Cambridge

It may be cold but those on the River Cam may have found the answer for the enthusiastic Cambridge punter

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford on Avon Opens

Yesterday, the new Shakespeare Theatre finally opened its doors after a £112 million massive refurbishment. The new thrust stage will bring the audience closer to the action although some critics have their reservations about sight lines.

Perhaps the most dramatic change is the 36 metre tower with its viewing platform giving you a vista over 4 counties. And while you're up there you can enjoy the rooftop restaurant which wraps around this new Stratford town landmark. Food is served all day and both the restuarant and tower are open to all.

Public booking for the new season's performances starts January 28 with King Lear opening on February 23.  Book our Cotswold Highlights walking tour or our Cotswolds and Stratford gentle cycling holiday and you can enjoy the new theatre experience for yourself.

Choice Inns

We're so pleased that a number of the inns we highlight on our tours are  in the list of the latest prize winning inns of England.

One to mention especially at this time of year as autumn seems to be fast changing into winter, is The Turf Tavern in Oxford.  Awarded Best Town pub of the year, the inn features .on all our tours in and from Oxford.  Tucked away behind high walls in the heart of this historic city, you can sit outside in the three attractive walled-in flagstoned or gravelled courtyards (one has its own bar) with coal braziers so you can roast chestnuts or toast marshmallows.  Canopies, lights and heaters.add to the general cosiness and warmth of this charaterful pub.  But beware late arrivals for lunch: you may well be disappointed.
Congratulations to The Turf Tavern and thanks for your warm welcome to our walkers and cyclists there.

Chiltern Hills Cycling and Walking

We have taken advantage of the wonderful September weather and spent some time cycling in our local hills - The Chilterns.  Far less known than the Cotswolds, the Chilterns offer just as much with glorious villages. hidden valleys and great vistas often dotted with beech woods. We explored the Ashridge Estate recently - owned now by The National Trust but conceived originally by the Duke of Bridgewater who was responsible for constructing many of our canals.His estate lies close to the Grand Union Canal at Tring so you can combine cycling on the towpath with the excellent bike tracks within the estate. These can be downloaded from their website. Tring is just 45 minutes by train from London and if you leave by turning right out of the station you will reach the pretty village of Aldbury before a couple of miles have past. Sink a drink from the local pub to encourage you up the hill and from there on, its flat or downhill. Whether on foot or two wheels you can enjoy Ivinghoe Beacon., a great value cafe on the estate and woodland descents into Berkhamsted for a train ride home.

Britain by Bike on BBC4

Last night BBC4 started a new series with Clare Balding setting out on a two-wheel odyssey to re-discover Britain from the saddle of her bike.
In a six-part series, Clare will follow the wheeltracks of compulsive cyclist and author Harold Briercliffe whose evocative guide books of the late 1940s lovingly describe by-passed Britain - a world of unspoiled villages, cycle touring clubs and sunny B roads.
Carrying a set of Harold's Cycling Touring Guides for company, Clare embarks on six iconic cycle rides to try and find the world he described.

Her first journey was to the rugged and beautiful Atlantic coast of north Devon - from Lynmouth, scene of Britain's worst flood disaster in the early 1950s, to Ilfracombe via Little Switzerland, and a hidden silver mine whose riches probably helped England win the Battle of Agincourt. En route she met  two men setting out on a tour from Ilfracombe to Plymouth which we feature as our Devon Coast to Coast tour. It is traditional to dip your front wheel in the sea at both ends of the journey for good luck.

It looks like this is going to be excellent viewing for those who love cycling so we shall be hooked!

Summertime

After a cloudy and sometimes wet Bank Holiday weekend, summer seems to have arrived with temperatures in their twenties today which are predicted to continue into the weekend. . Two of our hosts reported their first soundings of the cuckoo within the last 10 days and The Chelsea Flower Show bloomed last week. The grass courts at Wimbledon opened a fortnight ago - we recommend a visit to the award winning Museum there, where you can also take a a tour of the grounds and enjoy a cream tea with strawberries.. Thames river boats are now in full flow which means our gastronomic tour of some of England's finest Michelin starred establishments is yours for the eating. The canal bank outside our office windows is brimming with cow parsley and the dragon flies are darting and swooping about. England at its unbeatable best!
Image taken on our White Horse Downs and Thames Meadows cycling and walking tour

Cotswold Walking Tour and Festival Opera

The village of Longborough features in our new 5 night Cotswold walking tour. Standing above the broad valley of the Evenlode and not far from Stow on Wold,  it's a peaceful village that holds a surprise. For set within the grounds of one of its houses, is an opera house seating 500 where for 6 weeks each summer festival spirit fills the airwaves. This year, the magic of  Mozart, Wagner and Puccini  will  float down the valley.

The box office has some tickets still available. You could of course go 'the extra mile' by walking there on our Cotswold Highlights tour stayong overnight in the village.