England

This is one of VBT’s best tours. The routes were amazing. They were equal parts challenging, scenic and interesting. The road conditions were great as well. The guides were just phenomenal.

The road surface was pretty good. A bit of a challenge biking on narrow roads with traffic. The political climate separated the bikers early in the trip which negatively impacted my enjoyment of the adventure. The electric bikes were a good idea for myself and my husband to use. I wish all the hotels had in room air conditioning units. Loved the small towns and the food was very delicious.

Our first trip with VBT was incredible! The process was seamless from booking our trip to our ride home to the airport. Every detail covered. Our guides, Jago and Hattie have set the bar high! They were both so delightful to be around. Jago, with his incredible plethora of history and information made this trip so much more than a bike trip. Hattie, with her amazing ability to fix a chain or change a flat tire… all whilst smiling from ear to ear…. The personal touches, like making and serving us Marmite sandwiches, dressing up in silly Roman costumes, and entertaining us with a memorable poem capturing the events of the week. Truly the best! Our accommodations had so much history oozing out the walls, it was breathtaking! A wonderful trip indeed!!

We chose to travel to England for the history, the quaint villages, and the beautiful pastures filled with sheep. We sure got all of that, but what we didn’t know is that the region is truly a road-cyclist’s dream! Paved and quiet country lanes over rolling hills—it felt as though we were on extended bike paths. Our leaders had a keen eye on safety and were supportive and present at every tricky turn. I can’t recommend this destination and this trip enough. The Cotswolds will transport you back in time and ignite your imagination. VBT knows how to play ball and they hit it out of the part with this one!

My husband and I did this self-guided tour in early September and absolutely loved it. Country Walkers did an impeccable job taking care of every detail--booking hotels, moving our suitcases between hotels, and, best of all, the "route notes" book was so detailed and had everything we needed from step-by-step directions and restaurant suggestions to history and ideas for things to do. It felt like a wonderful adventure following the famous paths through sheep pastures and little forest thickets, past gardens and ancient churches, and climbing over or around all the different gates. It was often overcast and misty in the mornings, but the mid-day sun burned it all away. Our highlights are choosing to stop for an hour to check out the Hailes Abbey Museum and rubbing elbows with some locals at the only pub in a tiny village. So many great memories! We liked the intimate experience of doing a self-guided trip and the independence (without the planning!) that it provided. We spent some extra days in London at the end of our trip...that was just icing on the cake.

What a fantastic trip this was. This was my 6th time going to England, but my first for the Cotswold region and what an extraordinary time it was. The food was fantastic, everywhere you looked the views were spectacular. It was fantastic trip which I would do again in a heart beat.