England

great way to see the country- hiking too slow, car too fast. As Pirsig said, being in a car is like watching a movie, being on a bike is like being in the movie.

Carolina and Jago were the BEST guides and absolutely delightful! Beautiful and varied terrain. Accommodations were average, nothing too fancy. Especially liked the Beaumont Hexham in Hexham and Radisson Blu in Edinburgh (great location and good breakfast buffet). Some of the uphill climbs would be challenging if not on an e-bike. Should be a strong rider if doing this tour on a road bike.

I am an infrequent bike rider (but in generally good shape) and used E-bike (with power on) throughout the trip given the hilly terrain. I participated with spouse and 6 other friends; our overall tour had 19 riders and two guides. Most riders used E-bikes (including myself); a few used road bikes. Had rain during a couple days – using rainproof gear made these conditions quite bearable. Pros: Beautiful scenery. Bikes worked smoothly. Very energetic and helpful guides (quickly fixed a flat and chain problems). Enjoyable socializing with other riders during rides and mealtimes. Tasty food options and very comfortable hotels. Cons: Some roads are very narrow (one lane width with 2-way travel) with cars sometimes passing at relatively high speed, and particularly challenging when two opposing cars had to navigate passing each other and bikers. Significant stretches of road were in poor condition (potholes and uneven pavement edges) that required vigilant maneuvering. The riding schedule was busy and riders were asked to all meet up periodically, which slowed things somewhat when road bike riders progressed slower. The time allotted to explore at some stops (e.g. Blenheim Palace) was short and allowed only a very quick oversight of the location; would have preferred more flexibility.

Delightful part of the world, and the biking was thoroughly enjoyable. Guides Dan and Hattie were talented, engaging, knowledgeable and competent. The stonework and villages were quaint and charming. Traffic very manageable, with good safety reminders from guides. Accommodations were excellent, and food delicious. The Half Way pub fare was scrumptious. The ride the last day was along a canal from center of Bath out and back--I didn't find this as enjoyable due to traffic, pedestrians, dogs and baby carriages. As with most VBT trips, I think rides from center city should modified by doing a shuttle bus to outside the city, do a ride, and then shuttle back. City riding is dangerous (especially on the wrong side of the road!) and one really can't see much if paying attention to safe riding. Otherwise, this trip was FABULOUS. Happy to chat with anyone who is considering this trip. JB

My husband and I did this self-guided tour in early September and absolutely loved it. Country Walkers did an impeccable job taking care of every detail--booking hotels, moving our suitcases between hotels, and, best of all, the "route notes" book was so detailed and had everything we needed from step-by-step directions and restaurant suggestions to history and ideas for things to do. It felt like a wonderful adventure following the famous paths through sheep pastures and little forest thickets, past gardens and ancient churches, and climbing over or around all the different gates. It was often overcast and misty in the mornings, but the mid-day sun burned it all away. Our highlights are choosing to stop for an hour to check out the Hailes Abbey Museum and rubbing elbows with some locals at the only pub in a tiny village. So many great memories! We liked the intimate experience of doing a self-guided trip and the independence (without the planning!) that it provided. We spent some extra days in London at the end of our trip...that was just icing on the cake.

What a fantastic trip this was. This was my 6th time going to England, but my first for the Cotswold region and what an extraordinary time it was. The food was fantastic, everywhere you looked the views were spectacular. It was fantastic trip which I would do again in a heart beat.