 22.2 or 17.5 miles
This
easy ride circles through South Cerney & the Water Park.
It passes through several quiet villages & the flat south
Cotswolds countryside. It finishes in Barnsley where the church &
Barnsley House Garden are worth visiting.
Ride
2: via Tetbury, Cherington, Ashton Keynes & Down Ampney
Distance
= 33.1 miles
This
easy ride visits Tetbury an attractive Wool town, then goes east to Ashton
Keynes & the Cotswold Water Park.
It goes through several quiet villages south east of Cirencester
before going north back into the Cotwolds to the beautiful stone village
of Barnsley.
q
DAY 4: BIBURY
CIRCULAR RIDES
Ride
1: a short ride to Cirencester
Distance
= 14.7 miles
This
easy ride goes to Cirencester via Welsh Way & Whiteway, & returns
via Preston & Ampney
Ride
2: Fairford via the Coln
Valley & the Eastleaches.
Distance
= 30.6 or 26 miles
This
beautiful ride goes down the Coln Valley, which has several typical,
pretty, Cotswold villages. The Woollen Mill at Filkins is interesting,
& you can buy some real Cotswold souvenirs. Fairford is a good place
for tea, & the stained glass windows are a must.
q
DAY 5: BIBURY TO GUITING POWER
Ride
1: via Chedworth Roman Villa, Northleach & Notgrove.
Distance
= 22.1 or 16.4 miles
This
is an enjoyable ride over undulating countryside. The Roman Villa is very
interesting, and Northleach is an attractive ’wool’ town with a lovely
church.
Ride
2: via the Windrush Valley, Burford, Bourton on the Water & the
Slaughters.
Distance
= 33 or 27 miles
This
is an interesting, enjoyable and fairly easy ride. It goes through many
picturesque Cotswold villages - Windrush and the Slaughters are
particularly delightful. Burford is an attractive town & Bourton a
busy tourist centre.
q
DAY 6: GUITING POWER CIRCULAR RIDES
Ride
1: A short ride to the Slaughters & Lower Swell
Distance
= 14.3 miles
This
undulating ride goes through beautiful countryside & attractive quiet
villages. Upper Slaughter is a lovely place to picnic & spend time by
the ford on a fine day.
Ride
2: to Snowshill & Chipping Campden via Blockley & Sezincote -
with extensions to Broadway & Hidcote Manor Gardens
Distance
= 26.3, 27.9 or 35 miles
The
lovely ride goes across rolling countryside to Snowshill & Chipping
Campden - two classic Cotswold towns.
It can be extended to visit Broadway & Hidcote Manor Gardens.
The ride is quite hilly, & even the minor roads round Chipping Campden
get very busy at holiday weekends.
q
DAY 7: GUITING
POWER TO CHELTENHAM
Ride
1: via Winchcombe & Brockhampton
Distance
- 17.8 or 13.5 miles
This
ride covers some beautiful countryside, with good views from the hills.
It is quite hilly, particularly down into & up from Winchcombe,
but it gives you a good knowledge of the Cotswold scarp! Winchcombe is
well worth visiting, & it is easy to spend several hours there.
Ride
2: via Northleach, Chedworth Roman Villa, Withington & Seven
Springs.
Distance
= 25.5 miles
This
ride goes through beautiful countryside, some attractive villages, and to
Northleach - an important ’wool’ town - with an interesting ’wool’
church. The Roman Villa is fascinating.
q
DAY 8: Depart
after breakfast.
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