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On your bike
15th August 2017
The Tour of Britain is coming to the Cotswolds on Saturday 9th September - a fantastic opportunity to see world class cycling in some of our most picturesque towns and villages. As if that wasn’t tempting enough in itself, the towns and villages along the route are all gearing up to make the day truly memorable with a little extra welcome.
In Charlbury there are organised cycle rides to enjoy; there’s a slap up barbecue on the village green in Milton under Wychwood; Bourton on the Water will be a major focus as a sprint town and numerous activities are planned; Stow on the Wold is hosting vintage cyclists and a special wheels in motion exhibition; Moreton in Marsh railway station is being specially decorated for the event; Winchcombe will be holding all day celebrations with a cycling fan zone; Newlands Park near Cheltenham will have kids events, music and a BBQ, as well as all the action on TV; finally you can soak up the party atmosphere at the finish line with the Bloor Homes Cheltenham Festival of Cycling. So, whatever your age, make sure you come and see the Cotswolds stage of the fantastic Tour of Britain.
If you’re looking for great places to stay along the route, head for The Barrel Store in Cirencester – where you’ll find stylish, cycle-friendly accommodation including lockable bike storage. This beautiful converted barrel store is in the heart of gorgeous Cirencester – yet just a short cycle ride from the finish line in Cheltenham.
Why not make a weekend of your Tour of Britain Cotswolds experience? The Fire College at Moreton in Marsh is offering half price rooms for the whole weekend of the tour – making it the perfect place to see stage 7. If you’re super keen you can jump on the train at nearby Moreton in Marsh station to see the start of Stage 8 the following morning in Worcester. Contact nakerman@fireservicecollege.ac.uk.
You don’t have to be Chris Froome or Lizzie Armitstead to be King or Queen of the Cotswold Hills! Conquer them with ease on a day out with Cotswold Electric Bike Tours – where powerful electric bikes are the order of the day, and a knowledgeable guide will help you discover the areas amazing landscapes, hidden villages and quiet roads. It’s an unforgettable day out.
Cosy Corner in Evenlode have two pedal bikes available for guests to explore the local countryside which means you can enjoy life in a typical Cotswolds Cottage AND all mod cons! It couldn’t be better placed for the two national cycle routes which pass through the village and there’s a special 15% discount on bookings to the end of September. Just quote ‘cosycorner17’ when you book.
For a bespoke cycling holiday or short break tailored to meet your precise needs, book a cycling holiday with Windrush Cycle Tours. With top quality road, hybrid and electric bikes and a range of accommodation on offer, you can experience fantastic cycling on routes planned using more than thirty years’ experience in the area – and a Garmin GPS to make map reading a thing of the past! Enjoy the very best scenery and historic locations on some of the Cotswolds' quietest roads.
There’re plenty of cycling related events happening across the Cotswolds during the Tour of Britain weekend. Both Oxford Bus Museum and Cotswold Motor Museum have vintage cycles & memorabilia on display and there’ll also be a temporary exhibition called Wheels in Motion in Stow on the Wold.
Local Tyndale Cycling Club has been going since 1891 and riders who have direct descendants from the original group will be riding in the Tour of Britain heritage vintage ride from Moreton via Stow on the Wold to Bourton on the Water.
Other events happening this weekend include 10th Moreton in Marsh Beer & Cider Festival with camping on site, International Sheep Dog Trails near Northleach and Heritage Open days including Ride and Stride to local churches.
Visit our What's On section for details
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Fun facts for cycling fanatics!
The 1967 Milk Race came through Stow on the Wold and the winner that year, Les West, won the classic Tour of The Cotswolds ride several time in the 1960s
Find out more
Hundreds of folding cycles were dropped with paratroopers during D-Day. Over 70,000 ‘Parabikes’ were produced by BSA (British Small Arms) in Birmingham and many of them were used on 6 June 1944, either carried ashore or dropped from Horsa Gliders. Discover more at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum
For more details on Stage 7 of the Tour of Britain visit www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage-seven/
