Oxford to Bath By Bike

This route is graded easy to moderate, with rides ranging from 36km to 46km and total daily ascents ranging from 220m to 386m. Starting from Oxford and finishing in Bath, you'll cycle through some of the best scenery of southern England, passing through some of the finest Cotswolds villages along the way.

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

Accessible by Rail

This route is graded easy to moderate, with rides ranging from 36km to 42km and total daily ascents ranging from 240m to 495m. This tour is perfect for occasional riders seeking to discover a region from the saddle, and comfortable riding up to 40km/25 miles each day over a few consecutive days. These shorter daily mileages allow time to stop and take in the scenery, stop for coffees and a long lunch before arriving at your destination, and to take in the sights. You'll cycle on quiet country roads with very occasional stretches on busier roads as you approach towns, and easy canal paths as you approach Bath. The terrain is rolling, and you can enjoy being on tarmac roads, easy gravel paths and cycle paths. 

Minimum Age 

The minimum age for this tour is 18yrs. This is due to the remote nature of the route.

You will experience a variety of accommodations on this tour, a mixture of 4 and 5-star boutique country inns and B&Bs with rooms that offer warm welcomes and traditional hospitality. 

Single Rooms and Solo Travellers

If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. We also offer this tour to solo travellers but a supplement will be payable. 

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning, with each accommodation taking pride in using fresh produce sourced locally. Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options we provide in your Information Pack and the Macs Adventure App. 

Additional Nights

If you wish to add additional nights along the way or at the beginning and end of your itinerary please contact us. You may choose to add some rest days, or extra days where there is plenty of opportunity for sightseeing.

We provide GPX tracks that are accessible on the Macs Adventure App, so you can simply follow the route on your phone and have a problem-free day. Upon arrival, you'll also receive detailed information of the tour, maps and recommendations for points of interest & restaurants to visit, as well as key locations to visit. We have also included GPX tracks for self-guided walking tours in some of the towns, such as Bibury, Cirencester and Lacock.

There is no bad time but the best months for cycling are in spring, summer and autumn when the weather is fairer. Spring is great as the wildflowers will be in bloom and the local towns and villages will be quieter during the day. By October the Cotswolds are covered in lovely orange hues as the leaves start to fall in the Autumn. You can start this tour on any day of the week between the start of April and the end of October, subject to availability. The Cotswolds are very popular so it is best to book as far in advance as you are able to.

By nature, the South West of England is prone to varying types of weather throughout the year. Always be prepared for changeable conditions when cycling in England. Waterproofs are essential all year round. In the summer months, be prepared for hot weather also (ensure you have sunscreen and plenty of water) and in the shoulder seasons of March or October expect colder temperatures (it’s not a bad idea to pack cycling gloves and a buff). 

Before you set off each day, it is also important that you pay attention to any weather warnings in place. We recommend visiting https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/  (the UK’s official source for weather warnings). Do not attempt to cycle if any serious weather warnings are in place, as weather conditions may affect surfaces.

From London Paddington station there are regular direct trains to Oxford, which take approximately 1 hour.

London Heathrow Airport - take the Heathrow Express train to London Paddington, taking just 15-20 minutes.

London Gatwick Airport - take the national rail train to Farringdon (approx. 40 minutes). Then the Elizabeth Line on the London Underground to Paddington (which takes approx. 10 minutes). 

London Stansted Airport - take the Stansted Express train to Liverpool Street station. Then the Elizabeth Line on the London Underground to Paddington (which takes approx. 10 minutes). 

Bristol Airport is around an hour away from Bath on public transport and has good links to other airports in the UK and across Europe. Regular trains connect Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads. The A1 Airport Flyer bus departs from outside Bristol Temple Meads to the airport.

Fast and frequent train services also connect Bath to London Paddington (1h30).

London Heathrow Airport - from Paddington take the Heathrow Express train to London Heathrow Airport, taking just 15-20 minutes.

London Gatwick Airport - take the Elizabeth Line on the London Underground from Paddington to Farringdon (which takes approx. 10 minutes).  Take the national rail train from Farringdon to Gatwick Airport (approx. 40 minutes).

London Stansted Airport - take the Elizabeth Line on the London Underground from Paddington to Liverpool Street station (which takes approx. 10 minutes). Then the Stansted Express train from there to London Stansted.

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. 

At Macs Adventure we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.  Ninety-nine per cent of the time they will only transfer one bag per person, but the allowed weight ranges from anything between 15 and 20kg per bag, depending on the tour you are taking.  We do not have control over the limits that these providers set. Therefore, it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees) which we must respect.