Around Medieval Ludlow
England, Wales Bike Tours
Cycle the English countryside & explore castles, Norman churches, & country cottages!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length5 days
- Prices from£786 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Quintessential England awaits you on this bike tour based in the medieval town of Ludlow. Known as England's finest market town, this English gem, steeped in tradition and history, is still an important trading center. Surrounded by rural hinterland, the iconic English countryside is the perfect place to cycle and explore.
Dominating the town is the dramatic 900-year-old Norman Castle, setting the mood for your time here. There are a wealth of beautiful period buildings to see as you meander the back alleyways.
As you set off on your bike, your routes will take you past country estates and old English villages and make you feel as though you have traveled back in time.
Ludlow is part of the slow food movement and was England's first "Cittaslow" or Slow City town. This designation ensures high-quality local food and drink and a local emphasis on the quality of a town's life and environment.
Slow down and enjoy!
Highlights
- Authentic village experience
- Renowned food scene
- Shropshire Hills and stunning English countryside
- Castles: Ludlow Castle, Croft Castle, Richards Castle Stokesay Castle
- Historic Norman Churches
- Flexible distances each day
- Lovely accommodations. You choose!
There is no better way to see these amazing sights than by biking in England! Take advantage of everything this country has to offer and be sure to check out our other bike tours in England.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Ludlow
Day 2: Choice of cycle routes; 12, 16, or 30 miles (18 to 48 km)
Day 3: Choice of cycle routes 14 or 22 miles (22 to 35 km)
Day 4: Choice of cycle routes 14 or 23 miles (22 to 37 km)
Day 5: DepartureDay 1: Arrival in Ludlow
You will start your bike tour in Ludlow. It is a medieval, fortified town dominated by a 900-year-old Norman castle that sits perched on a cliff above the River Teme, surrounded by fantastic cycling countryside and woodlands. It is a thriving market town, with a daily market and outstanding reputation for good food, and has been described by the poet Sir John Betjeman as ”the loveliest town in England”. There is plenty to do including guided walks, an outstanding church to visit, films, and live theater. During the summer months, Ludlow and its castle play host to many special events including a two-week arts festival, and Britain’s best food festivals. Your accommodation for the holiday is in historic Ludlow.Day 2: Choice of cycle routes: 12, 16, or 30 miles (19 to 48 km)
After breakfast, a taxi takes you from your accommodation to Petchfield Farm (about 5 miles) to be fitted for your rental bike. Here, there will also be a briefing about the route for the week. You will cycle back to Ludlow, following the River Teme, and pass two country estates. Today you have a choice of routes: 12, 16, or 30 miles (18 to 48 km). There are many possibilities on your ride today. You can stop and look for Kingfishers and Sand Martins from the ancient stone bridges, have a drink in England's only remaining parlor pub, or have a relaxing lunch at a riverside inn. You can also visit Hopton Castle and learn more about its history in the English Civil War, or take tea at Britain’s best tearoom. On your return journey through the Downton estate, visit Bromfield church with its 17th century painted ceiling. Stop at Ludlow Farm Shop for a coffee and to watch local artisan food producers, then finish your day with a fabulous off-road ride through Oakly Park estate, past Clive of India’s former home, and back to Ludlow, with great views of Ludlow Castle. Returning to your accommodation for your second night's stay.Day 3: Choice of cycle routes: 14 or 22 miles (22 to 35 km)
The Corvedale is a wonderful area to explore by bike - old farming villages, quiet lanes, and great views across to the Clee Hills. A 22 mile (35 km) ride takes you to the Stokesay Castle, England’s best-preserved fortified medieval manor house. Another option is to cycle along the Corve valley and under the Clee to visit the romantic Norman Heath Chapel, with its deserted village. You will also cycle along the longest ford in Clee, St Margaret.Day 4: Choice of cycle routes: 14 or 23 miles (22 to 37 km)
Today, cycle to the lovely market town of Tenbury Wells with its old-fashioned teashops and recently restored Victorian Spa buildings. Then, ride through orchards to Richards Castle, one of the first Norman castles built in this country before 1066. Also worth a visit is the grand National Trust house of Berrington Hall, with its ornate classical interiors or Croft Castle, a castellated manor house, home to the Croft family for 1,000 years. You will finish back at Petchfield Farm in the afternoon to drop off your bicycles. A taxi will take you back to your accommodations for the evening.Day 5: Breakfast and Departure from Ludlow
Looking for more? View all our featured bike trips, specials, and news, or look at our full list of bike tours in Europe.
Map
Hotels & Bikes
Hotel/Inn: Charlton Arms Hotel: a stylish country Inn on the banks of the River Teme in historic Ludlow (10 minute walk from the train station).
Guesthouse: The Mount Guesthouse: a Victorian house, with very friendly hosts. Just a few minutes walk from Ludlow’s historic center (5 minute walk from the train station).
Bicycles
City Touring Bike
Trek T-30
- Men's or unisex aluminum frame
- Upright riding position
- 21 speed Shimano gearing
- V brakes
- 700 35c Bontrager Satellite tires
- Bontrager saddle
- Flat pedals
Accessories
- Rear rack
- Front/rear fenders
- Rear pannier
- Handlebar bag
- Basic tool kit
- Pump
- Lock
- Ordnance survey map
*Clients can bring their own saddles and peddles and will be assisted in installation.
Electric Bike
Trek T 30 Electric Bike
- Step through aluminum frame
- Upright riding position
- 21 speed Shimano gearing
- V brakes
- 700 35c Bontrager Satellite tires
- Bontrager saddle
- Flat pedals
- Cyclotricity battery unit
- Front hub brushless motor (250 wattage)
Accessories
- Rear rack
- Front/rear fenders
- Rear pannier
- Handlebar bag
- Basic tool kit
- Pump
- Lock
- Ordnance survey map
*Clients can bring their own saddles and peddles and will be assisted in installation.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 4 nights including breakfast
- 21-speed hybrid bicycle equipped with mudguards, luggage racks, panniers, repair kit, lock, and handlebar map holder
- Transfers on Day 2 & Day 4
- Route descriptions & maps
- GPS tracks available on request
- Full emergency backup service
What’s Not Included
- Lunches and Dinners
- Transportation to/from Ludlow
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2023
Arrival possible daily from May 1 to September 30, 2023
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Guest House: $ 1523 £ 786 $ 1,324 € 920 kr 133898 ₪ 3736 ¥ 145496 Mex$ 17764 NZ$ 1647 NOK 10578 kr 10928 $ 981
Single supplement: $ 785 £ 405 $ 682 € 474 kr 68993 ₪ 1925 ¥ 74969 Mex$ 9153 NZ$ 848 NOK 5451 kr 5631 $ 506
Hotel/Inn: $ 1620 £ 836 $ 1,408 € 979 kr 142416 ₪ 3974 ¥ 154752 Mex$ 18894 NZ$ 1751 NOK 11251 kr 11623 $ 1,044
Single supplement: $ 891 £ 460 $ 775 € 539 kr 78363 ₪ 2186 ¥ 85150 Mex$ 10396 NZ$ 964 NOK 6191 kr 6395 $ 574
Extra Options
Extra Nights - Guesthouse
Double/Twin Room: $ 153 £ 79 $ 133 € 92 kr 13458 ₪ 375 ¥ 14624 Mex$ 1785 NZ$ 166 NOK 1063 kr 1098 $ 99 Single Room: $ 275 £ 142 $ 239 € 166 kr 24190 ₪ 675 ¥ 26286 Mex$ 3209 NZ$ 297 NOK 1911 kr 1974 $ 177Extra Nights - Hotel/Inn
Double/Twin Room: $ 172 £ 89 $ 150 € 104 kr 15161 ₪ 423 ¥ 16475 Mex$ 2011 NZ$ 186 NOK 1198 kr 1237 $ 111 Single Room: $ 316 £ 163 $ 275 € 191 kr 27768 ₪ 775 ¥ 30173 Mex$ 3684 NZ$ 341 NOK 2194 kr 2266 $ 203E-Bike Rental: $ 145 £ 75 $ 126 € 88 kr 12777 ₪ 356 ¥ 13883 Mex$ 1695 NZ$ 157 NOK 1009 kr 1043 $ 94
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This bike tour in England is an easy to moderate self-guided tour that can be adjusted to fit your level of fitness and desired mileage.
Airport Info
Fly to Birmingham International Airport, Manchester, or Liverpool John Lennon. Other options are London Heathrow or London Gatwick.
Local Travel
Birmingham International, Manchester, and Liverpool each have an hourly train service to Ludlow. Travel time is approximately one hour. London Heathrow and London Gatwick also have rail connections with travel time being approximately three and a half hours. Airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost.
Climate
Please check local conditions before arrival. In Ludlow, the summers are comfortable and partly cloudy, the best time of year to visit Ludlow for warm-weather activities is from June through September. Don’t forget your raingear!
Day of Rest
Any day can be used as a day of rest.
Recommended
Book during the famous, Ludlow Festival which takes place the last week of June and the first week of July but book early! Hotel availability becomes scarce.
Remarks
It is possible to bring your own pedals and bike seat. This tour offers children discounts starting from the age of 16, based on sharing a family room or family suite with two adults. Children’s bicycles, trailers, tandems, and mountain bikes are also available. Please ask us for details!
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Extra Stay
Extra nights can be arranged in Ludlow.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Wheely Wonderful Cycling.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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