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.
England
UK bikers
Sidney, mi
England & Scotland: Lake District to Edinburgh
Quiet rolling routes
Excellent trip. Great routes every day; quiet roads between rural communities I went onto travel Scotland and highlands; beautiful but for biking I praise this VBT pkg for great views and terrains
CM Lincoln NE,
England & Scotland: Lake District to Edinburgh
The bar has been set…. high!!!
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!!
Hojpodge, Hudson OH
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
Cycling through the Cotswolds
We enjoyed a wonderful week of cycling through the Cotswolds across rolling countryside, past beautiful farmlands and pastures filled with grazing sheep, through charming villages and past stately manor houses. This was my first ebike experience and the hills warranted the pedal assist. I would rate this route as moderate as many on the climbs were quite challenging for those on a road bike. Queen Elizabeth had just passed, and our excellent and resourceful guides, Kate Edmond and Conor Murphy, rearranged our itinerary for the Queen’s national day of mourning, providing a delicious picnic on the banks of Bourton-on-the-Water. For afternoon tea break, we enjoyed the Queen’s favorite, Victoria sponge! Stops included Blenheim Palace, Hidcote Gardens, Bath Roman Baths, and sites of the filming of Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. Bookending the cycling trip with the pre-and post-trip option of Oxford and Bath is recommended.
Debby and Charlie, New York
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
A Fantastic Trip
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.
Tasha, Vermont
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
Cream Tea, Charming Gardens, Lovely Walks
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.
Ashlea, South Burlington, VT
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
VBT Bicycling Vacations
Country Walkers