The best cycling routes around Withington

At the General Audience on June 21, 2006, the then Holy Father briefly summarized two biblical accounts that illustrate the special position of James the Greater, the patron saint of this church, among the disciples: "He was privileged, along with Peter and John, to participate in the hour of Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and in the event of Jesus' transfiguration. (...) In the first instance, James, together with the other two apostles, experienced the glory of the Lord; he saw him speaking with Moses and Elijah; he saw the radiance of divine glory shine forth in Jesus; in the second instance, he stood before suffering and humiliation; he saw with his own eyes how the Son of God humbled himself and was obedient unto death. The second experience was certainly an opportunity for him to mature in faith and to correct the one-sided, triumphalistic interpretation of the first experience: He had to recognize that the Messiah, whom the Jewish people expected to be a triumphant figure, was in reality not only surrounded by honor and glory, but also of suffering and weakness. The glory of Christ is realized precisely on the cross, in sharing in our sufferings.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

Very nice cafe with indoor and outdoor seating

"The Anglican Church of St James at Coln St. Dennis in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England, was built in the 12th century. It is a grade I listed building. The Church of England parish church is dedicated to Saint James the Great. The church was dedicated to Saint Katherine in the 13th century, Saint Dennis in the 18th century, and is believed to have once been dedicated to Saint Kenelm.[2] During the 18th century it may have briefly been dedicated to St Dennis. The central tower had a belfry added in the 15th century.  This was rebuilt in 1904 as part of a wider restoration by William Weir the architect for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. The parish is part of the Chedworth Yanworth and Stowell Coln Rogers and Coln St Dennis benefice within the Diocese of Gloucester." Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_James,_Coln_St._Dennis

A countryside cafe set in the heart of the Cotswolds with a pleasant garden and covered seating area.

"Bibury is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is on the River Coln, a Thames tributary that rises in the same (Cotswold) District. The village centre is 6+1⁄2 miles (10.5 kilometres) northeast of Cirencester. Arlington Row is a nationally notable architectural conservation area depicted on the inside cover of some British passports. It is a major destination for tourists visiting the traditional rural villages, tea houses and many historic buildings of the Cotswold District; it is one of six places in the country featured in Mini-Europe, Brussels. In the Domesday Book (1086), a record of survey done under William the Conqueror, the place is named Becheberie, and it is recorded that the lands and church in Bibury were held by St. Mary's Priory at Worcester, from whom it passed in 1130 to the Abbey of Osney, near Oxford: the Abbey continued to hold it until its dissolution in 1540." Source: Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibury

If you check times steam train railway goes to Winchcombe and Toddington . They take bikes and give you a head start for a lot of routes I the area. Peter Ross

This is a beautiful park just off the High Street. Sandford Park is one of Cheltenham's lesser known little paradises. Apart from the park and gardens there is a large play area for kids.

Lovely views over Winchcombe and the surrounding rolling countryside on this stretch of the walk.