Cycling in the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds National Landscape is a perfect cycling destination in England, with a network of quiet lanes, canal paths and bridleways threading through honey-coloured villages, rolling hills and some of the most picturesque countryside in the country.

This Cicerone guidebook covers 21 half and full-day cycle routes across the Cotswolds, ranging from 14 to 66km, alongside a 4-day 200km tour of the whole area. Routes are arranged in order of difficulty and primarily follow quiet lanes and off-road tracks, with road bike alternatives provided for most.

• Routes range from 14 to 66km (9 to 41 miles) and are arranged in order of difficulty, covering the full extent of the Cotswolds from Stratford-upon-Avon and Shipston-on-Stour in the north to Bath, Stroud and Malmesbury in the south
• All routes are suitable for hybrid or mountain bikes, with on-road alternatives provided for most; highlights include the Bradford-on-Avon via Bath Two Tunnels, Bourton-on-the-Water via the Slaughters, Bibury and Cleeve Hill
• The 4-day, 200km Tour of the Cotswolds is a complete circuit of the area in four stages, starting and finishing in Stroud and passing through Winchcombe, Stow-on-the-Wold and Cirencester
• Custom-drawn 1:100,000 maps are included for every route, alongside a route summary table with information on accommodation and cycle hire, and GPX files available to download
• An introduction covers the geology, history, wildlife, plants and flowers of the Cotswolds, alongside practical advice on bike maintenance, what to take and how to use the guide

A comprehensive guide to cycling in one of England's most beloved countryside landscapes, from short half-day loops to a full four-day circuit. Explore the Cotswolds from the saddle with ease.