Cycling in the Cotswolds. Chiz Dakin

      Chiz Dakin’s cycle touring adventures almost happened by accident, when after a local photography trip by bike she realised that she’d done 50 miles in a single day with a reasonably heavy load. This lead to the disconnected logic that if she could do that once, she was now ready to tackle multi-day cycle touring, and two weeks later she set out from Land’s End to John o’ Groats via Cape Wrath.

      Since then she’s ridden more than ten thousand miles, mostly across the UK, with some shorter trips in Europe and Australia, but still maintains that you don’t need to be seriously fit or fast to enjoy long multi-day routes. (She certainly makes no claim to being either!)

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      Cycling in the Peak District

      Outdoor Photography (with Jon Sparks)

      © Chiz Dakin 2014

      First edition 2014

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 706 7

      Reprinted 2017 (with updates)

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.

      Acknowledgements

      As ever there are far too many people to thank for all the help – big and small – I’ve had along the way, but without the support of my wonderful husband Reuben this project would have been very much harder. Thanks also to everyone who tirelessly answered my queries on subjects such as obscure rights of way and the new Sustrans Two Tunnels route, and to my friends Patrick and Jessica Wooddisse for local info in the southern Cotswolds (and for coming out on a ride or two with me) and to sister-in-law Jo (in Stratford) for the coffees. A big thanks also to the Lion Inn in Winchcombe and the Old Brewhouse B&B in Cirencester for helping me keep my own costs to a minimum while researching the multiday route: I’d happily recommend them both, regardless of their help.

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/706/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9 7RL.

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      Front cover: In summer, the ford at Upper Slaughter is just the right depth for a cooling splash-through!

      CONTENTS

       Map key

       Overview map

       INTRODUCTION

       Geology

       Wildlife, plants and flowers

       History

       Art, culture and local festivities

       Food and drink

       Getting around

       When to go

       Accommodation

       What to wear

       What to take

       Maps

       Waymarking and access

       Cycling efficiently

       How hard are the routes?

       Using this guide

       Route 1 Shipston-on-Stour Loop via Brailes Hill

       Route 2 Shipston-on-Stour Loop via Halford

       Route 3 Shipton-under-Wychwood Loop via Wychwood

       Route 4 Bourton-on-the-Water Loop via the Slaughters

       Route 5 Alderton via Broadway

       Route 6 Bradford-on-Avon via Bath Two Tunnels

       Route 7 Bourton-on-the-Water Loop via Great Barrington

       Route 8 Kemble via Cotswold Water Park

       Route 9 Kingham Loop