Two Centre: Cotswolds & Cornwall Cycling

Arrive in The Cotswolds or Cornwall (as preferred). Our recommendation is to start in Cheltenham. Stay overnight.  

A: Linear route from Cheltenham to Moreton-in-Marsh (Full route: 30 miles / 48 km | Short Route: 23 miles / 37 km)  

Our team will meet your clients at their hotel at 9.30am (unless otherwise arranged) with the bikes and tour pack, ready to start the day. The day begins with a short transfer from Cheltenham to the start of the route in The Cotswolds to begin the ride to Moreton-in-Marsh. Ride through a selection of local Cotswold villages past picture postcard views to the delightful village of Snowshill, before continuing your journey to Moreton. On the way, take in the delightful Manor House at Snowshill and explore its wonderful collection of historic artefacts. Then say hello to the traditional farm breeds at The Cotswold Wildlife Park or visit the Indian architecture of Sezincote House. 

Stay overnight in Moreton-in-Marsh. Luggage will be transferred. 

B: Circular route from Moreton-in-Marsh (Full route: 25 miles / 40 km | Short route: 18 miles / 29 km)  

Enjoy a lovely circular route that allows you to explore the area surrounding Moreton. This route gives you the opportunity to see the gardens at Hidcote Manor or Kiftsgate Court before enjoying lunch in one of the charming Cotswold villages in the vicinity. 

Stay overnight in Moreton-in-Marsh. No luggage transfer required.  

C: Linear route from Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water (Full route: 25.5 miles / 41 km | Short route: 18 miles / 29 km) 

Cycling past the River Evenlode, day four will take you from Moreton in Marsh to Bourton on the Water via traditional Cotswold villages such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Upper Slaughter. Bourton-on-the-Water offers a unique country experience, with a range of attractions providing something for everyone. 

Stay overnight in Bourton-on-the-Water. Luggage will be transferred.  

D: Circular route from Bourton-on-the-Water (Full route: 33 miles / 53 km | Short route: 21 miles / 33 km)  

This circular route allows you to cycle and explore the countryside and villages surrounding Bourton on the Water, including beautiful examples of 17th and 18th century architecture. 

Stay overnight in Bourton-on-the-Water. No luggage transfer required. 

E: Linear route from Bourton-on-the-Water to Cirencester (Full route: 25 miles / 40 km | No short route) 

This cycle route includes a visit to Northleach, an old market town, and Bibury, the most beautiful village in England according to artist William Morris, before continuing on to the old market town of Cirencester. 

OR 

Please note, on the four, five- or six-night tour, this route is replaced with a direct route to Cheltenham.  

Stay overnight in Cirencester or Cheltenham. Luggage will be transferred.  

F: Circular route from Cirencester (Full route: 31 miles / 49 km | Short route: 21 miles / 33 km)  

Cycle the circular route in and around Cirencester and visit the village of Daglingworth, much of which is owned by Prince Charles. 

Stay overnight in Cirencester. No luggage transfer required 

G: Linear route from Cirencester to Cheltenham (Full route: 24 miles / 38 km | No Short Route) 

Cycle from Cirencester to Cheltenham and visit many of the pretty Cotswold Villages. Don’t forget to visit the Roman Villa at Chedworth! This is the most complete villa in Britain with mosaic floors, bath houses and heating system all on display in their original settings. There is also a collection of artefacts in the museum and an interesting visitor centre. 

Stay overnight in Cheltenham. Luggage will be transferred.  

H: Circular route from Cheltenham via Stanton (Full route: 32 miles / 51km | Short Route: 21 miles / 34km) 

Enjoy a circular route from Cheltenham and take in a number of Cotswold villages including Stanton also known as 'the perfect village', Stanway with its romantic manor houses and Winchcombe, with the historic Sudeley Castle where Katherine Parr is buried. Please note, that for tours with two people or less, if the trains are running, this day will start with a heritage steam train ride to Broadway in the morning. On days when the trains aren’t running, or if there are more than two clients, then the route changes slightly to enable full cycling. Trains run throughout the summer, every day except Monday and Friday at the moment.  

Stay overnight in Cheltenham. No luggage transfer required.  

I: Circular route from Cheltenham via Tewkesbury (Full route: 37 miles / 59 km | Middle Route: 28 miles / 45km | Short Route: 18 miles / 29km) 

Starting with a ride through Cheltenham, this route takes you via a number of tiny villages to the Medieval town of Tewksbury. Famous for its Abbey, Tewkesbury has a gorgeous community feel with original period architecture at the junction between the River Severn and the River Avon. Return to Cheltenham via Prestbury and the historic Pittville Pump Rooms in Cheltenham. 

Stay overnight in Cheltenham. No luggage transfer required. 

Travel to Truro or Penzance by car or train (Transport not included) 

(The following routing showcases the journey from Truro) 

J: Circuit from Truro (Full route: 29 miles / 47km | Short Route: 19 miles / 31km) 

Today’s route takes you from Truro via the Roseland Peninsula, taking in the best of the local landscape. It uses mostly country lanes and cycle paths once you have left Truro and is a peaceful day’s riding. This is the most challenging route of the trip with a lot of hills, but a shortcut has been provided if you need it. The full route is hillier than the shortcut, but worth it to see the truly spectacular scenery in the local area. Please note, the trip includes a transfer via King Harry’s Ferry, which costs £1.50 per person and is payable locally.  

Overnight in Truro. No luggage transfer required. 

K: Linear route from Truro to Helston (Full route: 30.5 miles / 49km | Short Route: 23 miles / 37km)  

Traversing between Truro and Helston for your next overnight, this route takes you past the old tin mine at Wheal Jane to Penryn, once the main port in this area, where you’ll find its heritage displayed in some fine architecture from Tudor to Georgian and in a small museum. Continue down the coast to Falmouth, a busy pleasant town where the atmosphere is flavoured by the salt sea air. Here you can visit several exotic gardens, a Maritime Museum and some pleasant beaches. Impressive fortifications of Henry VIII’s Pendennis Castle still dominate the headland. Continue past more subtropical gardens to Gweek on the Helford Creek, the home of the National Seal Sanctuary where they rescue injured seal pups from local beaches and also care for other abandoned sea mammals. The terrain is not as tough as the circuit from Truro, but there are still some steep climbs out of Truro and around Falmouth, Constantine and Gweek. 

Overnight in Helston. Luggage will be transferred.  

L: Circuit from Helston (Full route: 35 miles / 38km | Short Route: 24 miles / 56km) 

Explore the west coast of Cornwall through the delightful Church Cove to Mullion from where you can continue all the way down to Lizard, the most southerly point of the British mainland. This also takes you to Kynance Cove where the combination of the rare serpentine rock and the powerful sea has produced amazing beaches with cliffs, caves and islands. Next cross Goonhilly Downs where the underlying serpentine rock gives the area most of its special characteristics. The soil it produces is the ideal habitat for the Cornish Heath that is almost unique to this area.  It supports rare wildlife including the hen harrier and short-eared owl and is also the home of a satellite tracking station.   

Overnight in Helston. No luggage transfer required. 

M: Linear route from Helston to Penzance (Full route: 18 miles / 29km | No Short Route) 

Leaving Helston, continue to Porthleven which for many years the local centre for boat building and is still a working fishing port. Then follow the coast west to Praa Sands, this mile-long sweep of sand is renowned as one of Cornwall’s finest family beaches and is very popular with surfers. Further on is one of Cornwall's most famous landmarks, St. Michael’s Mount, a little island community that can be reached by causeway at low tide. 

Overnight in Penzance. Luggage will be transferred. 

N: Circuit from Penzance (Full Route: 28 miles / 45km | Short Route: 18 miles / 29km)  

The circuit from Penzance takes you out to Newlyn - England’s busiest fishing port. The local scenery inspired the Newlyn School of artists and their legacy can be seen in museums and galleries around the town. Continue through narrow streets past little Mousehole harbour and over to the pretty, sheltered Lamorna Cove, a lovely spot for a swim. Pass the Merry Maidens, a Bronze Age stone circle that stands amidst a remarkable concentration of ancient Celtic standing stones to Lands’ End, where the road stops and you can enjoy a variety of entertainments and attractions.   

Overnight in Penzance. No luggage transfer required. 

O: Linear Route from Penzance to Truro (Full route: 32 miles / 52km | No Short Route) 

Leave Penzance and ride to the north coast where the mudflats of the River Hayle are a rich habitat for wading birds. Follow the coast road past miles of sand dunes then above rugged cliffs with spectacular views of the Atlantic. Explore a woodland cycle trail at the tranquil Tehidy Country Park, on the way to the popular surfing cove at Portreath. This was one of the main mining areas in Cornwall until the early 20th century and you can still visit Cornish Goldsmiths workshops and exhibition and the Tolgus Tin Streaming works nearby. The ride ends along beautiful wooded valleys back into Truro. 

Overnight in Truro. Luggage will be transferred.  

Optional Extension to Isles of Scilly from Penzance (2 nights / 3 days) 

Day 1: Leave your hotel in the morning and ride by bike to the ferry port to take the morning ferry. This is a short 5-10minute ride through Penzance to the Quay. Board the ferry with the bikes and travel to the Isles of Scilly. Disembark on St Mary’s Island and then explore at your leisure. The luggage will be transferred by taxi to the ferry port to be loaded by the client in Penzance (this is a mandatory security measure). The bags will then be tagged and offloaded in Isles of Scilly, with a direct transfer to the hotel.  

Day 2: Free exploration of the Island. 

Day 3: Explore the island at your leisure before returning to the port for the Ferry (usually afternoon). The luggage will be transported from the hotel to the ferry port and loaded onto the ferry. Clients will disembark the ferry, collect their luggage, give it to the taxi company and then return to their hotel by bike.  

Optional Extension to the Eden Project (2 nights, 3 days) 

Day 1: Cycle from Truro to Charlestown (or St Austell) via Mevagissey. Stay in Charlestown (or St Austell, depending on availability). Luggage will be transferred.  

Day 2: Cycle from Charlestown (or St Austell) to the Eden Project. A short 4-mile cycle from Charlestown takes you to The Eden Project, where you can spend the day exploring the gardens and tropical domes at your leisure. Return to Charlestown (or St Austell) via bike on the same 4-mile route and stay in Charlestown (or St Austell – subject to availability). Eden Project ticket price not included.  

Day 3: Cycle from Charlestown (or St Austell) to Truro via Pentowan and Heligan – another garden for your clients to explore. Stay overnight in Truro. 

The key details of this tour include:

• The routing is subject to accommodation availability and client preference on start location, but will be as follows using the Route letters as per the itinerary tab.
• The following routes are mandatory for all tours 9 day, 8 night including: A C E (via Cheltenham), K M and O. 
• The following routes are optional and can be added to make the tour as long as required up to 23 nights including: B D F G H I J L N plus Isles of Scilly and Eden. 
• This tour can start in Cheltenham, Truro or Penzance.
• This tour can be from 8 to 23 days.

This tour has many highlights including:

• Cotswold villages such as Moreton-in-Marsh and Bourton-on-the-Water
• Cornish towns and villages including Truro and Penzance
• Traditional cream teas and lots of Cornish Pasties!

Getting to Cheltenham in the Cotswolds

By Rail/Bus – The nearest train station to Cheltenham is Cheltenham Spa. National Express and Megabus also operate several routes from Cheltenham.

By Car – The Cotswolds and Cheltenham can be reached via the M4 exit at the junction for Swindon, The M5 when travelling from the north or south, exit at junction 11.

By Air – There are a number of airports close to Cheltenham and the Cotswolds including Bristol and Birmingham.

For more information on getting to the Cotswolds please visit The Cotswolds website.