Hello. I am looking for recommendations for a self guided cycling tour through the Cotswolds. Would love to hear about your experience!
Posted by
2404 posts
Try and avoid the ‘A’ roads as they can be very busy with fast traffic.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.9514618,-1.8413698,31414m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Biking in the UK means a motorbike. Do you mean this or cycling?
I have cycled in the Cotswolds, but not on a tour. I try to cycle on the National Cycle Network, which are deemed suitable for cyclists, where possible or take off road tracks such as former railway lines. I often find it safer travelling on busier roads, as the lanes are wider and straighter than winding, narrow country lanes where traffic driving too quickly can’t see you until it’s on top of you.
Lots of information is available at cotswoldsaonb.org.uk.
Posted by
96 posts
Try the forums on crazyguyonabike.com and cyclinguk websites as they are dedicated to cyclists.
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2400 posts
Posted by
stevens point, wi, usa
1189 posts
Hello from Wisconsin,
Beware of traffic on anything but the very back roads. It would be a lovely place to bicycle. As an ex-cyclist I lusted after the roads we drove with our car. It would have been great to bike the back roads of the Cotswolds. But even these back roads are narrow and and curvy and cars are remarkably quiet these days, so be careful.
The Cotswolds are so small, that you could start in Cirencester and make a large loop, with stays at several B&Bs. I really don' think it takes much planning. The countryside is beautiful. The number of wild pheasants drove me crazy. And the villages are great. The famous ones are crowded with people and the cars. The less known ones are just as nice but much less crowded.
Buy an OS Ordnance map of the area you want to visit. These are really detailed maps of the area and will give you every road that is open to public traffic plus some walking trails. It will also indicate many of the castles, prehistoric stone formations, and vistas.
wayne iNWI
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
81 posts
I've ridden 12 self-guided rides in Europe, though I have not done one in England or the UK.
I can recommend Pure-Adventures, who do an 8-day ride in the Cotswolds, which I have visited and thought was amazing. I've used P-A for rides in Spain and Italy and felt they did an excellent job.
https://pure-adventures.com/tour/england-cotswolds-bike-tour/