Meet at New Street station at 09:30. Head out of Birmingham along well-surfaced canal towpaths to the outskirts of Birmingham, then on to Tamworth for lunch with an optional look inside the castle (entry fee £10). Then head to Ashby de la Zouch for a look around the ruins, before heading on to Bosworth Hall Hotel where we will stay overnight and have dinner. Morning and afternoon coffee stops if time allows. Aim to be at the accommodation by 5pm. Tamworth Castle: https://www.tamworthcastle.co.uk/ Ashby de la Zouch castle: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/ashby-de-la-zouch-castle/ Bosworth Hall hotel: https://www.britanniahotels.com/hotels/bosworth-hall-hotel-spa/history
Head south west to Astley to look around the castle site, before heading on to Kenilworth. We will have lunch there, with an optional look inside the castle (entry fee £12.60) before heading back to Birmingham. The route from the edge of the city will be largely traffic free, taking advantage of the Cole Valley cycle route and canal towpaths. Morning and afternoon coffee stops if time allows. Aim to be back at New Street by 6pm at the latest. Note: It is likely we will not be able to enter Astley castle: there are open days throughout the year, but these are not published yet. However, there are trails around it so we will be able to look at the exterior and explore the site. Astley Castle: https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/news-and-events/visiting-landmarks/visiting-astley-castle/ Kenilworth Castle: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle/
Bosworth Hall Hotel
Twin rooms unless you pay the additional £45 supplement, in which case single rooms. Both are subject to availability
2 day weekend break
None
Canals and cycle paths through Birmingham. Nearly all the rest are quiet country roads, though there are one or two short stretches on 'A' roads
Will be provided in the week before the tour
Up to 10 people
Hopefully sunny! Suggest cycling top and shorts, with a lightweigh waterproof
Any sort of bike, though ideally a touring bike. No suspension required, suggest slick tyres (i.e. NOT heavily treaded mountain bike tyres).
One or two spare intertubes. The leader will carry basic general tools and a basic 1st aid kit, so anything on top of those specific to you and your bike.
Links to the online maps will be provided in the week before the tour, from where GPX files can be downloaded