Cycling in the heart of the Cotswolds

You arrive on your own to Moreton-in-Marsh, a classic English market town often described as the gateway to the Cotswolds. Here, railway history, local pubs and honey-colored limestone houses meet. Depending on arrival time, there's plenty of time to stroll around the village, have a first pint at one of the historic pubs or shop for provisions for the cycling days ahead. You settle into your accommodation and prepare for tomorrow's first bike ride through the heart of the Cotswolds.

Today's cycling takes you straight into the classic Cotswolds landscape, with rolling hills, open pastures and small villages that seem to have remained untouched for centuries. The route leads you towards Chipping Norton, a lively little town with medieval roots. Along the way you pass the Rollright Stones – a mysterious collection of prehistoric stone monuments, older than Stonehenge and surrounded by legends and folklore.

The terrain is varied, with quiet country roads and some longer but gentle hills. The views reward the effort, and there are several nice places to stop for coffee or lunch along the way before you return to Moreton-in-Marsh.

Today awaits a circular tour through a more rural and hilly corner of the Cotswolds. You cycle south towards Brailes, a village beautifully situated at the foot of the Edgehill plateau. The landscape opens up with sweeping views over fields, stone walls and small oak groves.

The route passes several typical English villages where time seems to have stood still, and there are plenty of opportunities for breaks at local cafés or pubs. Today's stage offers somewhat more elevation gain than yesterday, but in return you get a deeper feel for the region's variation and peaceful rhythm.

You leave Moreton-in-Marsh and cycle south towards Broadway, your new base for the coming nights. Today's distance is shorter but full of sights. An early stop is Sezincote House, an unusual estate in Mughal style with exotic gardens – an unexpected sight in the middle of the English countryside.

The journey continues through Lower and Upper Slaughter, two of the Cotswolds' most photographed villages, where small stone bridges cross slow streams and houses line the village streets closely. The route ends in Broadway, beautifully situated below the Cotswolds' highest point. Here there are plenty of restaurants and pubs to choose from for the evening's dinner.

Today you choose your own pace and level of ambition. For those who want to cycle more, there's the possibility of a longer trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare's birthplace. The road there goes through flatter landscape with farmland and small communities before you reach the historic town by the River Avon. Here you can visit Shakespeare's birthplace, stroll along the river or settle down at a café before cycling back.

Alternatively, you can choose a shorter circular tour in the nearby area or take the day off in Broadway, with time for hiking up to Broadway Tower, shopping in the village's small shops or pure and simple pub enjoyment.

Today's circuit takes you through a quiet and green corner of northern Cotswolds. You cycle via small roads to Stanway House, an impressive manor complex dating from the 1500s. Here you'll also find the famous Jacobean gardens and England's highest fountain, powered entirely by natural water pressure.

The landscape is classically English with gentle hills, woodland groves and open fields. The route is less hilly than previous days and gives plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings before you return to Broadway for your last evening on the trip.

After breakfast, the cycling trip ends. You can choose to cycle the short distance back to Moreton-in-Marsh or take the included transfer to the train station where the journey is officially rounded off. From here you continue on your own, hopefully with legs pleasantly tired and head full of English landscapes, pub evenings and peaceful cycle paths.