You almost think England’s tourism bureau has sold themselves short here. Had you even heard of this serene region? If you long for the lochs of Scotland, this will absolutely blow you away. Multiple lakes, mountain ranges, and cute little alpine towns line the region. 

Our first trail experience takes place here. You can race it, run it, hike it, or walk it - it doesn’t matter as long as you’re moving one foot after another. This is the whole point of Race2Adventure - start your morning right with some exercise and earn the rest of your day. For some, that’s bellying up to a pub for the Euro Cup games at 3pm, 6pm, and 9pm each day. For others, it’s time to find a local pitch and have a kickaround. 

Unpack your things and get fairly comfortable as this is our home for the next two nights.

We have just got to explore more of these majestic lands. The trails and hikes are many - trust we have the best and most scenic ones in store for you!

We’ll devote this afternoon to anything that floats. Paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, and rowboats are the best way to pay homage to these crystal blue lakes. Let’s enjoy the water and the summer sun before relaxing back at the hotel (or pub) for the evening.

We’re making our way south, into the heart of England, to start our next chapter of this experience - The Cotswolds!  The Cotswold Trail is 102 miles long and takes most people 7-12 days to complete. On our scout, we found the best towns and the best trail segments inside this iconic trail. And so over the next two days, we’ll explore the “best of” the Cotswold Trail.

Today takes us from Stow-on-the-Wold to Bourton-on-the-Water! Wait…those are names of towns? Yep! And not just any towns - truly the cutest and prettiest towns you’ve ever set foot in. We’ll kick off our race/run/hike at The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold, which is the oldest Inn and Pub in all of England. We’ll pass through the township of Lower Slaughter and finish at the famous Hawkstone Brewery, owned by Jeremy Clarkson (one of the more famous British TV personalities). Following lunch at Hawkstone, we’ll meander into Bourton-on-the-Water, the prettiest town you’ve ever laid your eyes on, with little stone bridges lining the town center.

Finally, it’s time to check into our resort, our home for the next two evenings.

It’s a day of leisure today. Let’s rest the legs, enjoy the scenery and choose our own adventures. Some will sleep in and enjoy the comforts of our resort in the Cotswolds. Others may head to the Cotswold Lakes for paddling, waterskiing, and lakeside cocktails. Maybe it’s just time to hang back and have afternoon tea at the resort. And per usual, Euro Cup games are on in the pub at 3pm, 6pm, and 9pm. Rest up this evening as we have a great trail segment of the Cotswold Trail tomorrow morning!

Pack your bags as we’re headed south. Today we’ll conquer a long segment of the Cotswold packed with views, sheep, turnstiles, and lots of single track. We’ll enter at Painswick and make our way to King’s Stanley. We’re going to give an option today as there is a 5-mile and 10-mile trial segment. If you’d like to jump out half way, we’ll be there to receive you. If you’re ready for the biggest challenge of the week, let’s take you all the way to the end.

We’re going to celebrate this challenging morning with a proper “roast” in King’s Stanley. Our long morning run/hike will be rewarded with roast beef, vegetables, potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding. 

Then it’s off to our next stop in the city of Bath. This city is an absolute hidden gem. The famous Roman baths are still available for tours so we’ll make sure to leave time for that. The city itself is lined with shops, restaurants, and pubs, block after block. The entire city center has the River Avon wrapping all the way around it. Walk the city streets, have a kickaround in the city park, or find yourself cheering for England, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, or some other European behemoth this evening.

Did you know that in the East Devon District, there is a seaside village on the southern coast of England called “Beer”? And that it sits on the most picturesque coastline you’ve ever laid your eyes on? Because it does exist and it is spectacular. There is a six-mile trail that weaves along the coast from Beer to Branscombe and back, and we believe it is one of the most beautiful things someone can experience. The Hooken Cliffs, single-track trails, the English Channel and rivers will all make this a day to remember. And yes, for those of us 18 and over, a beer will definitely need to happen in…Beer.

We’ll end this epic day by hugging the coast to the seaside city of Bournemouth, our home for the evening.

What better way to cap off the week than in LONDON! This is also the day where the second opportunity to see a Euro Cup match live will take place. The game will be held in London’s Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium. If you’d like to attend the game in-person, the additional purchase option is on the registration page. That or head into the heart of the city to indulge in the sights and sounds of historical London for the remainder of the day and evening.

We’ll be incredibly close to Heathrow Airport, so for some of us, it’s time to head for home. For others, maybe it’s more time in London, or more time in Europe in general! The train to Amsterdam or the Chunnel to Paris are just a few of the options at your fingertips.

One thing is for certain - we will have had the time of our lives, trekking through the United Kingdom, all in the midst of the largest sporting event the entire continent has to offer. Lakes, oceans, rivers, trails, cozy towns, vibrant cities, and the 2028 Euro Cup, all rolled into one!