Stratford to Bath Cycling Tour (8 days, 7 nights)
Price (from)
Difficulty
Tour information
Starting in the home of William Shakespeare, this Cotswold cycling holiday takes you through the stunning Cotswold countryside to beautiful regional towns and villages including Stratford-upon-Avon, Chipping Campden, Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cirencester and Malmesbury, before ending in the historic spa town of Bath.
Included/Excluded
- Accommodation at the stated category with breakfast
- Bicycle hire of Hybrid Bikes
- Luggage Transfers
- Full Tour Pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS routes
- 24-hr emergency helpline
- Travel to Stratford & Travel from Bath
- E-Bike Hire (available at a supplement)
- Lunch, Dinner & Drinks
- Entrance to attractions
- Buses and/or Ferries
- Tourist Taxes
Itinerary
There are many ways to get to Stratford Upon Avon including:
- By Rail: Stratford Upon Avon is easily accessible from Britain’s rail network with its own rail station only a 10-minute walk away from the town centre. From Birmingham: London Midland Trains run a service every half-hour. From London: Chiltern Railways run a service every two hours.
- By Car: Stratford Upon Avon is well-connected to Britain’s motorway network with direct routes from the M1, M5, M6, M40, M42 and M69. Please note, clients will need to arrange to return from Bath to Stratford-Upon-Avon to collect their car.
Stay overnight in Stratford Upon Avon.
Today’s route will take you on a circular route taking in all of the sights and surrounding countryside of Stratford Upon Avon. Generally cycling on quiet lanes you will pass Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Mary Arden’s House, Snitterfield and Aston Cantlow. A wide choice of villages inns will be available in Wilmcote, Snitterfield, Bearly Cross and Aston Cantlow for a traditional pub lunch.
Stay overnight in Stratford Upon Avon. No luggage transfer required.
This cycling route will take you from Stratford Upon Avon through a mixture of country lanes and cycle paths to Moreton in Marsh. Highlights along this route will include The Greenway, Mickleton, gardens at Hidcote and Kiftsgate as well as the old market town of Chipping Campden before reaching Moreton In Marsh where you will stay overnight.
Stay overnight in Moreton In Marsh. Luggage will be transferred
Cycling past the River Evenlode, day four will take you from Moreton in Marsh to Bourton on the Water via traditional Cotswold villages such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Upper Slaughter. Bourton-on-the-Water offers a unique country experience, with a range of attractions providing something for everyone.
Stay overnight in Bourton-on-the-Water. Luggage will be transferred.
This cycle route includes a visit to Northleach, an old market town, and Bibury, the most beautiful village in England according to artist William Morris, before continuing to the old market town of Cirencester.
Stay overnight in Cirencester. Luggage will be transferred.
Departing from Cirencester, this route takes you via small villages and quiet roads to the fantastic Cotswold Water Park which includes a watersport centre, lakeside beach and café and plenty of places to stop off and explore. Continue through Tetbury with gorgeous boutique shopping, and on past Westonbirt Arboretum to Malmesbury.
Stay overnight in Malmesbury. Luggage will be transferred.
After a short stint on the main road, travel down quiet roads to Foxley and Norton before reaching Castle Combe. Castle Combe is stunningly beautiful with a gorgeous river frontage and is also famous for motor and motorcycle racing. Continue into Bath
Stay overnight in Bath. Luggage will be transferred.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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 does the luggage transfer service work?
We offer a luggage transfer service across most of our tours so you don’t have to worry about your luggage during your vacation. We pick up your luggage on the morning you are moving accommodation and take it direct to your next stop.
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 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!
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!
