Читать книгу Cycling in the Cotswolds. 21 half and full-day cycle routes, and a 4-day 200km Tour of the Cotswolds онлайн

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The greater presence of clays to the south end of the Cotswolds means there is a greater chance here of encountering boggy, slow-drying ground; when these begin to ‘bog out’ or flood, routes in the north are more likely to still be rideable.

Wildlife, plants and flowers

This heron on the Kennet and Avon Canal seems remarkably unafraid of humans (Route 6)

The Cotswolds area is of national importance for some of the smaller and shyer species of wildlife. The watercourses in particular are among the last remaining strongholds of the nationally scarce water vole, although even here it is a rare sighting. Otters are beginning to make a comeback along the headwaters of the Thames; dragon and damselflies are rather more common sightings.

On dry land, hares and fallow deer are frequent sightings; less common are glimpses of weasels, badgers and foxes. Unimproved grassland, hay meadows and common areas are often host to sunbathing adders and all sorts of butterflies, including several varieties of fritillary and blue butterflies.