Cycling Weekend - Shakespeare Country
Overview
A weekend’s stay in the historic county of Warwickshire. See a rich combination of Shakespearean sites in Stratford-on-Avon, the castles of Warwick and Kenilworth, and the Georgian spa town of Royal Leamington Spa. Add in the beautiful surrounding countryside full of traditional towns and villages, and you have a have a fantastic 2 days exploring ‘England’s England’.
Distances: 32 miles Saturday & 22 miles Sunday
Terrain: Mainly flat with occasional countryside hill.
Path/Road: The majority of riding is on quiet country roads, with some off road cycle path and riverside canal path. All bikes are suitable.
Physical difficulty: Moderate Saturday and Sunday. Cycling at a manageable pace for 3 hours Saturday & 2.5 hours Sunday. Everyone will be assisted but you must be competent on a bike. Duration: Friday night to Sunday evening. Accommodation: Staying in a 3* hotel in the centre of Royal Leamington Spa.
Guided by the very experienced Graham Hills. These weekends are not Spice Exclusive so you will meet other people. There are usually around 12 people on each of the weekends, a mixture of Spice and non Spice members.
Includes
- 2 nights accommodation.
- 2 Continental breakfasts.
- 2 days fully guided cycling.
- Basic tool kit carried to undertake minor repairs.
- Accident insurance cover.
- Trained first aider.
Extras
- Cycle hire if required £30
- Evening meals
- All drinks
- Lunches and refreshments on Saturday and Sunday
Location & Itinerary
Friday:
Check in to the hotel and head to a nearby pub for meet, greet and socialise.
Saturday:
Saddle up and leave the town centre, heading out into the local countryside. Skirt the historic town of Warwick, sneaking a peak of the castle before a more full exploration on Sunday.
Carry on through the tiny villages of Hampton Lucy, Charlecote, Alveston and Tiddington. We’ll stop for refreshments at a suitably idyllic location.
Arrive at the highlight of the weekend, Stratford-upon-Avon. Explore the town’s amazing streets, that include a number of landmarks from Shakespeare’s life. You’ll see his Birthplace, his school and family home. The town stands on the River Avon, and down on the riverside you’ll also see the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre, and the canal basin which is a very popular tourism area for narrow boats and barges. We’ll lunch here and allow a little time for a stroll around this town rich in architecture and history.
After this cultural feast it’s time to start the journey back through the country lanes to the hotel. If time permits we’ll allow ourselves another refreshment stop on the way.
Dinner and drinks in a local restaurant.
Sunday:
It’s finally time to explore Royal Leamington Spa by bicycle. The string of Grade II listed parks running along the river through the centre of town make for a lovely ride. After seeing the old Pump Room and Spa we peel off up ‘The Parade’ and through spectacular Georgian and Edwardian architecture.
The town takes it’s name from the River Leam that runs through the town. We’ll head along the riverside to the county town of Warwick, site of the spectacular medieval castle. This is a town bursting with charm, with bustling streets around the Market Place, beautiful parks and gardens. and charming buildings from every period from the last 1000 years. After soaking up some of this atmosphere over elevenses we’ll walk through Mill Gardens, located in a dramatic setting on the banks of the river with outstanding views over the castle.
After all this we’ll head out into the countryside towards the town of Kenilworth. This leafy town features the ruins of an important lake fortress, Elizabethan Gardens, and medieval monastery. We’ll lunch in one of the many quality eateries in town.
Fully refreshed it’s back on the bikes for the return ride to Leamington for some tearful goodbyes!
Travel & Stay
9 Singles and 1 twin at The Jephson Hotel The Jephson Hotel
| Type | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Member Twin Share | £205.00 | Available |
| Member Twin Share MALE | £205.00 | Sold Out |
| Member Single Room | £255.00 | Available |
Booking Options
| Option | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Hire | £30.00 | Available |
Not enough spaces left for you? Join the waitlist
Host & Everything Else
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