England: The Cotswolds
7 Day Inn England Bike Tour
Tour Information
A pastoral symphony of soulful landscapes and deep history comes together in this 800-square-mile region, the United Kingdom’s largest Area of Natural Beauty (AONB). The gentle “wolds” or hills are home to ancient beechwood trees, grazing sheep, blooming meadows brimming with flowers, birds and butterflies, and luminous Jurassic limestone used to build cottages, castles and stone walls. Cycling along sleepy country lanes, dining in pubs and tea rooms and resting in quaint village inns, we will experience the best of rural England!
Leisurely
Moderate
Rolling terrain with some flat sections and a couple longer climbs over country lanes and roads with little traffic. Moderate cycling level. Leisurely level with an e-bike.
6 nights lodging, 6 breakfasts, 4 dinners, 1 picnic lunch, admission to the Hidcote Gardens, Blenheim Palace, Roman Baths, access to the Chavenage house, guided walking tour of Oxford, hybrid or road rental bicycle, electronic route cues, van support, and trained guides.
Hybrid or road bike is included in the cost of the tour. E-bike is $250.
Accommodations are subject to minor changes.
Fly in and out of London’s Heathrow or Gatwick airports (LHR or LGW). Then take a train to Moreton-in-Marsh. Our starting hotel is a short walk from the train station.
How do I sign up?
You can Register / Sign-up for a Tour online. . You'll need a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card or a check for the deposit. If you sign up within 30 days of the start of the tour, we require payment in full. Then, we’ll send you a tour confirmation packet with many more details about your trip, including travel arrangements, a packing list, and an optional training schedule. Most of our tours fill completely and have waiting lists, so don’t wait too long before deciding to join us!
How do I know if I can do it?
If you can ride 5 miles on your bicycle today, then you can do our tours marked as leisurely. If you can ride 10 miles on rolling terrain, then you can do our moderate tours. If you can ride at least 20 miles on rolling terrain, then you can train to be able to tackle our advanced tours. Remember that our support vehicle is always available to pick you up if you get tired. That’s what we’re there for.
If you're still concerned about being able to do it, then consider renting an e-bike. These electric-assist bicycles flatten out the hills and increase your speed. They make more challenging tours available to more cyclists.
What do the numbers mean at the end of each day's itinerary?
If we describe a day as being 25 miles, ±1340', the full ride is 25 miles long and has 1340 feet of elevation gain. This ride also has 1340 feet of elevation loss, so you start and end at the same point of altitude. It could have one long hill up and down, or many shorter rolling hills. We try to describe the type of terrain in words too in the tour description. If you have any questions about any of the rides, please just ask us!
Can you help with travel arrangements?
Our literature provides details for you to make your own travel arrangements to our tours. If you do not feel comfortable making airline reservations on your own, we recommend DePrez Travel Bureau, Inc. The agency charges flat fees to make your air and any hotel arrangements before or after the tour. We send you information about the travel agency in your registration confirmation packet when you sign up for a tour.
For more information please visit DePrez Travel Bureau, Inc.
What about electric-assist bikes (e-bikes)?
Electric-assist bikes - or e-bikes - have quiet, battery-powered motors that add power to your pedalng. They increase your speed and assist you in cycling up hills. Most e-bikes have a range of assistance, so you can choose how much of a boost you'd like. E-bikes make it easier to do all the miles in all types of terrain. We allow electric-assist bicycles on our tours if you'd like to bring your own. We also have e-bikes available for rent on most of our trips -- look for the e-bike symbol. We do not make e-bike recommendations if you're considering purchasing your own. We suggest you rent one on a tour first so you can try it!
Do I need to pay the single upgrade if I am coming alone?
No, you only need to pay the single upgrade if you want your own room. Otherwise, we will match you with others who have come alone as a roommate. Each day that we change hotels, you will rotate roommates. Women usually enjoy this arrangement, as they get to know each other on the tour. You will always have your own bed.
I am coming alone on this tour. Will I be the only one traveling alone?
Absolutely not. Many of our participants come by themselves. That is part of the reason for the existence of WomanTours--to provide women with riding partners as well as scenic vistas and interesting tours.
What if I have to cancel a tour outside of the USA?
We understand that personal circumstances sometimes force women to cancel their travel plans. Therefore, we have tried to be as generous as possible with the following international tour cancellation policy:
- 120+ days before tour departure: forfeit $150 of your deposit.
- 75 - 119 days before tour departure: forfeit 25% of the complete tour price.
- 50 - 74 days before tour departure: forfeit 65% of the complete tour price.
- 30 - 49 days before tour departure: forfeit 85% of the complete tour price.
- 0 - 29 days before tour departure: forfeit 100% of the complete tour price.
- No refunds are possible after the tour begins.
Where can I get travel insurance?
Consider purchasing a plan with Allianz Travel Insurance. Be sure to enter ACCAM code #F027213 to identify yourself as a WomanTours traveler when securing your insurance. The cost will depend on several factors, including your age, state of residence, and length and location of your tour.
For more information please visit the Allianz Travel Insurance website
How are dietary issues handled on your tours?
When you sign up for one of our tours, we ask you if you have any dietary allergies, needs, or preferences. We send that information to the tour guides so they'll take everyone's needs into account when planning the tour's picnic lunches. We also keep that information in mind when we plan the breakfasts and dinners at restaurants, where everyone usually orders off the menu. We make sure there are ample choices for everyone.
We cook most of the dinners on our cross-country and epic tours. Our traveling chef accommodates guests with specific allergies and provides a non-meat protein source for vegetarians, but she cannot always adhere to everyone's likes and dislikes. If you require a vegan or gluten-free diet, there is an additional fee of about $50/week on our epic, cross-country, and barge tours.
Please be advised that while we strive to accommodate special dietary restrictions on our international trips, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or celiac diets, it may not always be possible due to factors beyond our control. Please note that food availability and options may vary depending on the destination and local cuisine. We encourage individuals with dietary concerns to check with our office to discuss their specific needs further, allowing us to provide the best possible assistance. We appreciate your understanding and encourage proactive communication to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.
"Really enjoyed the rural countryside. Loved that the weather was cool and the riding awesome. I loved the all women vibe!"
England Bike Tour Itinerary
DAY 1: We meet at 1:00pm in Moreton-in-Marsh for our introduction to the Cotswolds. If you’re able to arrive early, be sure to check out the local bike shop or walk to the Falconry Centre for a closeup view of kites, caracaras and eagles. After getting fitted for our bicycles, we'll take a short ride and learn how to cycle on the "wrong" side of the road. Then we will savor our first dinner together. 12 miles ±740'.
DAY 2: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Let’s ponder this question as we pedal our way to Hidcote Manor Garden, a famous Arts and Crafts-style garden created in the early 20th century by American-born Major Lawrence Waterbury Johnston. Admire grand topiaries, quaint lily pools, rare trees, and plants from around the world.
We continue on to Stratford-on-Avon, celebrated birthplace of William Shakespeare and home to the Royal Shakespeare Company. You can visit the church where one of the most famous authors of all time is buried if you’d like. Have lunch on your own in town and then cycle or shuttle back through the Cotswolds. 23 miles +774’/-1060’ or 42 miles ±1688’.
DAY 3: “No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle.” It’s hard to disagree with Sir Winston Churchill, whose birthplace is the first destination of today’s ride. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace in Woodstock is also deemed by many to be England’s greatest palace.
You will have plenty of time to roam the interior of this massive Baroque palace, built as a gesture of gratitude in the early 18th century for the Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, who ensured victory over the French and Bavarians in the War of the Spanish Succession. We'll have a sumptuous picnic lunch in the expansive Blenheim Gardens, ornately landscaped with curly-cue hedgerows, statues and fountains.
Then you can choose to shuttle or cycle to Burford, a striking town dubbed the Gateway to the Cotswolds where we'll be for the next two nights. 26 miles +1406'/-1504' or 45 miles +2468'/-2511'.
DAY 4: Think of this as the day you could run into Lady Mary or Matthew Crawley strolling the gardens at Downton Abbey. We follow a mostly flat road to Bampton, the stand-in for the village of Downton, where fans will recognize St. Mary's Church, the Bampton Community Archive (remember the hospital?), and the other exteriors used in the early 20th century period drama.
Then we continue on to Oxford. We take a break from our bikes in the afternoon as we embark on a walking tour of the "city of dreaming spires," where the oldest university in the English-speaking world still thrives. We return again to Burford to spend the night. 31 miles +538'/-750'.
DAY 5: Our morning is about riding, and the afternoon is about sightseeing. We’ll cycle to the heart of the Cotswolds to the incredibly quaint village of Bibury. Take out your phones as we bike by the weavers’ stone cottages from the 14th century known as Arlington Row. Our next stop will be in the town of Cirencester, known as the Capital of the Cotswolds for lunch.
Then we’ll continue our journey to visit Chavenage, a quintessential historic English country house, for an estate tour and a meeting with the lord of the manor. 37.9 miles ±1734’.
DAY 6: We'll backtrack a bit to Roman times in Bath. Hot springs made this a natural location for Roman baths, which we will explore in full, from the still green Sacred Pool to the pump rooms. We can even sip a cup of mineral-loaded Bath water --- to your health!
“Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath?” asks the protagonist in Austin’s Northanger Abbey. Jane Austen lived for a time in Bath, and used it as the backdrop in some of her novels. Tired or not, we will enjoy one more bike ride our last day in the Cotswolds. 13 miles ±785'.
DAY 7: Parting can be such sweet sorrow. You'll be free to catch a train to Heathrow, Gatwick, London or other destination for your trip home. Cheerio!