Great West Way & Cotswolds Ride
Great West Way & Cotswolds Ride
Great West Way & Cotswolds Ride
6 Days Starting and ending in Newbury
Visiting: England, United Kingdom, Cotswolds
Tour operator:
Tour code:
MGC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 16
Physical rating:
Moderate
Age range:
16 to
Trip Styles:
Tour Overview
The River Avon, Bath, and the Cotswolds. Three beacons of quintessential Englishness. The Avon River has been at the heart of English life in the south for centuries, leading to the establishment of great cities such as Bristol, and of course, Bath, whose very name indicates its long and rich history.On this trip we cycle along the Kennet and Avon Canal, built over 200 years ago to provide safe and efficient travel between London and Bath.We also cycle along part of the Great West Way®, a tourism route that joins up many of England’s iconic destinations and attractions along a corridor west of London through to Bristol, based on one of the first Great Roads commissioned by the Kings of England. Though far from flat, the Cotswolds offer a wonderful mix of beautiful villages, little changed for years, verdant countryside and of course some fantastic authentic pubs.The breadth of history, landscapes and cultures packed into this week shows just how much you can see when you know where you are going, or in this case, are with someone who does!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Starting From Newbury Railway Station, We Get On Our Bikes And Head Out Into The Countryside.
Meals Included: breakfast
Starting from Newbury railway station, we get on our bikes and head out into
the countryside. Before long we join the path along the Kennet and Avon
canal, for so long a vital artery for trade.After a tranquil stretch by the
water, we take the beautifully named Honey street and join the quiet roads in
the surrounding areas. Lunch is taken by the canal in an old pub at Crofton
before finishing the ride and heading to our hotel for the night via
Avebury and its huge stone circle, where unlike Stonehenge you can get up
close and personal with the 40-tonne monoliths!Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 : Today We Make Our Way Back To The Canal L For A Wonderful Ride, Down The Caen Flight. The Name Given To 22 Consecutive Locks Over A One-Mile Stretch, A Real Feat Of Engineering.
Meals Included: breakfast
Of the many characteristic features of the UK canal system, locks are perhaps
the most ingenious. Today we make our way back to the canal l for a wonderful
ride, starting down the Caen flight. The name given to 22 consecutive locks
over a one-mile stretch, a real feat of engineering. We bike alongside the
boats, stopping at the pubs and soaking up the atmosphere as the landscape
slowly passes by. Keeping with the theme of impressively engineered
constructions, we pass over the majestic Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts
before finishing the ride for the day in Bath. Though we stay a little
outside the city, we should have time to explore. Among the many highlights
are the Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent and Jane Austen’s house. Overall,
the going is flat, despite all the locks, though there is one climb at the
end of the day worth noting, just over 1km at an average of 6%, perfectly
manageable when taken at a modest pace.Accommodation: Hotel
Day 3 : We Ride All The Way Into Bristol Via A Disused Railway Line. Rest Assured The Line Has Been Well Adapted For Cyclists, So Leaves On The Line Will Not Be An Issue.
Meals Included: breakfast
We ride all the way into Bristol via a disused railway line. Rest assured the
line has been well adapted for cyclists, so leaves on the line will not be an
issue. After a short sharp climb early on we will set our sights on Bristol,
which as anyone who has visited will know is not flat. Much of the day will
be relatively gentle with one short last blast up as we approach the city
itself. Once there we can visit some of the historical sites, maybe a craft
brewery or go on the Banksy trail. There is also the option to extend the
ride through newly renovated railway tunnels and a loop back via the Kennet
and Avon Canal.Accommodation: Hotel
Day 4 : Fittingly We Head Out Of Bath Via A 2000-Year-Old Roman Road, Heading Up The Hill To The Cotswolds To Enjoy An Atmospheric Ride Through The Countryside And Villages.
Meals Included: breakfast
Heading up the hill from Bath we depart the Great West Way® and head to
the Cotswolds. The ride is shorter than the previous day, and lunch will be
taken in Tetbury, near Prince Charles’ house and gardens at Highgrove.
There is also the option to visit the national arboretum at Westonbirt before
arriving at our hotel for the night on the side of the beautiful
Minchinhampton Common.Accommodation: Hotel
Day 5 : We Head Into The Cotswolds On Our Longest Ride Of The Week For A Delightful Jaunt Through Countryside Worthy Of Any Postcard.
Meals Included: breakfast
We head into the Cotswolds on our longest ride of the week for a delightful
jaunt through countryside worthy of any postcard. On our route we discover
gorgeously traditional villages, including the world-famous Bibury, one of
the many local villages to be mentioned in the Doomsday Book. We stop for
lunch and a drink in the wonderful Bell at Sapperton, known for its fantastic
food and drink selection. We return to the hotel for the night our final
meal together in the hotel, the Bear of Rodborough. Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6 : After Breakfast We Head To Kemble Station For On-Going Travel Or Take Guests Back To Newbury Railways Station To Collect Cars.
Meals Included: breakfast
After breakfast we head to Kemble station for on-going travel or take guests
back to Newbury railways station to collect cars.
What's Included
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All breakfasts
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All accommodation
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Luggage transfers throughout week
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Meals
6 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 0 dinners.
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All breakfastsAll accommodationLuggage transfers throughout week
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Visa and vaccinations
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Single supplement (available on request and subject to availability)
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Bike hire (optional extra if you do not wish to bring your own)
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Travel insuranceVisa and vaccinationsSingle supplement (available on request and subject to availability)Bike hire (optional extra if you do not wish to bring your own)
Food
All breakfasts are included.Lunches can be purchased from local bakeries, cafes, and supermarkets, which will offer you the opportunity to sample local specialities. We might also stop in pubs or cafes along the way.Dinners will be taken at accommodations we stay at or traditional local pubs along the way.
Accommodation
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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