This romantic and relaxed journey between Oxford and Bath, two of England's finest cities, leads you through many of the Cotswolds' best loved villages and valleys.
As if that were not enough, the ride embraces a rich history. From Cirencester and Bath's Roman heritage, to Oxford's historic university - which dates back to 1167; from the 13th Century village of Lacock, to the grandiose Blenheim Palace and two rural canals - which are extraordinary feats of Victorian engineering. There's also lovely Tetbury and delightful Bradford on Avon to explore. All this is topped off by a really wonderful selection of rather unique hotels and inns you'll be staying in along the way.
Holiday details
Price
- Classic
-
from £2,360 per person
- Luxury
-
from £3,380 per person
Based on two people sharing a room
What’s included?
There are no extras, however you’ll love what’s included as standard
Duration
9 nights
Start & Finish
Classic tour starts Fridays, luxury tour starts Sundays from Oxford. Finish Bath
Hotels
- Classic
-
Hand picked hotels and inns with a B&B in Bath
- Luxury
-
Historic 3, 4 and 5 star hotels, two boutique hotels and a lovely old inn
Holiday type
Self-guided
This tour is priced without a guide and you are free to explore on your own. If you would like a guide for part or all of your trip, we are happy to provide a knowledgeable, local guide
Activity level
Gentle cycling (2) More info...
Electric bikes
Available
Mileage
7 days of cycling 10 - 25 miles (16 - 40 km) per day
Terrain
Flattish with a few slopes on days three and four
Traffic-free
25% very low traffic on the rest
Options
- Additional nights in Oxford and Bath
- Fly fishing on Day 6
- Enjoy a guide in Bath
Itinerary day-by-day
Classic
-
1. Day one
Oxford
Arrive in Oxford and check into your hotel located adjacent to the heart of the city. Enjoy the treasures of this beautiful city today and stroll through the lovely colleges of the University with their magnificent architecture and gardens. Take in the museums, galleries and libraries galore, and perhaps a concert or play. Discover the little tea rooms and fine restaurants, the unique shops and back streets and the river backwaters dotted with punters and rowing eights.
-
2. Day two
Oxford to Woodstock
Your host will meet you at your hotel, brief you and transfer you to our bike base. Your cycling journey begins as it will end, along a canal. The Oxford Canal which lies very close to your hotel offers a delightful and rural waterside ride out of Oxford, past houseboats and locks and through pretty villages. Not far from the navigation, sits the Cotswold stone village of Woodstock and grandiose Blenheim Palace set in 2000 acres of Capability Brown landscape. Built in the 18th Century, it was the birthplace of Winston Churchill and the 12th Duke of Marlborough now lives there. Your hotel sits in the heart of the lovely village.
13 miles (21 km)
-
3. Day three
Woodstock to Burford
Ride into the Cotswolds and explore the old woollen town of Witney. Discover the beautiful valley of the River Windrush. Nestled here is a string of romantic villages such as Minster Lovell, bearing ancient honey coloured stone buildings and thatched village pubs. Burford too, where you will stay, has changed little over the centuries and it's bustling high street is one of the most picturesque in the Cotswolds.
23 miles (37 km)
-
4. Day four
Burford to Bibury
This is another wonderful ride through timeless countryside into the Coln valley. Explore the town of Northleach with its interesting history and mechanical music museum, and Chedworth village with its Roman villa. Enjoy the great views, ancient woodlands and the pretty folds and villages of the tiny River Coln. Your overnight stay is in Bibury, described by William Morris as the most beautiful village in England.
19 miles (31 km)
-
5. Day five
Bibury to Cirencester
Amble along the Coln valley this morning before heading to Cirencester through the quiet villages of the Ampney Brook. Once a key town of Roman Britain, Cirencester is today the capital of the Cotswolds with an antiques and street market you can enjoy. Your hotel for the night is in the heart of the town.
16 miles (26 km)
-
6. Day six
Cirencester to a Wiltshire Village
Still in the idyllic Cotswold landscape of quiet lanes, pretty farms and peaceful villages you have the opportunity today to visit a remarkable manor house of Arts and Crafts fame. Stop awhile too in Tetbury to explore this lovely old wool market town and if trees are your thing then make a short detour to Westonbirt Arboretum. But don't delay too long as a warm welcome awaits at your 16th Century coaching inn tonight.
27 miles (43 km)
-
7. Day seven
A Wiltshire Village to Lacock
This ride offers fabulous views, a chance to test the Fosse Way as the Romans did, without cars and easy pedalling through unspoilt hamlets hiding cosy inns. But the most remarkable find of the day will probably be Lacock where you will stay the night. Dating back to the 13th Century, this charming rural village with a medieval abbey remains untouched by modern development.
21 miles (34 km)
-
8. Day eight
Lacock to Bath
There's a scene change today as you pedal along one of the prettiest canals through steeply wooded valleys, over dramatic aqueducts and past locks and weirs. En route, explore Bradford on Avon and stay an extra night here if you wish, to relax in this fine town and enjoy a rather special Italian garden. Your waterside ride leads you into the heart of Bath and to your overnight stay for the next two nights. What a fitting finale to an extraordinary journey through history from the dreaming spires of Oxford to the legendary architecture of Bath.
24 miles (39 km)
-
9. Day nine
Enjoy Bath
Here you're spoilt for choice... character and charm are around almost every corner of this city. You could visit the Roman Baths with their natural hot waters and bathe in the thermal waters of the spa. Take in the abbey, admire the buildings and stroll across Poultney Bridge. Discover a fine collection of museums, unique shops, cobbled courtyards and historic tea rooms
-
10. Day ten
Depart Bath
Take time to explore all that Bath has to offer and depart at leisure. Those wishing to add a further day's cycling can enjoy the 13 mile ride to Bristol along a disused railway line with an additional night in Bristol or Bath.
Luxury
-
1. Day one
Oxford
Arrive in Oxford and check into your hotel located in the heart of the city. Enjoy the treasures of this beautiful city today. Stroll through the lovely colleges of the University with their magnificent architecture and gardens. Take in the museums, galleries and libraries galore, and perhaps a concert or play. Discover the little tea rooms and fine restaurants, the unique shops and back streets and the river backwaters dotted with punters and rowing eights.
-
2. Day two
Oxford to Woodstock
Your host will meet you at your hotel, brief you and transfer you to our bike base. Your cycling journey begins as it will end, along a canal. The Oxford Canal which lies very close to your hotel offers a delightful and rural waterside ride out of Oxford, past houseboats and locks and through pretty villages. Not far from the navigation, sits the Cotswold stone village of Woodstock and grandiose Blenheim Palace set in 2000 acres of Capability Brown landscape. Built in the 18th Century, it was the birthplace of Winston Churchill and the 12th Duke of Marlborough now lives there. Your hotel sits in the heart of the lovely village.
13 miles (21 km)
-
3. Day three
Woodstock to Burford
Ride into the Cotswolds and explore the old woollen town of Witney. Discover the beautiful valley of the River Windrush. Nestled here is a string of romantic villages such as Minster Lovell, bearing ancient honey coloured stone buildings and thatched village pubs. Burford too, where you will stay, has changed little over the centuries and it's bustling high street is one of the most picturesque in the Cotswolds.
23 miles (37 km)
-
4. Day four
Burford to Bibury
This is another wonderful ride through timeless countryside into the Coln valley. Explore the town of Northleach with its interesting history and mechanical music museum, and Chedworth village with its Roman villa. Enjoy the great views, ancient woodlands and the pretty folds and villages of the tiny River Coln. Your hotel is in Bibury, described by William Morris as the most beautiful village in England.
19 miles (31 km)
-
5. Day five
Bibury to Cirencester
Amble along the Coln valley this morning before heading to Cirencester through the quiet villages of the Ampney Brook. Once a key town of Roman Britain, Cirencester is today the capital of the Cotswolds with an antiques and street market you can enjoy. Your hotel for the night is in the heart of the town.
16 miles (26 km)
-
6. Day six
Cirencester to Malmesbury
Still in the idyllic Cotswold landscape of quiet lanes, pretty farms and peaceful villages you have the opportunity today to visit a remarkable manor house of Arts and Crafts fame. Stop awhile too in Tetbury to explore this lovely old wool market town and if trees are your thing then make a short detour to Westonbirt Arboretum. But don't delay too long as elegant luxury awaits at a historic Cotswold hotel.
27 miles (43 km)
-
7. Day seven
Malmesbury to Lacock
This ride offers fabulous views, a chance to test the Fosse Way as the Romans did, without cars and easy pedalling through unspoilt hamlets hiding cosy inns. But the most remarkable find of the day will probably be Lacock where you will stay the night. Dating back to the 13th Century, this charming rural village with a medieval abbey remains untouched by modern development.
20 miles (32 km)
-
8. Day eight
Lacock to Bath
There's a scene change today as you pedal along one of the prettiest canals through steeply wooded valleys, over dramatic aqueducts and past locks and weirs. En route, explore Bradford on Avon and stay an extra night here if you wish, to relax in this fine town and enjoy a rather special Italian garden. Your waterside ride leads you into the heart of Bath and to your overnight stay for the next two nights. What a fitting finale to an extraordinary journey through history from the dreaming spires of Oxford to the legendary architecture of Bath.
24 miles (39 km)
-
9. Day nine
Enjoy Bath
Here you're spoilt for choice... character and charm are around almost every corner of this city. You could visit the Roman Baths with their natural hot waters and bathe in the thermal waters of the spa. Take in the abbey, admire the buildings and stroll across Poultney Bridge. Discover a fine collection of museums, unique shops, cobbled courtyards and historic tea rooms
-
10. Day ten
Depart Bath
Take time to explore all that Bath has to offer and depart at leisure. Those wishing to add a further day's cycling can enjoy the 13 mile ride to Bristol along a disused railway line with an additional night in Bristol or Bath.