The Cotswolds is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that straddles 6 counties, an area of rolling hills on a bedrock of Jurassic limestone. The area was once renowned for its wool production, reminders of which you can still see today in the fine houses and 'wool' churches, built in the 15th and 16th Centuries by the local wool merchants. This twin-centre cycling holiday allows you to visit some of the best of the North Cotswolds villages from your bases in the beautiful and historic villages of Broadway and Bourton-on-the-Water. Cycling on quiet country roads you'll head to some of the best-known towns and villages of the area, as well as getting the chance to visit a wide range of sites and attractions, from Broadway Tower, the brainchild of Capability Brown to Sudeley Castle, last resting place of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth wife. You'll stay in friendly, family run B&B's with a daily breakfast included; with a range of dining options on your doorstep, we've left other meals up to you.
Day 1: Arrive in BroadwayArrive 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 Hadley House or similar
Day 2: WinchcombeAfter 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.Stay overnight at Hadley House or similar
Day 3: Chipping CampdenToday 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 mediaeval 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!!Stay overnight at Hadley House or similar
Day 4: Broadway to Bourton-on-the-WaterToday 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.Stay overnight at The Manor Close B&B or similar
Day 5: BurfordToday'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 museum of Mechanical Music. The shorter route mises out Burford.Stay overnight at The Manor Close B&B or similar
Day 6: Stow-on-the-WoldYour 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.
Day 7: Leave Bourton-on-the-WaterDepart Bourton-on-the-Water after breakfast.
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