If you really want to cycle through English countryside, a good place is the Forest of Dean, which is in Gloucestershire on the border with Wales. There are lots of disused railway tracks there. Another good route is the Tarka trail and its offshoots in Devon.

I must also add that driving on what is, to you, the "wrong" side of the road is really not as difficult or dangerous as you think. Many Brits drive on the "wrong" side of the road every year quite safely when they visit continental Europe or the United States or Canada. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.

"Actually, those of you living in the Cotswolds might want to do the ride first before commenting in such horrified terms"

I wrote my comment 30 mins after narrowly avoiding being killed as a result of cyclists every bit as moronically self-centred as julia 1.

Two cycling abreast, just as conviced as Ms 1 that they were the only people in the world. I swerved to avoid the idiot who pulled out - just as we were coming to a bend where I couldn't see the oncoming car.

Fortunately, diaster was avoided by a few inches.

The buffoons affected surprise two cars could be on the road at the same time.

"Unclassified" roads have cars. <b> There is no village to village route in the Cotswolds possible only by farm tracks </b>.

And a cyclist stupid enough to be unaware of the danger she's in is a menace to the rest of us.

flanner, your comment reads like you've come a little undone - no need to hurl insults. Have you considered that you might be the menace here?

All I can report is my own experience, which I did. And I haven't lived and travelled the world into my 60s, without mishaps and harm, by being 'moronically self-centred' (sic), an 'idiot' and 'buffoon' and 'stupid.'

Freberta, seriously, you need to get a car for the Cotswolds. Or else go somewhere else. I totally understand the compromise aspect of travelling but in the case of the Cotswolds compromise won't cut it. You are just NOT going to see the region the way a visitor should if you don't have a car.

If I can drive, by myself, in a standard transmission car, all over England and ALL over the Cotswolds during a snowstorm, I'm sure your husband could handle it especially since the rest of you can be assisting with navigation. You get used to the other side of the road remarkably quickly, and starting at Heathrow is easy because you get on the motorway quite fast. That breaks you in and by the time you pull off onto smaller secondary roads, it's pretty much second nature.

Tell your husband to quit being such a wuss!!

Pray tell, what did people do before cars in the Cotswolds? Horses, I suppose. But they also used their feet. And that is the reason why we want to go to the Cotswolds -- to walk the trails.

My husband is hardly a wuss; he's just a very responsible and cautious individual who would rather experience the Cotswolds in a limited way than put the safety of his family in jeopardy. My goodness, we plan on doing lots of walking while we are there. Isn't walking the trails an important part of the Cotswolds experience?

How about this -- when we return I will let everyone know if the Cotswolds can be done in a satisfying way without a car. Several people on Fodor's even contacted me directly and told me that it is possible to see the Cotswolds without a car. I will do my homework and have all our transportation needs and requirements arranged before we leave home.

Freberta,
Just to give you an idea of the roads in the Cotswolds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0J6mIIPwJo

Hooameye, Thanks for the video. At times, I thought the roads were hiking/biking trails. It's beautiful, but I think we will get a nice sampling of the Cotswolds by our walks and whatever taxis I hire to take us around. I am trying to arrange a short taxi tour (about 2 hours) on the day we arrive. We plan to walk from MIM to Chipping Campden, via Blockley and Broad Campden, and then I would like to get a taxi to pick us up from Chipping Campden around 5:30 p.m. We can have the driver take us around to a number of villages before dropping us back in MIM for dinner. Is it perfect? No. But will it allow us to see some of the villages that we otherwise wouldn't be able to see by bus or foot? Yes. That is the compromise I was referring to in one of my earlier posts. It will work for us.

I think this video gives an even better idea since it is one straight drive between two places many visit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Euq1_...eature=related

And I wouldn't normally show you this one-- except that you've already decided against driving so it won't scare you out of anything :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkJAA...eature=related

Perhaps the video links will show <i>who</i> actually knows what they are talking about.

For perspective though --I am a Californian born and raised -- lived just a few miles outside the Cotswolds for 5 years -- and find driving there 10000+% easier/safer than bike riding.

Day one: you arrive in MIM by 11:00. By the time you walk from train station to your hotel, check in, use the loo, and re-group it will be going on 12:00. If you then set out, on foot for CC, your party will be peckish and peevish before long.

May I suggest you purchase some take-away sandwiches (Tilly's which is in the middle of the main drag might do. Or you could pick up fruit, drinks, cheese, etc. at Budgens grocery.) On a fine day stopping for an al fresco lunch
along the trail would be lovely.

I would never do this, however. I would catch the first bus out of MIM to CC. You will see lovely villages and scenery. You will be treated to an uphill-down dale ride worthy of Mr. Toad. The last return bus leaves at 4 so your time in CC will be short. I would go to CC the next morning. From CC I would hike 1-2 miles to Hidcote.

By the time you get to Oxford your group may have had enough "togetherness". This is perfect because Oxford is a walkable town with many things to do. Your group can split up and easily re-group for lunch.

I'd make Oxford my base and take 1/2 day mini bus tours with Cotswold Roaming. They have tours of No. and So. Cotswolds, Bath, Stonehenge. You will see all the highlights and also have some time on your own to walk about. You may also book private tours. When you split the charges 6 ways it is a good value and they will take you anywhere. I've done this twice and the drivers were excellent. Book online.

The bus trip from Oxford to Woodstock is a snap. I understand why you'd want to go to Blenheim but agree it is a disappointment. Blenheim is Churchill's birth place but his final resting place in Bladon church yard is much more moving. Bladon is a 1-2 mile hike and the path takes you thru the grounds of Blenheim.

I only have one other piece of advice: leave those dang walking sticks at home.

I liked the videos.

Specs: After MIM, we are going to Bath and taking a Mad Max Tour of Stonehenge, which includes a stop in Lacock.

We love to walk, so I don't think the walk from MIM to Chipping Campden will be too long or much for us. We've been told to stop at Mill Dene Gardens in Blockley. Thanks for suggesting places to pick up lunch. Also, I thought the last bus from CC to MIM (#22) departs at 6:30 p.m. But I am trying to arrange a taxi to come fetch us in CC around 5:30 p.m. and take us around for about 1.5-2 hours to get a feel for the place and then drop us in MIM.

On our day in Oxford, we will first explore Oxford and then go to Blenheim. I'll look into walking to Churchill's grave. I don't know if we'll actually go into the palace. It might be more fun to walk around the grounds.

On day 3, we're going to cab it to Stow-on-the-Wold, take the bus to Bourton-on-the-Water and then walk along Heart of England Way, Wardens Way to Lower Slaughter, Upper Slaugher, Naunton, Windrush Way and back to Bourton-on-the-Water. I am also arranging for a taxi to get us and take us to dinner in Great Wolford and then back to MIM.

No walking sticks? Is it because they are not needed or that they look silly?

I don't think the sticks are necessary. Also, your itinerary sets such a quick pace I think the sticks will be a hindrance.

Lacock is wonderful and a nice addition to your plans. A taxi driver leaving from CC can show you quite a bit in 1/5-2 hours.

Sorry about the misinformation on the bus schedule. Four o'clock is the time we always leave because we have to catch the train and be back in Oxford in time for dinner.

Hope you have a trip filled with many adventures and great memories.