Cotswolds Mountain Biking
One of the Cotswolds Best Kept Secrets
Meet Tim Porter, mountain biking expert, off-road cycling enthusiast, host, and guide of Cotswolds Mountain Biking. With a mix of rolling hills, shady woodland trails, and a dramatic limestone escarpment, the Cotswolds is a real gem for mountain biking.
Tim has 15 years of Cotswolds riding experience and is qualified in Mountain Bike Leadership with British Cycling. He’s also certified in Outdoor First Aid and certified in Child Protection in Sport and Active Leisure.
The experience is offered as private rides for adults and/or teenage children (age 13 years or above) and takes up to 5 riders per group. With the option to start from Tim’s home, the Egypt Mill or location confirmed with Tim, the rides will typically be half-day ‘round routes’ that take about 3.5 hours. The ride times are set out as either morning (9.30 am to 1.00 pm) or afternoon (2.00 pm to 5.30 pm) however, if you’d like something different, Tim offers a more tailored package to suit your requirements.
So what can you expect from Cotswolds Mountain Biking? Well, a typical route is 25-30 km with approximately 600-800 m of ascent (and descent!). If the thought of that makes you nervous, don’t sweat it as Tim is able to adjust the route when needed. The riding experience is created to ensure that everyone in the group enjoys their time out as well as getting a sense of achievement.
You’ll start your excursion by covering bike checks, ride safety, and trail etiquette before heading off on the network of ‘natural’ trails – a mix of bridleways, woodland tracks, restricted byways, Common land, MTB single-track, and minor roads. During the ride, there will be a chance to have rest breaks and a snack. Don’t forget to charge your camera up, as there will be opportunities along the way to take some fantastic big view pictures.
It’s worth noting that the routes include some rough terrain and some challenging climbs, so the experience is best suited to cyclists with recent riding experience and a good level of riding fitness. For those preferring some assistance up the hills, Tim has two electric mountain bikes for hire which will make the climbs a breeze!
Prices for the guided rides start from £110 for a one-to-one experience, on a route tailored to the individual. If you’re looking for a group trip, packages are available for up to 5 riders in one group. If you need to additionally hire a bike for the outing, there are three bikes available, two electric and one hardtail conventional mountain bike.
For more information on pricing, FAQ’s and contact details, head to www.cotswoldmountainbiking.co.uk
Cotswolds Mountain Biking Reviews:
“Tim had a great knowledge of the local area and put together a really varied ride including single track, common land, and even some old quarry workings – a fab winter work-out.” — Emma, Jan 2020
“I did a guided ride on Tim’s electric mountain bike and was amazed that the ups were as much fun as the downs. Loved it” – Rose, March 2020
“Quiet woodland trails, testing climbs, fast descents, and stunning views. Many thanks for a really enjoyable morning out” – Toby, Feb 2020