Malmesbury Rides Short Break (4 nights, 5 days)
Price (from)
Difficulty
Tour information
Based in Malmesbury this cycling short break has up to three circular rides taking you into the countryside of Wiltshire and to the Cotswold Water Park, the United Kingdom’s largest marl lake system. You also visit Leighterton, Easton Grey, Castle Coombe, the market town of Tetbury and Westonbirt Arboretum with over 18,000 species of trees from around the world.
You can choose from the riding routes below which order you’d like to do them in. A short break, at your own pace.
Included/Excluded
- Accommodation
- Breakfast
- Tour Pack
- Compass App with GPS routing
- Travel to Malmesbury
- Meals except where specified
- Bike Hire (optional extra)
Itinerary
By Rail – The nearest train station to Malmesbury is Chippenham. From here you can take a local bus (route 92) to Malmesbury. Below are websites that can help you plan your route.
By Bus – National Express run services from towns in the UK to Malmesbury
By Car – Malmesbury can be reached by Motorway and local roads. The website below can help you plan your journey.
By Air – The nearest airport to Malmesbury is Bristol. You can then take a train to Chippenham and a local bus to Malmesbury. The websites below can help you plan your journey.
This is a single centre tour so you will stay in Malmesbury for the duration of your trip.
You can then choose from the below routes to enjoy the local area.
Cycle through the villages of Milbourne and Charlton to the old market town of Tetbury. Its handsome buildings are evidence of a prosperous past when it was at the centre of the wool trade. The Market House, standing on 18 rotund Tuscan columns, dates from 1655. The ride continues to Westonbirt Arboretum with its 18000 species of trees before heading back to Malmesbury via Easton Grey and Foxley.
Todays ride takes you through Garsdon and Minet to the Cotswold Water Park whose many lakes were formed as a result of gravel extraction. These have been landscaped creating valuable habitat for wildlife including three nature reserves. There are also lakes set aside for a range of water sports from sailing to jet skiing. Head back through Oaksey and Eastcourt to Malmesbury.
Cycle to Castle Combe whose name has quite clear origins. The 'Castle' is an ancient earthwork used by the Romans, Saxons and Norman’s and Combe is of course the Old English for valley. The village developed as a centre for the wool and cloth trade from the 14th century. One Lord of the Manor during this time was Sir John Fastolf; a large and loud knight who is though to have been the inspiration for Shakespeare's similarly named character. Castle Combe was also dubbed ‘England’s prettiest village’ in an article in Time Magazine.
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.
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.
Can I bring my dog with me?
Several of our tours do have the option to bring your four-legged friend with you, depending on availability.
Please contact our expert travel team on +44(0) 1242 250 642 to find out which tours your dog will love too!
