Cycling holidays in The UK

There’s no better way to explore the UK than by bicycle. A cycling holiday offers the opportunity to discover the real, authentic Britain - whether it’s Kent’s historic coast, Oxford’s secret alleyways, the remote Scottish Hebrides, Dorset’s charming countryside or the royal heritage of the Thames.

Cycling holidays in the spirit of slow travel

Here at The Carter Company, we believe in ‘slow travel’ - which means mainly gentle (alongside a few not-so-gentle) routes that allow our customers the luxury of time to slow down and soak up the details. Our cycling holidays are all about rediscovering the fun of exploring. The majority of our trips are self-guided, which means you can travel at your own pace and stop off en route as you please - whether it’s for a spot of bird watching in The Chiltern Hills, a seaside dip in Cornwall or a pint of ale in a traditional Cotswold pub.

We believe the magic is in the detail

We are passionate about sharing authentic British culture through our thoughtfully designed, unusual routes. With over 25 years of experience in creating cycling holidays, what sets us apart from other tour operators is our local expertise and in-depth knowledge of the areas we cover. We carefully research and then cycle in person every single route we sell, because we know that the magic of holidays is in the detail. Our itineraries are put together to take in not just the headline attractions but also the hidden gems of the local area that most tourists never see. We visit and stay in every hotel we use, to ensure our customers enjoy the highest quality and best located accommodation for exploring the area. Alongside the route directions (or in addition to your guide if you prefer to have one), we give each customer a Carter Company Adventure Handbook, which is jam packed with interesting nuggets of information and our insider tips we have accumulated over the years on the best things to see and do in the area.

Fantastic tailor-made UK cycling holidays

With all our experience in designing routes, we also offer a bespoke service and create tailor-made cycling holidays for many of our customers. If you have something specific in mind, or would like some inspiration, please do get in touch and we’d be delighted to help.


Our UK Cycling holidays


  1. A traffic free Dorset jolly

    This is about as good as it gets if you're looking for a traffic-free ride with peace and quiet in glorious gently rolling countryside. Distances…

    From £1,555

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Dorset & The New Forest

  2. Ramble and ride in deepest Dorset

    Combining walking and cycling, this tour has it all as it leads you along the beautiful Jurassic coast into deepest Dorset, an inspiration to…

    From £2,335

    Gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Dorset & The New Forest

  3. A Suffolk seaside jolly

    This gentle cycling tour with walking options too, is a wonderful way to discover the beauty and uniqueness of the Suffolk coast and sandy heaths…

    From £1,670

    Gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Suffolk

  4. England's Great West Way

    The Great West Way from Bristol to London is rooted in the very history of England, telling its own story about the country’s past. From being…

    From £3,835

    Gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / The Thames

  5. Kent castles

    Stay in and explore legendary castles built by the Romans and Henry VIII on this gentle cycling trip, This is a remarkable ride through history…

    From £1,535

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Kent

  6. Steaming through Snowdonia

    Snowdonia National Park where this cycling tour takes place, boasts the highest mountain in England and Wales and the largest natural lake in…

    From £1,995

    Not so gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Wales

  7. Captivating Cornwall

    Lying on England’s rugged southwestern tip, Cornwall captivates with its dramatic cliffs and coves, its intriguing tales of smuggling and mining,…

    From £2,520

    Not so gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Devon & Cornwall

  8. Electric Lakes

    Home to England's biggest lakes and tallest mountains, the Lake District is an area of electrifying natural beauty and as such, has recently…

    From £2,495

    Not so gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Lake District

  9. The Highlands coast to coast

    The Highlands of Scotland are known for their stunning scenery and sparse population and conjure a romantic image which doesn't disappoint on…

    From £2,595

    Not so gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Scotland

  10. Lochs and glens to Edinburgh

    From the shores of Loch Lomond through to the dramatic lochs and glens of the Trossachs National Park, to Pitlochry in the Highlands and onto…

    From £1,935

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Scotland

  11. Whistle-stop lochs and glens

    We are thrilled to offer this gentle bike holiday which presents a very unique opportunity to experience the dramatic and beautiful lochs and…

    From £1,195

    Gentle / 4 or 5 nights / Self-guided / Scotland

  12. A Highland fling

    The awesome landscapes and fascinating history of the Highlands in Scotland are unique and unparalleled. On this gentle self-guided cycling tour,…

    From £2,235

    Gentle / 4 or 5 nights / Self-guided / Scotland

  13. Scotland's grand tour

    This road cycling tour is grand in every way. With 3,000 feet of climbing on each of the four days, it’s certainly a big physical challenge.…

    From £2,190

    Not so gentle / 4 or 5 nights / Self-guided / Scotland

  14. Ramble and ride in the Cotswolds

    This tour combines walking and cycling and enables you to enjoy the full variety of the magical Cotswolds area with its beautiful hills and picture…

    From £1,765

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / The Cotswolds

  15. A Chiltern challenge

    Following much of the 170 mile Chiltern Cycleway, this tour covers the entire Chiltern Hills area: from the Thames at Henley in the south west,…

    From £1,290

    Not so gentle / 4 or 5 nights / Self-guided / The Chilterns

  16. Highlands and Hebrides

    The Scottish Highlands are world renowned for their stunning scenery and the west coast where this tour begins includes peaceful and idyllic…

    From £3,695

    Gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Scotland

  17. The New Forest and Stonehenge

    This is an inspiring holiday of contrasts offering some fabulous cycling in the New Forest National Park coupled with a visit to the World Heritage…

    From £1,375

    Gentle / 4 or 5 nights / Self-guided / Dorset & The New Forest

  18. Isles coast and the New Forest

    This holiday gives you a comprehensive look at the villages and estuaries of the New Forest National Park, the outstanding coast of Dorset and…

    From £1,995

    Gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Dorset & The New Forest

  19. The New Forest to the Isle of Wight

    The New Forest National Park lies at the heart of this trip with its vast forests, heaths and pasture-land where deer, ponies, and pigs have…

    From £1,330

    Gentle / 4 or 5 nights / Self-guided / Dorset & The New Forest

  20. A jaunt around Dorset

    This is unspoilt Dorset at its most delightful: if you're looking for a tranquil trip, look no further. Discover expansive sandy beaches at Studland,…

    From £995

    Gentle / 4 or 5 nights / Self-guided / Dorset & The New Forest

  21. Kent ~ the garden of England

    Known as The Garden of England, this corner of Kent is a pretty and rural area dotted with orchards and small farms. But on this tour you will…

    From £1,695

    Not so gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Kent

  22. A Kent seaside jolly

    This leisurely tour is ideal for families or those wanting to enjoy the wonderful beaches and fascinating history of this unspoilt area, on a…

    From £1,440

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Kent

  23. The really rather special tour

    For our Really Rather Special Tour, we have combined our most stunning and interesting cycling routes in the Cotswolds with what we think are…

    From £4,400

    Gentle / Many durations / Self-guided / The Cotswolds

  24. Cotswold gardens

    As the Cotswolds are home to numerous stunning English gardens, we have created this tour to include many of the most renowned. To these we have…

    From £1,895

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / The Cotswolds

  25. Thames source to sea

    Often described as 'liquid history', let the Thames lead you on a unique adventure through the heart and history of England. From its quiet source…

    From £2,975

    Not so gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / The Thames

  26. Oxford and Thames royal palaces

    The River Thames threads its way serenely through sleepy rural villages, pretty landscapes and through the heart of bustling historic towns such…

    From £2,585

    Gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / The Thames

  27. A Cotswold ride to Bath

    This romantic and relaxed journey between Oxford and Bath, two of England's finest cities, leads you through many of the Cotswolds' best loved…

    From £2,360

    Gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / The Cotswolds

  28. The Cotswolds and Stonehenge

    This iconic trip includes the World Heritage sites of Stonehenge, Bath and Blenheim Palace and a stunning journey from Oxford to Stratford on…

    From £2,760

    Not so gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / The Cotswolds

  29. Valleys of the Cotswolds

    Imagine Cotswold valleys at their most beautiful and chocolate box villages at their most glorious and you have this tour in a nutshell. Add…

    From £1,725

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / The Cotswolds

  30. Shakespeare country and the Cotswolds

    This holiday wanders through the classic hills and valleys of Cotswold country with its picturesque honey coloured villages and peaceful streams.…

    From £1,975

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / The Cotswolds

  31. Cotswold villages and Oxford

    This tour wanders through the classic hills and valleys of Cotswold country with its picturesque honey coloured villages and peaceful streams.…

    From £1,330

    Gentle / 4 or 5 nights / Self-guided / The Cotswolds

  32. Devon coast to coast

    This spectacular journey takes you from the beaches and estuaries in north Devon to the stunning south coast of Devon at Plymouth and onto the…

    From £1,895

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Devon & Cornwall

  33. Whistle-stop Cotswolds

    Enjoy a wonderful array of our favourite sights in the rolling Cotswolds with this whistle-stop tour. It may be short and it can be as laid back…

    From £595

    Gentle / Short breaks / Self-guided / The Cotswolds

  34. Whistle-stop Devon

    This tour has all the delights of Devon with idyllic flat, traffic free pedalling. Smell the sea air, taste the cream teas, see the green hills,…

    From £595

    Gentle / Short breaks / Self-guided / Devon & Cornwall


Can't find what you're looking for?

Many of our trips are tailor-made, so tell us what you're looking for and we'd be delighted to design the perfect cycling or walking holiday for you.


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