10:00
Age 18 & over
£40
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If you're looking for a relaxing Sunday ride with a touch of history and stunning scenery, join this gravel bike adventure in the Cotswolds!
With its rolling hills, sweeping rivers, sleepy honey-coloured stone villages, and the mighty Blenheim Palace, it's the perfect setting for a relaxed Sunday ride. It's a relaxed all-day ride, with an easy pace and plenty of time for lunch and rest stops.
The group will meet at the Cycle Hub Cafe in Oxford, minutes away from the train station. From there, follow the peaceful Oxford Canal north to Kidlington. Then, branch off onto the ultra bike-friendly Blenheim Estate, where the group will enjoy easy gravel riding past Vanbrugh’s colossal Palace.
Next, you'll follow the Evenlode Valley, climbing to Stonesfield, a place of historical significance. Here, local geologist William Buckland discovered fossils that revolutionized our understanding of prehistoric life. After a leisurely lunch in Charlbury, continue along the valley to Ascott under Wychwood, before climbing out and heading to Witney for tea and cake.
Refreshed, you'll join the Thames Valley and follow the river back to Oxford. This is an easy, gentle ride on mostly flat terrain, perfect for a relaxed Sunday. You'll enjoy stunning scenery, including rolling hills, quaint villages, and historic sites.
Charlie, your experienced guide and gravel riding enthusiast, will pace you so you achieve success.
Best completed on a gravel/CX bike, although MTB's will work as well.
Rider leader will carry a basic tool kit for trail side repairs.
Grading 'Moderate'.
Entry fee
£40.00
All reviews from the series:
Loved it - Really enjoyed this route - Was a bit challenging in places as it certainly uses some lesser known bridle ways with some wet swampy stretches (I did it in Nov!). Shere was perfect for a coffee/cake stop. The ride along the ancient London Road was delightful and had me grinning on some lovely swooping descents! Carola McKenna
Awesome route! Really enjoyed this route, had a bit of everything and stopping half way for the Cinnamon bun cafe was perfect! Highly recommend if you want to get the miles in. We did it before Christmas, a bit muddy but was fine. Dan Coombes
What a great day! The three of us really enjoyed the varied route - it took us past so many interesting sights and along so many different types of route. We also appreciated the friendly welcome - and all the refreshment stops along the way! Very well organised and supported, and great value. Look forward to hearing about future rides. Marion Couldrey
Great ride around London - Really enjoyed the route around London - lots of bits I'd never been to before and very well thought out route - great value including coffee and croissants, lunch and delicious cream tea - would definitely do it again. Jenny Mould
Great day of instruction - Had a really great day out with Charlie, the lesson was structured but also adapted to my skill level and really fun. Learnt a lot and inspired to keep going! Thanks! Jason Sof
A lovely day out. Nick Higgins
Top Ride - Awesome ride, definitely recommend. Well put together, plenty of opportunities to stop & refuel. Will 100% do again! Steve Wilkins
Fantastic cycle ride taking in all of the best sights in London! I would recommend this to cyclists at all levels as it is mostly flat and very well supported. We were very well fed too - the home made fudge in particular was superb! I would definitely do this again and look forward to other rides organized by Charlie. Felicity Evans
Very well thought route finding the hidden tracksI did part of the route yesterday but in clock wise direction starting from Walton on Thames to Windsor Castle. I was pleased to find the route follows many footpaths most of the time in gravel and grass, and not much paved roads, always trying to go off road. The most difficult part was the swallow U section near Virginia Water town. Thanks to the writer Charlie! Adolfo
Excellent - A great and challenging route in mid winter. Julian Kirwan-Taylor
Unexpected Gem - I was expecting a lot of urban cycling. However it was the opposite. There were many green spaces that I've never been to and was a great surprise. There was some construction work where the Hog Mill was, so wasn't able to see all of that section. Give it a go, think you'll like it. P.G.
Lovely experience - Very nice route and very well organised. M.C.
A great off road adventure so close to the centre of London - Riding alongside the river Brent and Grand Union Canal make this a varied ride with a countryside feel to it. Nicholas Benson
What a wonderful day! One of the best things I have done this year. Thanks to Jenny (see below) for suggesting it. The route through London was amazing and I discovered so many tracks and paths that I would never have known about. I would thoroughly recommend this ride to all levels of cyclist, provided that you are confident on roads, and I would love to repeat it next year. London cycling infrastructure is pretty good these days. I'm also interested in one other of Charlie's rides. Jane Carlton Smith