Cotswolds Bike Tour

English Cottage Country: From Oxford to Rural Roads and Verdant Views

5 days / 4 nights Level: 2Price From: $5,995Collection: Classic

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the English countryside by bicycle, discovering quirky market towns, rivers framed in gorgeous greenery, and honey-colored cottages
  • Take a step back in time at pristine parklands, visit the ruins of Chedworth Roman Villa, and relive royal history at Sudeley Castle
  • Sip a pint in a classic English pub and taste English-made wines at Woodchester Valley estate and vineyards
  • Enjoy a fine dining experience that celebrates British farms and artisan producers at a modern inn and restaurant

Eat

Ploughman’s lunch featuring single Gloucester cheese and Tewkesbury mustard, freshly-caught smoked Bibury trout, Stinking Bishop cheese and cottage jams slathered on Hobbs House bread, and Daylesford Farm-fresh produce

Drink

Freshly pulled pints of English microbrews, dry gin, and smooth single malt whisky

As featured in:
Print Itinerary
  • Day 1

    Oxford to the Cotswolds

    Meet your guides in the charming university town of Oxford. Our journey begins with a brief transfer to the 800-square-mile area in the South of England that comprises the Cotswolds: spanning from Gloucestershire to Oxfordshire counties, the Cotswolds were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966. It’s easy to see why, with peaceful stands of beech trees and limestone bedrock forming a grassland habitat unlike elsewhere in the UK. After a welcome lunch, kick things off with our first short ride through the ancient market town of Wotton-under-Edge. Continue spinning to the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, a wooded parkland with an English café where we’ll stop for the essential “cuppa” and cake. Then, check in at our home for the next two nights—a traditional country house and spa in Gloucestershire. Settle in by the fireplace before a cozy dinner at the hotel’s brasserie.

    Meals: Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Oxford, Wotton-under-Edge, Westonbirt
    Accomplished: 23 miles / 37 km, elevation gain: 1,543 feet / 470 meters
    Accommodations: Calcot & Spa

  • Day 2

    Cottage Countryside Loop

    Today’s countryside loop follows quiet roads completely surrounded by the green expanse that’s so unique to the Cotswolds. Our first stop is Tetbury, a hilly market town where we’ll pause for coffee and a bit of a browse at the Highgrove shop, which retails sweet souvenirs and favorite products of His Majesty King Charles III. Then, ride north, covering miles of rolling countryside and passing the impressive Miserden Estate. Arrive in the peaceful village of Painswick for lunch, then pedal the rest of the way back to our hotel. Take the opportunity to stroll the gorgeous grounds or book a massage at the world-class spa before we transfer to the Woodchester Valley Vineyard. Taste a few well-earned glasses after a private tour at this boutique winery, which grows a selection of English varietals in a picturesque limestone valley. This evening, dine on your own at the hotel or in one of Tetbury’s many pubs.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
    Destinations: Tetbury, Miserden, Painswick, Stroud
    Accomplished: 41 miles/ 66 km; elevation gain: 2,700 feet / 821 meters
    Accommodations: Calcot & Spa

  • Day 3

    Cotswolds Classic

    The most iconic trait of the Cotswolds is its beautiful villages and towns built of pale-yellow Cotswold limestone—and today we plan to see as many as we can! Begin in the market town of Cirencester, and at lunchtime we’ll picnic in another quintessential Cotswold village outside Bibury. Afterward, ride to Bourton-on-the-Water, often called the Venice of the Cotswolds for the lovely footbridges that span the gentle River Windrush. There will be time to meander this pretty town and pop into a traditional pub to sample some of the local lagers. Continue pedaling to The Slaughters, the heart-achingly picturesque twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. Here, golden stone cottages are reflected in the meandering River Coln and bathed in beautiful light, treating us to some truly idyllic afternoon scenery.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Upper and Lower Slaughter
    Accomplished: 42 miles / 67 km, elevation gain: 1,920 feet / 585 meters
    Accommodations: Lords of the Manor Hotel

  • Day 4

    English History Ride

    Begin riding right from our hotel through an undulating landscape to Chedworth Roman Villa, a ruin of unusual grandeur dating back to the second century. After exploring the site, we’ll return to the rolling hills and follow them towards stately Sudeley Castle, just outside the lovely village of Winchcombe. Take a deep dive into the dramatic 1,000-year history of this estate, once home to Queen Katherine Parr—the last (and surviving) wife of King Henry VIII who lies in rest on castle grounds. Our route completes itself at the attractive village of Broadway—so picture-perfect that it’s widely known as the “Jewel of the Cotswolds.” Dine on your own for lunch and take the afternoon to explore this adorable town off the bike, perhaps sampling a locally distilled Cotswold gin or whisky before a short transfer returns us to our charming hotel. Tonight, we’re treated to the tasting menu at our hotel’s own Atrium restaurant, perhaps the most sophisticated example of fine dining in the Cotswolds.

    Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
    Destinations: Chedworth, Winchcombe, Broadway
    Accomplished: 35 miles / 57 km, elevation gain: 2,880 feet / 875 meters
    Accommodations: Lords of the Manor Hotel

  • Day 5

    Burford and The Windrush Valley

    Our last day also happens to be one of the most memorable: set out towards Burford and cycle past breezy fields, herds of cows, and grazing sheep as we once again follow the River Windrush. Heading north, we ride through Wychwood Forest before meandering beside the River Evenlode. Savor the tranquility of rural England and lean into your riding rhythm before we hit a final stretch through the countryside and villages. Our destination is the very special Wild Rabbit restaurant, where the chef uses organic ingredients from the inn’s cottage garden to prepare our lunch. Our meal is a work of art starring locally raised game, edible flowers, and seasonal vegetables harvested that very morning—the perfect high note on which to end our week together. After lunch, your driver will transfer you back to Oxford.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
    Destinations: Windrush, Oxford
    Accomplished: 27 miles / 44 km, elevation gain: 1,400 feet / 418 meters

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.



Arrival Details

Airport City: London, England Pick-Up Location: Oxford Train Station Pick-Up Time: 11:00 am
Departure Details

Airport City: London, England Drop-Off Location: Oxford Train Station Drop-Off Time: 4:00 pm

Any scheduled tour can be made private. Your group, your dates. Go Private

2024Single Supplement From: $1,325

See our cancellation policy

Weather by Month
Average Temperature + Precipitation

Average Temperature + Precipitation

Month
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
High (°F)
45°
47°
52°
58°
63°
69°
71°
68°
61°
54°
47°
45°
Low (°F)
35°
35°
38°
42°
48°
52°
54°
52°
48°
42°
37°
36°
Rain (in)
251
125
125
125
251
251
125
251
251
251
251
251

Accommodations

  • Thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region
  • Luggage transfers

Meals

  • Daily breakfasts, all lunches, nutritious snacks, and après velo cocktails
  • 3 gourmet dinners at our favorite local restaurants and renowned culinary establishments
  • Carefully selected local wine, beer, or spirits with every meal

Activities

  • Wine tastings and activities as outlined in the tour itinerary
  • Entrance fees to historic sites, museums, parks, and all other exclusive events
  • Gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service

Gear

  • Top-of-the-line bicycle selection
  • Bike helmet
  • Complimentary DuVine gear, including a custom cycling jersey, DuVine t-shirt, water bottle, and drawstring bag
  • GPS in most destinations

Support

  • Expert bilingual guides with extensive local knowledge
  • Support vehicle that follows the day’s route, distributes refreshments, and offers lifts
  • Pick-up and drop-off before and after your tour from predetermined meeting points
  • Daily bike maintenance to ensure optimal performance
NOT INCLUDED:
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

See our FAQs page for answers to common questions.

See FAQs

Domane AL5

Manufacturer: Trek

Type: Road

Verve+

Manufacturer: Trek

Type: E-Bike