Cycle the Cotswolds: Oxford to Bath

We meet at Oxford Train Station at 11am, where you can store your luggage in our vehicle. Please wear cycling clothing but not shoes, they can be changed later. We then take a walking tour of Oxford, where we visit one of the prestigious colleges, stop at the historic Turf Tavern pub, and watch the punt boats drift along the river. We also pause for lunch before transferring to Bampton, where the Downton Abbey village scenes were shot. From here, we cycle to Burford, gateway to the Cotswolds, a centuries-old town on the River Windrush where ancient shops line the steep main street.

This evening, we get to know each other a little better over a welcome dinner at our accommodation. Stay: The Prince of Burford (B/D).

Today we take a loop from Burford into the heart of the Cotswolds. We can stop for coffee at the riverside village of Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, and visit Stow-on-the-Wold, where the final battle of the first English civil war occurred in 1646, to explore the market square. We also pass through the small, privately owned village of Daylesford – stopping at the most exclusive farm shop in the country – and the twin villages of Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter before returning to Burford. Stay: The Prince of Burford (B).

Today we cycle to Bibury, named the most beautiful village in England by designer William Morris. We stop for a short walk past a row of 17th-century weavers' cottages that, for good reason, has become a much-photographed tourist attraction. We then cycle to Cirencester, where ancient Roman roads show just how important the city was to the empire.

From here, we pass through Minchinhampton Common, a 452-acre (183ha) expanse of grassland and a biological and geological site of special scientific interest in Gloucestershire. From here, we head to the nearby village of Rodborough where we check into our next hotel. Stay: The Bear at Rodborough (B).

We have an earlier start this morning to give us plenty of time to explore the city of Bath. We bike past King Charles' Highgrove estate and down into Bath along the Fosse Way, built in the second century by the Romans, and a canal path.

This afternoon, we visit the eponymous Roman baths to see the 2,000-year-old spa complex and view archaeological relics from the pre-Roman and Roman Britain ages. We then have free time to explore the city. There is so much to see in Bath, including the Royal Crescent, a sweeping row of 30 flawless Georgian homes, and the Jane Austen Centre, which delves into the work and life of the celebrated writer. Stay: Hampton by Hilton Hotel (B).

Today we enjoy a looped ride from Bath, taking in the village of Lacock and the town of Bradford-on-Avon. In the former, we see a 13th-century abbey built by Ela, Countess of Salisbury. In the latter, we enjoy a stop among the canals and historic buildings. After returning to Bath, we head to a restaurant for our farewell dinner where we can relive our adventures. Stay: Hampton by Hilton Hotel (B/D).

We enjoy one last breakfast this morning before a transfer to Bath Spa Railway Station for our onward journeys (B).