Today, after all-night fasting, we’ll replenish our energy stores with a hearty, highly calorific full English breakfast. Our circular ride will take us around some of the most beautiful parts of the Cotswolds. We’ll meander along some great biking roads surrounded by rolling green hills dotted with sheep towards our scheduled destinations. Please note – parking availability might affect where we stop for breaks, refreshments and lunch.

Our first stop will be-should be-could be-maybe is Moreton-in-Marsh. It is one of many beautiful market towns in the Cotswolds and one of the most popular biking destinations. The high street is lined with many elegant eighteenth-century inns and houses, including the famous Redesdale Market Hall.

From Moreton-in-Marsh, we’ll ride a section of the straight-as-an-arrow Roman road – Fosse Way, and also some not so straight-as-an-arrow, perhaps Anglo-Saxon highways and byways towards our next port of call. Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town with more than 800 years of history, dating back to the times of Mercia, Viking invasions, Tudors and of course the man himself, Shakespeare – the Renaissance Man, the Comedy Man, the Tragedy Man, the … Ice Cream Man.

As we start looping it around, our route will take us to the heart of the Cotswolds. In this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty peacefully lies the idyllic historic village of Broadway. The village is a stunning collage of centuries-old honey-coloured cottages, limestone period buildings, and chestnut trees lining the high street’s grass-fringed verges. Here we should be able to park our bikes without much hassle and have lunch in one of many traditional eateries.

Continuing our ride, we’ll arrive at Burford. It is often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Cotswolds’ and yet another Cotswolds town justifiably called one of the most picturesque towns in England. With its medieval bridge, old stone houses and attractive Tudor and Georgian frontages, it is a great place to stroll along the high street and take some great photos. As beautiful as it might be, parking in Burford is often quite challenging. So we’ll play it by air and see how we get on.

The last destination before returning to our hotel is the much-photographed village of Shilton. With the tempting-but-no-to-be-attempted-on-motorcycle ford across ‘The Shill’ brook, the open village green and pretty stone cottages, Shilton offers a truly Cotswold-ish experience. Afternoon tea and scones at the Rosse & Crown will provide a beautiful setting and a beautiful finale to the beautiful ride. From here, you’ll return to the hotel. We’ll pop quickly home to feed the cat, meet you back at the hotel, and join you for an evening meal.

Group evening meal will be served at 19.30… sharp…ish!

After breakfast, we’ll check out from our hotel and take a relaxing ride towards Wiltshire and the southern entrance to the Cotswolds. Here, on top of the hill encircled by the River Avon, proudly sits the “Queen of Hilltop Towns” – Malmesbury. It is said that Malmesbury is the oldest continually inhabited town in England, dating back in history over 1000 years. Amongst many other historic buildings, Malmesbury is also home to Old Bell – England’s oldest hotel. According to the shires’ history parchments, the hotel has been offering bed and board to pilgrims and travellers since 1220. The town is a pleasant place to stroll around, take some photos and have a coffee before continuing with our journey.

Next, our ride will take us to the historic, charming and typically Cotswolds-ish village of Bibury. The pretty High Street and the river banks are lined with horse chestnut trees and include a mixture of period houses and picturesque honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages. The cottages of Arlington Row are often referred to as the most photographed and beautiful cottages in England. Even more so when they are “photobombed” by a bunch of bikers with big bikes and even bigger appetites. If we are still feeling a bit peckish and we are not too early, the Swan Hotel has a lovely garden and serves a great range of mid-morning cakes and teas.

Our next and the last destination on this tour is Bourton-on-the-Water. The town is regularly voted one of the prettiest in England, often referred to as the Venice of the Cotswolds. Here we can visit the Cotswold Motoring Museum and take a fascinating journey through the time and history of 20th-century motoring. The collection of rare vehicles and classic memorabilia will give us a nostalgic glimpse into life on the road the way it used to be.

After this, we’ll have one last drink in a café by the river, say our farewells and depart home. We hope that you enjoy this fantastic mini-tour as much as us organising and guiding it.

Thank you for RidingWithUs, and we hope to hear from you soon again.