England

This trip was so beautiful. As it was the first trip I have taken with VBT I did not know what to expect. It was above my expectations. Jago and Carolina were helpful and were always there for us. I would recommend VBT and the Northern England and Scotland trip.

Even though the weather was not ideal, it rained a couple days, the scenery was beautiful with lakes, mountains, rivers, stones fences and lots of sheep. Our guides were fantastic, upbeat and encouraging. Our accommodations were mostly top notch, especially the country inn in Keswick. I especially enjoyed the Roman ruins.

This was my 6th trip with VBT and once again they have the BEST tour guides. Conor and Mick were incredible. Knowledgeable, friendly and always there to assist with any issue. They each took the time to get to meet and know everyone on a personal level. We had great weather too. Only one day with a few sprinkles, otherwise in the high 50's and 60's. Scenic views every day of the rolling countryside. Lush fields, quiet villages and farm life blended with stops at Blenheim Palace, a farmers market and our final destination in Bath did not disappoint. Out of the group of 20, only three of us were on road bikes (which were great bikes by the way!). Unless you ride on a regular basis, some of the hills were a bit challenging. The accommodations were quaint, though sometimes a bit tight for two people. I was glad we were there in the Spring as most of rooms had no air conditioning. The meal choices were somewhat limited/standard at some of the Inns we stayed at, but we were able to make some requests to change things up. Don't be afraid to ask! All the staff at all the Inns were very friendly and helpful. Definitely go out and explore the local bakeries, pubs and markets. The food is incredible. So fresh. Yes, we tried all the local favorites (Steak & Ale Pie, Toad in the Hole, Gregg's sausage rolls, cream tea, blood pudding, etc.) and were not disappointed. Roads are a bit narrow at times but drivers are always courteous. We've already planned our next VBT trip!

The reasons we choose VBT are several but VBT's attention to detail is superb. Our accommodations were the best not only in location and ambiance but the staffs were most friendly and welcoming. Our tour guides were exceptional and very attentive to our safety and local knowledge. There were no negatives on our trip. In choosing VBT you cannot go wrong.

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.