Cotswolds Mountain Biking: 20 Classic Rides

If you love exploring new trails, Cotswolds Mountain Biking – 20 Classic Rides is basically your perfect excuse to load up the bike and head for one of the UK’s most beautiful riding spots. The Cotswold Hills roll across Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire and spill into Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Warwickshire — and tucked into all that countryside is some seriously good riding.

This guidebook pulls together 20 of the best routes in the area, from mellow spins to big all‑day adventures between 14km and 77km. Whether you’re new to mountain biking or already chasing your next challenge, there’s something here for every rider. And with so many routes close to major towns and cities — Birmingham, Oxford, Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester and more — getting to the trails is easy.

Each ride comes with clear directions, OS 1:50,000 mapping, distance and timing info, difficulty grades, plus handy tips on where to refuel and what to look out for. There’s even a bonus section covering the downhill action on Leckhampton Hill, along with top‑ten lists for the best descents, climbs and singletrack.

A packed appendix rounds things off with places to eat, drink, stay and get your bike fixed — everything you need for a smooth day out. As part of Vertebrate Publishing’s bestselling MTB series, this guide sits alongside classics like Lake District Mountain Biking and Dark Peak Mountain Biking, all created by a team dedicated to producing top‑quality outdoor books.

If you’re planning to ride the Cotswolds, this is the guide you want in your pack.