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The Cotswolds
Walking & Hiking
The Gloucestershire Way is a 100 mile long walk, mainly on footpaths and bridleways. It starts at the historic border crossing at Chepstow and finishes at the Abbey at Tewkesbury.
The Cotswold Way is a 130 mile long walk, starting in Chipping Camden and taking you through the villages of Winchcombe, Painswick, Uley, Cold Ashton, finishes in Bath.
The Wychwood Way is a 37 mile long circular trail around the heart of the former Royal Hunting Forest of Wychwood through the towns of Woodstock, Chipping Norton and Ascott-under-Wychwood. Close to Bruern.
The Ridgeway Path is a 85 mile long walk, following the ancient chalk ridge route used by prehistoric man. The Ridgeway starts at Overton Hill, Nr Avebury and takes you all the way to Ivinghoe Beacon, Nr Aylesbury, taking in the famous White Horse Hill at Uffington.
Fishing
Chad Lakes Fishery,
Bledington (01451 831470)
Offers Course fishing.
Lemington Lakes,
Moreton-in-Marsh (01608 651872)
Set in 75 acres. Has course fishing and big carp.
The Willows Isis Lakes,
South Cerney (01285 862898)
Course and trout fishing.
The Lenches Lakes,
Evesham (01386 871035)
Two lakes, 7 acres with Trout Fly fishing.
Bibury Trout Farm,
Cirencester (01285 740215/740212)
In the heart of Bibury, it was founded in 1902Extensive fishing, a beautiful setting and plenty of good pubs and restaurants.
Lechlade & Bushyleaze Trout Fishery,
Lechlade(01367 253266)
9 acre lake of wild brown trout fishing on the river Leach. Bushleaze, at 22 acres, has a minimum stock size of 2.5 lbs.
Riding
Jill Carenza Riding School,
Stanton (01386 584250)
Lessons and guided hacks. Minimum age 4 years. Hats provided.
Hall Place D.I.Y. Stables,
Prestbury (07771664813)
English riding lessons and guided Hacks. No minimum age, lessons for children on small ponies.
Camp Riding Centre,
The Camp (01285 821219)
Lessons and guided hacks. Hats provided. Minimum age 7 years.
South Cerney Riding School,
Cerney Wick (01793 750151)
Lessons and guided hacks all year round, Body protectors, hats and boots provided. Minimum age 18mths.
Cotswold Trail Riding Centre
Brookthorpe (01452 813344)
Guided trail riding and lessons. Minimum, Age 6.
Oxford Riding School,
Garsington (01865 361383)
Lessons all year round. Minimum age 6 years, hats provided.
Golf
The Wychwood Golf Club,
Lyneham (01993 831841)
An eighteen-hole golf course, 10 minutes walk from Bruern.
Cleeve Hill Golf Club,
Cheltenham (01242 672592)
Municipal pay-as-you-go. 18 holes - all welcome.
Cotswolds Hills Golf Club,
Leckhampton (01242 515264)
18 holes, all welcome by appointment. Handicap certificates necessary.
Lilleybrook Golf Club,
Cheltenham (01242 526785)
18 hole parkland course - visitors welcome weekdays only. Handicap certificates necessary.
Minchinhampton Golf Club,
Minchinhampton Common (01453 832642)
18 hole course on common land.
Lyneham Golf Club,
Chipping Norton (01993 831841)
18 hole, wooded course and a Driving Range.
Water Sports
Cotswold Water Park,
South Cerney (01285 861459)
Britain's largest water park with 133 lakes between Swindon and Cirencester. All water sports and recreation Sailing, Windsurfing, Waterskiing, Jet Skiing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Diving, Swimming.
Climbing
Head 4 Heights,
Keynes Country Park (01285 770007)
Rock Solid,
Oxford (01865 484373 / 484374)
Ballooning
Cheltenham Balloon Flights,
Woodmancote (01242 675003)
Ballooning in the Cotswolds,
Amberley (01453 873529)
Gliding
Oxfordshire Sportflying Ltd,
Church Enstone (01608 677208)
Bristol & Gloucestershire Gliding Club,
Nympsfield (01453 860342)
Flying available all year round.
Cotswold Gliding Club,
Aston Down Airfield (01285 760415)
Trial lessons and holiday courses.
Rally Driving, Car Racing & 4 x 4 Driving
Virgin Experience,
Woodstock (0845 330 5115)
Bugatti Owners Club,
Gotherington ( 01242 673136)
Whitecliff Off Road Driving Centre,
Coleford (01594 834666)
Punting in Oxford
Magdalen Bridge Boathouse,
(01865 202643)
Float along the Cherwell past the Botanic Gardens, around Magdalen College School playing fields and Angel & Greyhound meadows, past St Hilda's, and up past Christ Church meadows.
Cherwell Boathouse,
(01865 515978)
Float along the Cherwell past University Parks and Parson's Pleasure, or past Wolfson College and Marston meadows to the Victoria Arms pub.
IPG Marine at Head of the River Public House,
(01865 721600)
Meander along the Isis (River Thames) past the college boat houses, explore the byways past Christ Church Meadow, or explore downstream past Donnington Bridge, past 'Haystacks' to Iffley Lock.
Clay Pigeon & Target Shooting, Quad Biking, Archery
Lords of the Manor Hotel,
Upper Slaughter (01451 820243)
Winkworth Farm,
Malmesbury (01666 823499)
Heythrop Park,
Oxfordshire (01608 673333)
The Oak Grove Shooting School,
Stratford-Upon-Avon (01295 680402)
Roy Matthews (07876 666751)
Field Sports (Live Game)
Lords of the Manor Hotel,
Upper Slaughter (01451 820243)
Lower Slaughter Manor,
Lower Slaughter (01451 820 456)
Heart of England Falconry,
The Shakespeare Countryside Museum, Mary Arden's House, Stratford-upon-Avon (01789 298365)
Polo
Inglesham Polo Club,
Inglesham (01367 2533939)
A small Polo Club with Indoor and Outdoor Arenas for all weather playing. Lessons available.
Kirtlington Polo Club,
Kirtlington (01869 350138)
A small Polo Club with Indoor Arena for teaching riding. They have a good outdoor Polo ground for playing and teaching. Lessons available.
Cirencester Park Polo Club,
Cirencester (01285 653225)
A large and Royal Polo club with Medium to High Goal Tournaments throughout the summer.
Beaufort Polo Club,
Tetbury (01666 880510)
A small Polo Club with Royal connections with Low to High Goal Tournaments throughout the summer.
Boating In Lechlade and Oxford
You can hire a boat by the hour, half daily or for the whole day. The Thames is only River in England with Locks that are all still working. They have the traditional Lock Keepers and their families running the 44 Locks along the river keeping the channels clear, navigable and safe. For the children there are canoes and kayaks and for adults there is the choice of rowing boats, electric boats, skiffs, River cruisers and the Megan boats.
Riverside Ltd,
Lechlade (01367 253599)
Cotswold Boat Hire,
Lechlade (01793 700241)
Oxfordshire Narrow Boats Ltd
Biscester (01869 340348)
College Cruisers Ltd,
Oxford (01865 554348)
Abingdon Boat Centre,
Abingdon (01235 521125)