England

One of VBT's most beautiful trips. The scenary was breathtaking. Our local stops for tea and lunch were really terrific and gave us insight to local communities. Our tour guides, Mick and Hattie, were terrific. This tour was more challenging than I had anticipated with some very steep and long rides, which I could not do. Our guides consulted with me each morning and if there was a climb I could not do I went in the van to the top and biked down. The real surprise was that we DID NOT have rain the entire time!!!

The leaders were exceptional and the riding and scenery were great. I loved every day, even when it was raining. My only complaint --and this is ongoing with VBT--is the hotels. I understand hotel rooms in Europe are not uniform but the variability on this trip was extrememe. Although Borrowdale Gates was charming the room we had was tiny, though with a lovely view. Hexham was a neat town, but again our room was tiny with the tiniest bathroom. In both of the above there wasn't enough room for both of us to open our suitcases at the same time. I understand others on the trip had great rooms at both locations so either you may want to secure more rooms that are similar in size and quality or stay somewhere else. The last hotel in Peeples was fine, but a bit old and tired. We did have a nicer room but the place could use an update.

Terrific trip in every way. Routes, guides, scenery, bikes, group,.....even the weather, and despite English food. VBT did everything right.

Really enjoyed our cycling trip through the Cotswolds. Our guides and cycling companions were fabulous. A better description of the road conditions and elevations would have been helpful. Roads were narrow and quite pocked with loose gravel in many places. Scenery was simply amazing!

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.