Bikes, Boats and Birds, a Gloucestershire Cycling Short Break
Price (from)
Difficulty
Tour information
Enjoy a self guided cycling short break in Gloucestershire.
Based in the village of Slimbridge, home of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre, you can cycle to the ancient battlements of Berkley Castle past the half-timbered cottages located on Frampton’s village green, which is the largest in England. Then, take an energetic cycle ride to the Cotswold village of Uley which is nestled beneath the ramparts of its Iron Age hill fort.
An ideal break for the family.
Three to five day itineraries are available.
Included/Excluded
- Bed & Breakfast Accommodation
- Fully comprehensive tour pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS
- Emergency Telephone Assistance
- Bike Hire
- Meals except breakfast
- Transport to and from Slimbridge
Itinerary
Set off from Slimbridge and cycle to Berkeley, a modest little town with an important history. Be sure to spend time here and visit Berkeley Castle and the Jenner Museum.
Continue cycling to see the visitors centre at Oldbury Power Station before heading for a refreshing drink at the Windbound Inn. This lovely pub nestles almost under the banks of the River Severn and if the weather is clear you should be able to see the original Severn Bridge and possibly the new one beyond that!
The pub got its name from the old barge men who came ashore for a drink and would explain the lost time to their bosses by claiming they had been Windbound!
Today's cycle ride will takes you to St Augustine's Farm, a charming and informative combination of the traditional farmyard and modern dairy techniques.
After this you will continue cycling on to Frampton on Severn, which boasts the largest village green in the country at 22 acres. It is not only the size which makes it so impressive but that it also has the elements of an ideal English green; a cricket pitch, two pubs, three ponds, an old fashioned shop and benches to sit and watch the world go by.
It is also surrounded by a wonderful collection of buildings from humble little cottages to the classical splendour of Frampton Court. (Not 2 night).
A short straight out and back cycle ride will see you climb nearly 500 feet into the Cotswolds, giving you plenty of time to stop and see the great views.
After, continue cycling onto Uleybury Hill Fort which is among the finest Iron Age encampments in the country dating from around 300 BC. In its final phase of development the natural defences of the landscape had been supplemented by three huge earth banks. The enclosed area was large enough to include a number of small fields as well as the dwellings making it quite self sufficient in the event of siege.
A path runs round all four sides of the top bank and the views from there are breathtaking, it is worth leaving your bikes and walking up to the top. (Not 2 or 3 night)
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my own bike on the tour?
Of course you can, providing it’s roadworthy and safe. Unfortunately our free breakdown cover may not apply in these circumstances.
If you would like more information about the type of bike our tours are suitable for please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com.
If you bring your own bike we are unable to provide any assistance in the case of issues.
How do I get to the start of my tour?
Most UK travel destinations are accessible by public transport.
However, some of the locations are quite rural and may require a car or taxi to reach the starting point.
Our tours do not include travel to the starting point as standard but if you would like specific travel to be include in your trip please let our team know.
Not quite sure where to start? Contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your travel plans.
Do I have to walk/cycle every day of my trip?
Absolutely not! You can enjoy additional stop overs at various points along the tour if you would like more time to explore the local area.
We can also add additional days to the start and end of your trip to allow you to explore and relax.
If you would like to add rest days or additional nights to your trip please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your specific requirements. We’re happy to tailor your trip to suit you!
How far can I walk or cycle each day?
How far you choose to travel each day depends on your individual fitness levels and how long you want to spend walking or cycling.
We have a wide range of tours to suit all fitness levels.
All our itineraries specify the daily mileage and the difficulty level of the tour.
If you would like to make adjustments to a tour to suit your specific needs, please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss a bespoke tour. We are good at this!
What kind of bikes can I hire for my trip?
Our cycle tours come with hybrid bike hire as standard. eBike hire is available at an additional cost. Please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com for more information.
If you are travelling with children, we have a range of children’s mountain bikes and tag-a-long trailers for hire.
Tandem bikes are also available for those wanting a truly unique adventure!
All our hires come with helmets, locks and puncture repair kits as standard.
Panniers are also available for a small additional charge.
How fit do I have to be?
Our tours all vary in degrees of hardness.
We specify the difficulty level of all of our tours on our website. The itineraries also give an indication of the gradients travelled on any given day.
If you would like to discuss this in more detail with our travel experts please contact us prior to booking.
What happens if I need assistance when cycling?
For punctures and minor repairs we do provide you with a toolkit with all of the essentials.
For major repairs, please contact us immediately on +44 (0) 1242 250 642 so we can organise a serviceman to come out to repair or exchange the bike for you as soon as possible.
What about places to eat?
All our tours come with bed and breakfast as standard.
In some more remote locations, accommodation providing breakfast may not be possible but we will find you somewhere to get breakfast nearby. This will be covered in the price of your trip.
Our tours do not include lunch and dinner as standard, though some accommodations do offer packed lunches and dinner options at an additional charge. Please let us know if you would like this option when booking.
What ages do you cater for?
Both our walking and cycling tours can cater for travellers of all ages. Distance is listed on each of the tours. If you are unsure about the distance covered, please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642.
All of our routes have been tried and tested by our expert team with lots of stop-offs and attractions so younger members of the team can rest and enjoy all that’s on offer. Please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642 at the time of booking to discuss your exact requirements.
Cycling equipment
We have a large range of bikes and accessories suited to adults and budding cyclists. We also offer a tag along (tandem) (please note it is not fully enclosed and waterproof but a single wheeled bike that attaches to the adult bike). We can also provide fully enclosed and waterproof trailers for younger children.
What day can I start my tour?
Most of our tours can be taken at any time but there are some which start on specific days which are usually Saturday to Saturday.
To find out more information, please call our expert travel team on +44 (0) 1242 250 642 or email info@compass-holidays.com.
What type of accommodation is included?
Our holidays are priced with 3* hotel, B&B as standard. These accommodations are hand picked for our tours.
Where a bespoke or luxury option is required please contact us on +44 (0) 1242 250642.
