While most people travel to England to visit castles, London, Stonehenge, and to experience cozy pubs and charming villages, Jolly Olde England is also home to a great cycling scene, especially if you get out into the English countryside. The country has spawned some of the most famous cyclists to race in the pro peloton: Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Chris Froome, and Mark Cavendish, just to name a few.
All these places and experiences are worth having. But if you want a taste of the real England and its many treasures, and you’re an adventure-driven cyclist, then you should visit the Cotswolds, which contain some of the best cycling in the country.
What Makes The Cotswolds Unique?
The Cotswolds are located in southwest and south central England. They are about 75 to 100 miles or one to three hours outside London. It depends, of course, where in England you are traveling from to the Cotswolds and what mode of transportation you select to get there.
The region consists of rolling hills, villages, and countryside. The Cotswolds encompass six counties (Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire). It’s known for its limestone towns and villages but also as the center of wool production during the Middle Ages. What better place and better way, then, to explore the area than by bicycle?
10 Best Climbs In The Cotswolds
The downside of the Cotswolds is that it can experience a lot of tourism, which means an excessive amount of vehicle traffic. That is especially true for its well-known villages, such as Bourton-on-the-Water and other towns/ villages in the region.
But if you can get out to Gloucestershire or Oxfordshire around the Cheltenham area, you’ll find not only some of the best cycling in the country with lower-traffic roads but also, according to Cycling Weekly, 10 of the best climbs in the Cotswold region.
The magazine isolates two rides/ climbs that stand out among the ten climbs/ rides for their scenery, mileage, and difficulty. The first one starts just outside of Gloucester and is the longer of the two at 123km (76.4 miles) with an Elevation of 2,233m (7,326ft). The other route is shorter and not as steep: 98km (60.9 miles) with an elevation of 1,667 m (5,469ft).
The main climbs Cycling Weekly points out that are the most dynamic in the Cotswolds are as follows:
- The Broadway – 764 meters long, 113 meters elevation gain, with a 14% average gradient.
- Owl Pen Hill – 1,466 meters long, 131 meters elevation gain, with an 8% average gradient.
- Bear Hill – 1,344 meters long, 135 meters elevation gain, with a 9% average gradient.
- Haresfield Beacon – 2,260 meters long, 143 meters elevation gain, with a 8% average gradient.
- Knapp Lane – 2,485 meters long, 180 meters elevation gain, with a 7% average gradient.
- Frocester Hill – 3,102 meters Long, 191 meters elevation gain, with an average gradient of 6%
- The W – 1,195 meters Long, 115 meters elevation gain, with an average gradient of 9%
- Dover’s Hill – 1,733 meters long, 139 meters elevation gain, with an 8% average gradient.
- Salter’s Lane – 2,294 meters long, 188 meters elevation gain, with an 8% average gradient.
- Bushcombe Lane – 1,132 meters long, 188 meters elevation gain, with a 12% average gradient.
Last Thoughts
If you have a trip planned to England this fall (or even next year) and you’re seeking out a new cycling adventure, then you can’t go wrong exploring the Cotswolds. The Cycling Weekly states that if you base yourself in Cheltenham, you can access all these rides/ climbs pretty easily while finding good lodging and places to eat. And then, of course, if you want to take in some villages and pubs as a regular tourist after a hard day of riding, you can do that, too!
As already mentioned, a train, bus, or car travel can get you to London in a few hours. Fall is a perfect time to check out the area before the winter sets in, but spring or summer are probably just as good, with the likelihood of more tourists. So pack your case, pack your bike, and get a plane ticket and come experience the best cycling England offers.
