Cotswolds Adventure Holidays

Jump into an Adventure Holiday

Get stuck into an active weekend break or an adventure holiday with like-minded people, filled with wild swimming, cycling, yoga, walking, and of course water sports – canoeing, paddle boarding and kayaking. Make the most of days outdoors by punting in Oxford, exploring rolling hills and grabbing a board to paddle at Cotswold Water Park, before relaxing around the fire pit, with home cooked food, a beer in hand, and great people around you! Find the source of the Thames, and rediscover nature away from the crowds in the wonderful English countryside. It’s hard to believe we’re on holiday so near London! 

Adventure Breaks - Your Way!

“At your own pace” is our motto, so you can choose can choose to push yourself on a 50 mile cycle, or take in the view over a leisurely 20 miles. Add in an early morning wild swim, a Cotswolds walk and SUP or canoe to the pub in the early evening you’ll have a full, active day! Don’t feel obliged to do all of these activities, if you fancy an afternoon off to stroll along the canals or read your book in the sun – that fits in well with our Cotswolds itinerary too. 

Looking for a little more challenge? You can try your hand at surfing and coasteering in Cornwall, or tackle a gorge scramble and a few fells on a Lake District adventure! We can also create bespoke adventure holidays for families and groups. 

Choose Your Multi Activity Adventure

Our Tours Are Rated 97% Excellent by Trip Advisor

  • star rating  Recently did one of the Cotswold self-guided walking tours through Active England. The itinerary was excellent, as was Jago Hartland who met with us for orientation and kept in touch... read more

    avatar thumb tonybV5950LD
    December 1, 2022

    star rating  Super helpful, friendly and amenable team at Active England helped us have a brilliant experience. We are a late 50's Australian couple and not super fit, but the ebikes ... read more

    avatar thumb Tagalongtwo
    November 1, 2022

    star rating  Our Cotswolds bike trip was Amazing!! Thank you to our fantastic guide, Conor.
    The countryside was picture perfect with great little villages and sites to take in all along our... read more

    avatar thumb denisewT7376LE
    October 31, 2022
  • star rating  I loved the freedom and flexibility of Active England's self-guided Short Walks in the Cotswolds tour. It was easy to use the provided routes, the hotels were very nice,... read more

    avatar thumb lkfwallace
    October 26, 2022

    star rating  Had an amazing 4 day bike tour in the Cotwolds with our guide Amanda, tour director Jago and support from the wonderful office staff. We have nothing but great things... read more

    Lisa N
    October 18, 2022

    star rating  The perfect way to experience the Cotswolds was on a bicycle. Four days of lovely countryside, interesting inns, old churches and charming towns. Rick did an awesome job of supporting... read more

    BRwy
    October 6, 2022
  • star rating  From the planning stages of our fabulous self guided walk in the Cotswolds to our transfer and tour of Oxford and Bath, the Active England team were excellent. Jago took... read more

    Lovewalkingholidays
    October 6, 2022

    star rating  Can't say enough about Jago and the team. Walks were stupendous, inns were stunning, and the pub/restaurant recommendations were spot on. Transportation always punctual. Jago even gave us a bonus... read more

    ronmU411MJ
    October 1, 2022

    star rating  What a fabulous few days! Our guides, Tatty and Chris looked after us incredibly well. We didn't have to look at a map/check tide times/book restaurants/drive. Great... read more

    louiseabbott
    August 30, 2022
  • star rating  So many different secret and semi-secret swimming places that I could never have found on my own - and even if I had found them, I wouldn't have wanted... read more

    EveSwimmer
    August 29, 2022

    star rating  Chris and Jago were flexible, fun and incredibly helpful during our three-week bike journey in England. Chris was amazing at 'making changes on the go,' including showing us and delighting... read more

    364elizabethk
    August 29, 2022

    star rating  My son (30) and I (69) has a splendid self guided trip arranged by Active England. The bikes were first rate, the routes were gorgeous and mostly empty of cars,... read more

    T233SDsusand
    August 21, 2022
  • star rating  I really enjoyed my self-guided cycle tour of the Cotswolds with Active England Tours. Iago was a very knowledgeable guide who was very kind and accommodating. I am so grateful... read more

    Curiosity58496342239
    August 19, 2022

    star rating  Our arrival was a bit bumpy due to the train strikes. This incredible company immediately responded and were very diligent to get to us. Jago our Host for the tour... read more

    21suzie212020
    August 19, 2022

    star rating  Imagine tree-lined paths, peaceful moments with sky everywhere, and closing the day in a cosy pub- it was everything we imagined it would be! We did a six day... read more

    DarcyTrips
    July 31, 2022
  • star rating  My son and I just completed a three week LeJog tour through Active England, and were impressed with all the guides' professionalism and caring attitudes. They also made it... read more

    Y9371OEmarkl
    July 6, 2022

    star rating  We are a Bliss of four wild women who love wild swimming and have just completed an amazing weekend of open water swimming with our wonderful guides Tatty and Laura.... read more

    katyvdv
    June 26, 2022

    star rating  The LeJog tour with Active England was a bike tour of a lifetime. 19 days of riding averaging 60 miles per day. The guides were outstanding... read more

    jpeyemd
    June 21, 2022

UK Holidays Near London

Only an hour from London, Bristol, and the Midlands immerse yourself in the wonderful Cotswolds countryside. With a wide range of daytime activities to enjoy, relax with your group in the evenings, with our free beer and wine fridge and in some of the best pubs known to man! We’ll start your holiday straight from the train station so just bring yourself, some active wear and a sense of adventure and we’ll cover everything else.

Hassle Free Multi Activity Adventures

Guided by our outstanding guides, and using all our equipment, we know every bend in the road, river or track, every afternoon tea stop, local micro-brewery or gin distillery to suit all tastes! You’ll not need to worry about any of your luggage transfers, bookings or equipment as it will all have been taken care of for you.

Top things you need to know before visiting the Cotswolds

What is an Adventure Holiday?

An Adventure Holiday brings together the best of everything the countryside has to offer for active people, with multi-activity days allowing guests to try water sports, cycling and more as well as getting to know a group of like minded people round the fire-pit in the evening. There is scope for experienced paddlers and cyclists to push themselves, while beginners can get a taste of new sports, exploring the the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, coasteering the cliffs of Cornwall, and scrambling up gorges and mountains in the Lake District. Our guides look after all the details, allowing you to push yourself – or simply relax – and take in life in the great outdoors.

 

What is the best way to get out of London into the Cotswolds?

The best way out of London and into the Cotswolds is by train, from Paddington directly into Oxford station or Bath Spa. All our multisport weekends begin and end in Oxford or Bath and from here we head directly out on our bikes, kayaks or canoes into the countryside. We’ll get you from Platform to Pint in 75 minutes! We can advise on parking nearby if you need to drive. 

Should I arrive ready to bike and get stuck in?

Yes! We’ll get straight to the activities once you hop off the train, relaxed from your journey and ready for your adventure. Whether that’s a pub dinner, an afternoon bike ride or a walk through the countryside we’ll send out a kit list in advance and let you know what clothes to arrive in.

What do I need to bring on my adventure holiday, do you have a kit list?

For all our tours we will send out kit lists in plenty of time before your tour. We provide all the equipment so you won’t need to bring anything other than enthusiasm, some trainers you are willing to get a bit wet, some normal swimming kit, comfortable walking and cycling clothes and we’ll do the rest!

Can I join as a solo traveller?

All our trips are open for single travellers to join, these trips are a great way to meet social, likeminded people, active and looking for a great holiday. “As a single female, I would not hesitate to go on another Active England trip as a solo traveller”. S.G.

Cotswolds Adventure Holidays Photo Gallery