top of page
COTSWOLD COMPLETE

The Cotswold Complete is our 4 day/ 5 night tour that showcases the Cotswolds. Starting in the North in Moreton in Marsh you travel South passing through 4 iconic Cotswold towns and Village - Bourton on the Water, Stow on the Wold, Burford and Bibury. You will finish your tour in the capital of the Cotswolds - Cirencester. Moreton in Marsh has a train station with in walking distance to the centre. Kemble station is a 10 minute drive from Cirencester, making both locations an ideal start and end point.

ITINERARY

Arrival day - Your tour will start from Moreton in the Marsh. With direct trains from London Paddington it is the ideal start point for your adventure. Moreton in Marsh is a thriving market town. The broad High Street is lined with elegant 17th and 18th Century buildings, among them the White Hart Royal, a former manor house in which King Charles I sheltered during the Civil War and the rare Curfew Tower with its original clock and bell. In the centre is the Redesdale Hall, the town’s main public hall, which regularly holds antiques and craft fairs. Moreton’s High Street is lined with elegant Cotswolds stone buildings which house many specialist shops, antique emporiums, tea rooms and delis. You will be staying in a friendly 200-year-old coaching inn located in the centre of Moreton on a bed and breakfast basis. During the evening a member of the AV team will meet you at your accommodation to run through the tour, bikes and answer any questions you may have.

moreton3.png
Moreton1.png
moreton2.png

CYCLE DAY 1 - After a hearty breakfast you can check out from your accommodation and hit the road. Leave any luggage with reception and the AV team will collect and move to the next location. Todays ride is 40km as you head towards your days final destination of Bourton on the Water - you will visit the beautiful town of Chipping Camden and the lovely Broadway tower - the tower provides amazing views over 16 counties. You can climb the tower, visit the Nuclear Bunker or have a bite to eat in the café. There is a beautiful short circular walk around the tower where you are likely to see Deer roaming. After leaving Broadway you head towards Stow on the Wold - At nearly 800ft, Stow is the highest of the Cotswold towns, located on the Roman Fosse Way and at the point where several roads meet. The Market Square is large and impressive and testifies to the town’s former importance.

 

The town is surrounded by town houses, independent shops, antique centres, cosy cafes and inns all built in the mellow local stone, and it has been the focus of town life over many centuries, with the medieval market stocks at one end, the ancient market cross at the other and the impressive St Edwards Hall standing in the centre. While in Stow you may want to look for the magical Yew Tree which is said to have inspired J.R.R Tolkien and the Doors of Durin in Lord of the rings.

stow.png

As you leave Stow you then pass through the beautiful Lower Slaughter with its lovely watermill. You will next arrive in Bourton on the Water. Bourton on the Water is the Venice of the Cotswolds with waterways running through the streets. You will be spending the night here in a beautiful 4 star Guest House within the centre of the town on a bed and breakfast basis. Interesting things to do while in Bourton include visiting Birdland Park and Gardens - home to a number of exotic birds. The model village a 1/9th scale replica of the village or the Cotswold Motoring museum.

bourton2.png
Evenlode.jpg
Bourton on the water.jpg

CYCLE DAY 2 - Todays ride takes you from Bourton on the water to the beautiful town of Fairford - covering 40km. On the way you will pass through villages such as Windrush and Sherborne, Little Barrington and Burford. Burford’s famous High Street sweeps downhill towards the River Windrush, its three-arched medieval bridge and its impressive church, both sides of the street flanked by an unbroken line of ancient houses and shops. Little has changed over the centuries, Burford is popular with visitors, both for its beauty and history but also for its shopping, especially antiques, and for the wide variety of places to eat, with restaurants, pubs and teashops. Here you can stay in a hotel frequented by King Charles and Nell Gwynn, dine where Nelson dined or visit England’s oldest pharmacy, a chemists since 1734. Half way down the hill, the 16th century Tolsey building, once the meeting place for medieval merchants, now houses The Tolsey Museum, a delightful, local museum illustrating the town's social and industrial past.

misc.png
Burford.jpg
bull fairford.png

After leaving Burford you will follow a beautiful tree lined road out to Westwell and then onto Filkins. Here you can visit the Cotswold Woollen Weavers -Cotswold Woollen Weavers has been in Filkins designing and making fine woollen cloth since 1982. They live and breathe the wool heritage that made the English Cotswolds, and draw their inspiration from the soft colours of the Cotswold landscape all around. There is a museum to explore, a shopping emporium and café for lunch. You can look at the weavers machinery and learn about the history of Cotswold weavers.

​

As you leave Filkins you will start to head towards the Coln River Valley, passing through Southrop before arriving at the nights destination of Fairford - The town sits on a lovely stretch of the River Coln and owes its fortune to its location - an important coaching town on the old London to Gloucester route. Some of the inns and hotels are reminders of this by gone era. Fairford is famous for its parish church, St Mary’s, which is a fine 'wool church' with a complete set of 28 medieval stained glass windows that tell the story of the Bible. The town has a regular traditional market every Wednesday. Fairford has many beautiful walks along the River Coln including to the Old Mill or the Eastern Cotswold Water park. Tonight you are staying in a 4* Hotel - a grade 2 listed coaching Inn situated in Fairford town square. The hotel has its own restaurant and traditional pub serving local craft beers, wines and spirits. A full English breakfast is served daily!

​

bull fairford 3.png
bull fairford 2.png

CYCLE DAY 3 - Todays route is 37km taking you from Fairford to Frampton Mansell in the Golden Valley. You will pass through Quinington and Coln St Aldwyns before reaching the famous village of Bibury - Bibury is charming and typically Cotswold. William Morris called Bibury ‘The most beautiful village in England’ – wonderful stone buildings strung out along the banks of the River Coln. Arlington Row, owned by the National Trust, is one of England’s most iconic and photographed sites – it even appears on the inside cover of UK passports! Originally built in the 14th century as a monastic wool store, it was converted in the 17th century into a row of weavers’ cottages. The River Coln flows through Bibury sandwiched between the main village street and an expanse of boggy water meadow known as Rack Isle, so called because wool was once hung out to dry there on racks after it had been washed in Arlington Row Other attractions in Bibury include: Bibury Trout Farm, one of the oldest and most attractive trout farms in the country covering almost 15 acres, where you can learn about trout or even catch your own dinner.

bIBURY RIVER.jpg
IMG_1360.JPG

​

After exploring Bibury you will pass through the idyllic villages of Ablington, Winson and Coln Rogers before heading towards North Cerney. Here is an ideal rest spot at the beautiful Bathurst Arms on the River Coln. While in North Cerney you may wish to visit the Cerney House Gardens - Cerney House Gardens is a romantic, secret place in the Cotswolds. The gardens are part of the home of the Angus family. Set around a Victorian walled garden, the gardens are described by Country Living as "what most people aspire to in their gardens – and few achieve".

 

From North Cerney you head towards the Golden valley and your nights accommodation in Frampton Mansell. Tonight's accommodation is A seventeenth century ‘cider house’ that is steeped in history and is, quite simply, a perfect village pub......

Roaring log fires; delicious, traditional, home-cooked food; fine, locally brewed real ales; a stunningly beautiful building dating from 1633 and of course, great company.

CYCLE DAY 4 - Todays route takes you 45km from Frampton Mansell to the Capital of the Cotswolds - Cirencester. You will leave Frampton Mansell and follow country lanes to Tetbury - Tetbury is a Cotswold town of great architectural interest. It remains substantially the same as it was in the 16th and 17th centuries when it reached the height of its prosperity as a wool town.

 

The picturesque Market House in the town centre of Tetbury is an immediate reminder of the history of the town. Built in 1655 and supported on three rows of bulging stone pillars, it was designed for the sale of wool and yarn. These days the small marketplace is still the focal point of Tetbury, hosting farmers markets and other events. A walk down the old Chipping Steps and round into Gumstool Hill ( The town holds wool sack races on the very steep hill) will reveal another part of Tetbury's history, with 17th century weaver's cottages.

After leaving Tetbury you continue on towards Cirencester passing through Long Newton, Crudwell and Oaksey before arriving into the Cotswold Water park - The Waterpark is made up of 185 different lakes with a number of activities available - from lake side walks, to jet skiing, Paddle Boarding and canoeing. There are also a number of cafes and bistro restaurants in the area. From the Water Park you are now a very short distance to your final destination. Passing through South Cerney, Siddington and into Cirencester.

Cirencester, known as the Capital of the Cotswolds, is a lovely market town with a fascinating history where you will receive a warm welcome. In Roman times, Cirencester, known as ‘Corinium Dobunnorum’, was the second largest town only to London. During the 6th century fortunes changed, the Saxons destroyed the town and it was renamed ‘Coryn Ceasre’. It became a very prosperous wool town in the medieval period, which is the basis for the charming town with ancient honey coloured stone buildings in picturesque narrow streets that you can visit today. Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, Cirencester is a great town to visit a vast array of places to visit including parks and museums, shops and boutiques as well as the Corn Hall full of crafts and treasures. The New Brewery arts is an important centre for crafts with an art gallery, a craft shop and makers studios it makes for an interesting visit. The Roman Amphitheatre can also be found within walking distance to the centre. Tonight's accommodation is quietly situated in one of Cirencester’s oldest streets, this delightful, privately owned hotel and restaurant is just 5 minutes’ walk from the town centre. The Hotel dates back to the 16th century and provides 15 individual bedrooms. Each room has its own character and a locally renowned restaurant and cosy bar that is full of Cotswold charm. The attractive walled garden provides a lovely place to relax in during the summer months whilst enjoying an alfresco meal and drink. During the afternoon/evening an AV team member will come and collect the bikes and debrief with you to make sure your trip has been a success.

WHATS INCLUDED!

  • 5 nights accommodation for 2 people 

  • Breakfast each morning

  • Luggage transfer between accommodation

  • 4 days of cycling

  • 4 days bike hire ( including drop of and collection)

  • Support before and during the tour via phone and email

  • Recovery for extreme mechanical failure

  • Detailed guide to each destination including places to eat and visit.

  • GPX files of all routes to follow

  • Head unit to follow the routes.

​

Price starts from £700pp based on two people sharing a twin or double room. Single rooms are available at a supplement. Extra nights accommodation before or after your tour can also be organised.

​

Self guided tours are organised at a date to suit yourself - Please press contact and include the dates you require and which tour you are interested in. As with all our tours they are Bespoke and route changes can be made.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Additional accommodation before or after your tour.

  • GPX units containing the routes

  • Reservations/tickets for local attractions and restaurants

  • Adventure Velo jerseys and t-shirts (pre order before your tour)

  • Cycle guide to accompany your on your trip.

  • ​

NB - we can also provide the same tour using your own bikes and without luggage transfer.

bottom of page