Oxford to Bath Cycle

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Days of Cycling

Terrain:

The cycling mainly follows quiet country roads and tarmac roads. The terrain is mainly flat.

Day by day breakdown

Day 237.0km/23.5miles

Day 340.0km/25.0miles

Day 450.0km/31.5miles

Day 534.0km/21.5miles

Day 628.0km/17.5miles

Day 732.0km/20.0miles

Day 849.0km/31.0miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

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Oxford

Bath

Day 1
Arrive in Oxford
Arrive in Oxford. Visit some of the treasures of the city from the Bodleian Library to the Ashmolean.
Staying overnight at Oxford Coach & Horses or similar
Day 2
Oxford to Woodstock
Follow the canal out of Oxford with pubs and tea shops available for a pit-stop. Leave the canal and visit Rousham Gardens, designed by William Kent in the 18th Century which remains much as he left it. Continue on to Woodstock and time permitting visit Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Stay overnight at The Blenheim Buttery or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3
Woodstock to Burford
Leave Woodstock through Blenheim Park with another opportunity to visit the Palace and Gardens. Follow country lanes through farmland and visit picturesque villages like Minster Lovell and Swinbrook on the way to Burford, known for its its three-arched medieval bridge.
Stay overnight at The Angel Inn or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4
Burford to Bibury
Follow the River Windrush towards Sherborne with a chance to visit the National Trusts' Sherborne Park Estate before continuing to Northleach where you can find half-timbered buildings and merchants' houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. There are two short detours off the main route to visit Chedworth Roman Villa and North Cerney Gardens before turning towards Bibury and follow the River Coln into this beautiful village.
Stay overnight at Cotteswold House B&B or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5
Bibury to Cirencester
The route goes to Cricklade via Fairford, known for its fine 'wool' church and once an important coaching town, and then turns toward Cirencester and follows a cycle route through the lakes, near the Thames Path. Cirencester, the 'capital of the Cotswolds' has many attractions including the Corinium Museum, dedicated to the city's Roman history and the Abbey grounds, site of St Mary's Abbey.
Stay overnight at The Old Brewhouse or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6
Cirencester to Tetbury
Today the route is shorter allowing time for visiting one (or more) of three spectacular Estates. Rodmarton Manor (open Wednesdays and Saturdays) is a unique 20th Century Arts and Crafts Manor with an 8 acre Cotswold garden; Chavenage House (open Thursdays and Sundays) is an Elizabethan house of mellow grey Cotswold stone and was used in the Poldark series as 'Trenwith', the Poldark family home. After arriving in Tetbury it is also possible to go by taxi (pay locally) to Highgrove Royal Gardens, the private residence of HRH The Prince of Wales. (Early booking essential).
Stay overnight at The Royal Oak or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7
Tetbury to Castle Combe
A short cycle ride takes you to Westonbirt Arboretum, the National Arboretum has one of the most beautiful and important plant collections in the world. Continue through the village of Sherston and on to the picturesque village of Castle Combe.
Stay overnight at Castle Inn or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8
Castle Combe to Bath
Today there is a choice of a longer or shorter route - the shorter option is a direct route into Bath allowing more time exploring the city. The longer route is an exciting ride through the villages of Biddeston and Lacock. The route turns onto the cycle path by the canal at Semington and follows it all the way into Bath via Bradford-on-Avon.
Stay overnight at Hill House or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9
Leave Bath
Depart Bath after breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

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shutterstock_200919887 Bibury

shutterstock_515484712 Kennet and Avon canal

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Essential Info

Visas

United Kingdom

UK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies.

For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers

Vaccinations

United Kingdom

No vaccinations are obligatory.

Eating and Drinking

Enjoy the local cuisine in quintessentially British pubs, cafes and delicatessens - local delicacies include Cerney Ash or Stinking Bishop cheeses, Crackleberry Farm eggs, Cotswold Cream liqueur and the local ales - try the Yubby beer from the Yubberton Brewery Co. There's also the archetypal English Cream Teas that go down a treat with a nice hot cup of tea!

Weather

The Cotswolds has a temperate maritime climate with warm, rather than hot, summers and cool to cold winters. The hottest month, on average, is July and the coldest is January with rain falling fairly evenly throughout the year. The weather is unpredictable as with the rest of the UK and it is possible to see elements of all four seasons in one day. It is advisable for visitors to check the weather forecast before they arrive in the Cotswolds to get a better idea of the sort of clothing they will need during their trip. Bringing hooded waterproof coats and hats will ensure visitors are prepared for any spells of wind and rain the region may experience.
Spring: The climate is milder in spring making it a good time to visit the Cotswolds. There can be some great sunny days mixed with cooler and wet weather. From March to May the average daytime temperatures are between 9°C and 17°C.
Summer: Most days in summer range from mild to warm with the possibility of some infrequent hotter days, the days are at their longest in the summer. There may be overcast and humid conditions in the summer. From June to August the average daytime temperatures are between 19°C and 22°C.
Autumn: The climate can vary from some pleasantly mild days particularly at the start of September to cooler and colder days in October and November. Autumn is a good time to visit the Cotswolds as it avoids the peak summer season whilst enjoying milder temperatures and longer hours of daylight particularly at the start of September. Visitors can see some wonderful autumn colours. From September to November the average daytime temperatures are between 9°C and 19°C.

Is this trip for you?

Cycling Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
Average daily distance: 34km (21 miles).
No. of days cycling: 7
Terrain and route: The cycling mainly follows quiet country roads and tarmac roads. The terrain is mainly flat.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. Your bikes will be delivered to the start hotel, all set up relevant to your height and ready to go. Our local agent will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes into larger towns and cities.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Families
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. We have suggested that 12yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each day's cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. However, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities. Please consider the weather when choosing to book, temperatures can be high in the middle of summer.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Accommodation

Hotels

OXFORD COACH AND HORSES, OXFORD
3 Star
Just a 10-minute walk from Oxford City centre, the Oxford Coach & Horses is built on the site of an old coaching inn dating from the 18th Century, said to be the last in Oxford before the road to London. Rooms are modern and comfortable.

BLENHEIM BUTTERY. WOODSTOCK
4 Star
Based in the centre of Woodstock, the 17th Century building houses 6 ensuite rooms and the breakfast room overlooks the market square.

THE ANGEL INN, BURFORD
4 Star
The Angel at Burford has been run by The King family since 2011 and is loved by both visitors and locals for it’s blend of Cotswold charm, delicious food and drink and a warm, friendly welcome. The rooms are modern, comfortable and furnished in a relaxed and cosy Cotswold style.

COTTESWOLD HOUSE, BIBURY
3 Star
Cotteswold House offers well appointed bed & breakfast and self-catering accommodation. Furnished to a high standard of quality and comfort, you can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome. Set in Bibury, described as the most beautiful village in England, Cotteswold House is an ideal location for touring the Cotswolds.

THE OLD BREWHOUSE, CIRENCESTER
4 Star
The Old Brewhouse in Cirencester is a delightful 17th Century town house bed and breakfast full of charm and character, sympathetically restored and refurbished offering high quality bed and breakfast accommodation.

THE ROYAL OAK, TETBURY
4 Star
The Royal Oak Tetbury is a charming and friendly public house dating from the late 18th century and restored back to the community in 2013 following extensive restoration. Rooms are modern, comfortable and well equipped.

CASTLE INN, CASTLE COMBE
4 Star
The Castle Inn is a 12th century inn located in the heart of Castle Combe which has been lovingly restored to offer you a classic Cotswolds pub and B&B. It has had an extensive and considerate restoration to preserve, yet enhance, the charm of this beautiful historic building.

APPLE TREE GUESSTHOUSE, BATH
5 Star
Apple Tree Guesthouse is a Victorian property in the centre of Bath. All rooms are individually themed with an elegant blend of English and Asian artwork where East meets West, fresh cotton bedlinen and modern facilities.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

See all experts

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.