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Self-Guided Bike Tours UK

Experience the freedom of self-guided cycling tours in the UK, with scenic routes, flexible itineraries, and seamless logistics for an unforgettable adventure.

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Why Go on a Self-Guided Cycling Tour?

At UK Bike Tours, we believe the best way to experience the UK is on two wheels, discovering its diverse landscapes and rich history at your own pace.

From the dramatic cliffs of Cornwall to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and the legendary Coast to Coast route, our self-guided tours take you through some of the most scenic and culturally significant regions of the UK. Pedal past ancient castles, charming villages, and breathtaking countryside with the freedom to explore as you please.

One of the greatest advantages of a self-guided cycling tour is flexibility.

No tight schedules or group itineraries – just the open road and the ability to stop whenever something catches your eye. Whether it's a cozy tearoom in a historic market town or a quiet detour through a scenic nature reserve, the journey is yours to shape.

Worried about hills? We offer e-bike options to make longer rides and challenging terrain easier, ensuring that every cyclist, regardless of experience, can enjoy the adventure.

From the moment you book, we handle the details – securing accommodations, planning routes, and providing GPS navigation – so you can focus on the ride. You’ll receive a comprehensive digital guidebook with daily itineraries, must-see highlights, and easy-to-follow navigation, making your trip effortless and enjoyable.

Explore our range of UK bike tours, reach out to our team, and start planning your perfect cycling getaway today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Self-guided cycling tours provide a flexible and independent way to explore the UK on two wheels. You can set your own pace, modify your schedule, and immerse yourself in the journey. Our team handles all logistics, including booking accommodations, providing detailed itineraries, GPS routes, and 24/7 support. This ensures a stress-free experience while giving you the freedom to discover the UK's scenic landscapes and cultural landmarks at your leisure.

To help you choose the most suitable tour, we rate difficulty on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1/5 – Easy: Daily rides of about 30 km on mostly flat terrain. Ideal for beginners or those with little cycling experience.
  • 2/5 – Moderate: Up to 40 km per day with slight elevation gains (up to 200 m). Suitable for anyone in reasonable health.
  • 3/5 – Intermediate: Covering around 50 km daily, with elevation gains of up to 500 m. On flatter days, distances may be longer. Best for recreational cyclists with a good fitness level.
  • 4/5 – Advanced: Expect daily rides of 60 km or more, with climbs exceeding 500 m. Some stages may include up to 1000 m of elevation. Designed for experienced cyclists accustomed to hills.
  • 5/5 – Challenging: Long distances with steep climbs, perfect for highly experienced cyclists seeking a demanding yet rewarding challenge.

Accommodation availability varies based on the season, so we partner with a selection of trusted lodging providers that meet our quality standards. We aim to match accommodations to your preferences and budget, ensuring a comfortable stay. While our itineraries provide examples of accommodation types, specific locations may change depending on availability.

We offer tours for various cycling styles, including road cycling, gravel riding, and mountain biking. Our specialists can recommend the best option based on your experience, terrain preferences, and group needs. 

Gravel bikes are the most versatile choice, even for road cycling routes, as they allow for smooth riding on paved roads and scenic backroads that may be less maintained. These bikes also provide extra comfort for long-distance rides.

Since many of our tours feature hilly landscapes, some cyclists opt for e-bikes for added support. However, we recommend having prior experience with e-bikes, as they handle differently from traditional bicycles.

If bringing your bike isn’t an option, we offer rental services. Our range includes road bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and e-bikes to match the needs of your tour. Simply provide your preferred bike size and any special requests, and we’ll ensure you get the best fit for a comfortable ride.

Bike rentals include delivery before the tour and collection afterward. Each rental comes with a helmet, spare chain, basic repair kit, and pedals if required.

We strive to accommodate dietary needs, though availability varies by region. Vegetarian meals are usually easy to find in larger towns and cities, but vegan options may be more limited in rural areas. Many of our lunch stops are at traditional UK eateries, where dietary choices might be restricted, so we recommend planning.

The best time to cycle in the UK is from late spring to early autumn (May to September). May and June offer long daylight hours and relatively dry conditions, while September provides quieter routes with fewer tourists. However, UK weather is unpredictable, so it’s always wise to be prepared for occasional rain.

Most tours can continue in light rain with the right clothing. Thunderstorms are more common in summer afternoons, so we suggest starting your rides early in the day. If extreme weather is forecasted, we can modify your itinerary. Our support team is available to help with last-minute adjustments.

Ratings & Reviews

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5.0 average rating

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Angie Osborne

Verifed customer · 6 months ago

This tour met and exceeded our expectations. It was certainly challenging cycling for seniors but most of us did it all seven days. Scenery and culture of the islands was glorious. Guide and crew was superb!

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Greg Martin

Verifed customer · 7 months ago

Great holiday. Really easy to follow routes, good choice of hotels and the en route places to eat and visit was really helpful. Super responsive to questions during my holiday. Would definitely use them again.

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Chris Pyne

Verifed customer · 1 year ago

First class company with a well planned route, great accommodation and simply outstanding support in time of trouble. We did a two week ride from Bled to Pula in September 2023. Fair to say we hit a lot of problems courtesy of BA with rescheduled and diverted flights, lost bags, problems with our own bikes, returning rental bikes and more. Daja was simply amazing in helping us sort all of them out and was so accessible at all hours. She even managed to source and buy a forgotten Thru-axle and deliver it personally to our hotel, which is far and above any service i would reasonably expect. Thank you !! Our accommodation was fantastic and far better than expected in all but one location. The route planning in Slovenia was great but due to our decision to bring road bikes from the UK and the nature of the roads in Croatia, our second week was a bit tricky route wise and it would have been good to have had a discussion about this section beforehand. A Gravel bike is far better suited to Croatia although this was our decision to bring road bikes. Transport arrangement and logistics were flawless. Overall, i would change very little and we will definitely be returning to Slovenia. Daja was fantastic and I absolutely recommend Slovenia Cycling Holidays and will be using their services again.

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Filip Vercruysse

Verifed customer · 1 year ago

Top Company, Top Tour ! We did the 7 days tour (from Alps to Adriatic), from Bled to Piran in august 2024 ! It was the best tour made in years. Amazing landscapes and nature, great accommodations and food and perfectly organised. Daja did really a perfect job ! she was allways available for questions or suggestions ! I would recommend this tour to everyone.

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SHONA Goaman

Verifed customer · 7 months ago

Well organised, great route and lovely hotels.

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Karen Bergman

Verifed customer · 9 months ago

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip! The guides were professional and provided excellent leadership. They clearly know this country and the best cycling routes. I would definitely do another trip with them.

HANDPICKED ADVENTURES

HANDPICKED ADVENTURES

Only the best adventures across the world, cherry-picked by our team with an in-depth knowledge of the regions.

SELF-GUIDED TRAVEL

SELF-GUIDED TRAVEL

Explore independently and with confidence while we keep everything running from behind the scenes.

VALUE YOUR TIME

VALUE YOUR TIME

With everything on your plate, let us handle the vacation planning, so your valuable time stays exactly where you need it.

TRUSTED BY MANY

TRUSTED BY MANY

We are a financially protected company operating since 2014, and with thousands of satisfied customers in the past, we still put you first.