England

The beautiful pastoral vistas that we biked each day were everything I had hoped for in this vacation. All the sheep, rolling hills, moors, everything was just breathtaking. In addition, I felt we got to see and understand the history of this region of England and Scotland. As for the actual biking, the hills could be intense so I would definitely recommend an e-bike which our kind leaders secured for me halfway through the trip.

Wonderful views. Lots of climbs - highly recommend using an e-bike, unless you’re 20! Conor and Nick curated an excellent way to bike in northern England, into Scotland.

My husband and I highly recommend the bicycling tour of England, Bath and the Cotswolds hosted by VBT. Our guides were brilliant, very knowledgeable of the area history, and especially mindful of all the nuances of our gorgeous route. We were safe, well cared for, and informed. Hattie, a champion cyclist, not only was a great coach of e-bike techniques, but also able to repair bikes on site if needed. Jago was brilliant with stories, history, and nuggets of interesting information as well as funny jokes. Hotels were comfortable and food provided was over the top! We certainly missed all the three course meals once back in the states. The tour included lots of must sees, including the Downton Abbey mile, tickets to Blenheim Palace and the Roman Baths. We recommend an e-bike for most enjoyment for those 60+ years old. The rolling hills of the Cotswolds are stunning!

Every detail of this trip was well thought out, perfectly planned and expertly, as well as thoughtfully led by Dan and Hattie, who live in the area. Their connection to the Cotswolds personalized this trip in ways that would not have been possible without their guidance. VBT organizes their trips with an emphasis on interesting, varied and challenging routes, as well as as focusing on the cultural traditions and history of the area. Ending this trip in Bath, with its 2000+ years of Roman history was incredible, and was the perfect contrast to the English countryside. The accommodations, as well as the dining experiences, were first rate in every location we stayed, charming and indicative of the history of the area and people who live there. This trip exceeded every expectation I had. Dan and Hattie were skilled, knowledgeable and most of all genuine in their concern for each of us in the group and making this trip a lifetime memory. Again, thanks to them both for their sharing their home with us in so many meaningful ways.

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.

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.