Fine Dining and Fabulous Views
If you’re anything like me, some of my best memories centre around a particularly tasty meal spent with friends somewhere nice – great food, great company and a great view!
Spin round those wheels enough and you’ll drum up an appetite. Particularly on an active holiday we know how important food is to the enjoyment of a trip so we have selected our partner hotels with that in mind. They, as well as the many cafés, restaurants and pubs along the way, will leave you spoilt for choice! Whether you want fine dining and gin-lists, or cask ales and the best of traditional English gastronomy, it is all here.
Cream Teas
Thomas Twinning opened up England’s first tearoom in London in 1706. Nowadays afternoon tea might even be considered something of a ritual. From the full cream tea: English afternoon tea complete with freshly baked scones, jam and clotted cream, to a homemade slice of Victoria sponge or some toasted crumpets, there is always something delicious to decide on when refuelling during a day’s ride!
Bibury Trout Farm
One stop of particular mention is our lunchtime stop at Bibury. Fresh from our morning’s ride we break for lunch in this tiny village, famous for its row of beautiful golden stone cottages that sit alongside its lazy river, marking it one of the most picturesque towns in the Cotswolds. Indeed William Morris, the famous nineteenth-century craftsman, once described Bibury as the ‘the most beautiful village in England’. Bibury is situated right on the doorstep of a trout farm that dates back to 1902, which you can visit one of our guided walk tours, and the cafés and restaurants here serve fresh fish directly from the farm onto your plate. For fish lovers, this stop is always a clear favourite.
Traditional English Pubs
England is also famous for its vast selection of real ales and micro-breweries. Most afternoons and every evening there is a chance to quench your thirst over a nice cold cask ale and reflect on the day. Our guides know all the best tucked away traditional pubs to relax in and celebrate a good day’s ride. Most pubs now serve traditional English gastronomy, from beer battered fish and chips to bangers and mash, locally sourced steaks, and hearty salads. These gastro-pubs are always a favourite with both guests and locals alike – with rustic décor and many a beer garden to choose from you’ll never go hungry or thirsty with us. Many of our partner Cotswold Inns also offer tasting menus of up to eight courses to awaken your taste buds!
The Ebrington Arms
On our cycle back from Stratford-Upon-Avon we often stop by The Ebrington Arms to enjoy a cold pint in their wonderful beer garden. Recently voted the ‘best village pub in the country’, it is a real hidden treasure. Set into the beautiful countryside and brewing its own very smooth ales, as well as serving the Cotswolds’ own wine from Little Oak Vineyard, The Ebrington Arms is a great place to relax after an active day’s ride.
Check out more guided walks or cycle tours in the Cotswolds so you don’t stop exploring.