With the Cotswolds spanning five counties you’re spoilt for choice! Here we explore Gloucestershire and Warwickshire by road, heading most northernly to the Roman town of Alcester and navigating through the honey lined streets of the north Cotswolds with plenty of panoramas enroute.
We chose to start the ride from Willersley, where we head north to Badsey and into the riverside village of Bidford on Avon. From here we take quiet Warwickshire roads north through the village of Wixford and past the grand Ragley Hall estate.
At the town of Alcester you’ll find the amazing Orangemabel cafe with their decadent cakes and outdoor seating, the perfect place for that cycle sugar fix. Once refuelled we’re heading east on quiet roads once again to the riverside village of Welford-on-Avon.
We then pass through the picturesque villages of Admington and Ilmington, where shortly after is the largest climb of the day (810ft) onwards to the honey coloured Cotswold streets of Chipping Campden. Next there’s another climb up onto Dovers Hill with the final descent into Willersley, nearby to the ‘jewel of the Cotswolds’, Broadway and home to the most excellent Leaf & Bean cafe.