The Romantic Road - Classic Car Hire or Luxury Chauffeur Tour

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Cupid Strikes; The Romantic Road Tour  

Featured in The Telegraph as one of the Great British Drives, The Romantic Road takes you on a drive through quintessentially English countryside, starting in Cheltenham. It can be taken as a one-day or two-day driving tour, and if you really want to travel in style, you can select from classic car hire or chaffeur-driven luxury to suit. 

There are now two additional routes to choose from on the Romantic Road Tour taking you on gorgeous trails through the English and Welsh countryside.

Route A - The North Cotswolds Circuit takes you north out of Cheltenham, traversing Cleeve Hill, visiting Winchcombe, Stanway, Stanton, Broadway, Chipping Campden, Blockley, Moreton-in-Marsh, The Fosse Way, Stow-on-the-Wold, Upper and Lower Slaughter, before returning to Cheltenham. You will visit the highest village in The Cotswolds and see sites such as the filming location for Father Brown.  

Route B - East Cotswold & West Oxfordshire Circuit takes in Northleach, Burford, The Windrush Valley, Lechlade, Fairford, Bibury, Arlington Row, Cirencester and Painswick before again returning to Cheltenham. You will be afforded the opportunity to see an historic wool town, stretchs of the River Thames, an old coaching town, much medieval architecture and stained glass, one of the most photographed spots in The Cotswolds, a Roman town and much more.  

Route C - The Malvern Route, one of the new routes, goes northwest from Cheltenham, passing through the scenic Malvern Hills. Stops include Tewkesbury, a medieval town where the River Severn and River Avon meet, then Malvern and Gloucester with its famous cathedral, before returning to Cheltenham.

Route D, The Wye Valley and Royal Forest of Dean Route, the second of the new routes, goes through the beautiful Forest of Dean and The Wye Valley. Stops include Ross-on-Wye, Symonds Yat for a view of the River Wye, Coleford, and Clearwell. The journey ends in Chepstow, with an option to return via the River Severn or take a detour through Bath before heading back to Cheltenham.

For more information visit The Romantic Road – Driving Tour (4 nights, 5 days) – Compass Holidays (compass-holidays.com) 

Hidden Gems  - Allow time to explore Court Barn Museum in Chipping Campden which celebrates the talented designers and craftspeople who worked in the north Cotswolds. Go back in time to see Harts Silversmiths in their workshop which has been operating since 1888 when CR Ashbee established the Guild of Handicraft. 

While in Gloucester, immerse yourself in the magic of Harry Potter as you explore Gloucester Cathedral, the filming location for some scenes in Hogwarts! And be sure not to miss Chepstow Castle, the oldest surviving post-Roman castle in Britain. As you journey through the enchanting Forest of Dean towards Chepstow, marvel at the stunning cave system that adds to the area's breathtaking natural beauty.

Top Tips - Visit The Wilson Cheltenham’s Art Gallery & Museum with its world renowned collection to the Arts & Crafts movement. Make a visit to Corinium museum to unearth Cirencester’s amazing history and Roman mosaics. The vibrant New Brewery Arts Centre has many artisan craft makers from glass makers to book binders, potters to painters all for you to see up close and personal. 

Where to Stay - Choose from a selection of accommodation in Cheltenham including the iconic Queen’s Hotel or boutique-style No 131 The Promenade, a range of bed & breakfasts, small hotels or serviced apartments. For luxury and romance why not stay at Ellenborough Park Hotel or The Greenway Hotel & Spa located on the outskirts of the town.  

The Convenient Way to Book - A pre-booked tour is currently available from Compass Holidays who can book your accommodation, provide detailed driving routes and a smartphone app with interactive routes, arrange for Classic Car Hire or a Chaffeur Driven version. The team hope to make the routes available through other retailers soon, but Compass Holidays can help in the meantime.  

Growing The Romantic Road - Our specially researched car routes weave their way through the most beautiful parts of this 'area of outstanding natural beauty'. They will guide you through wide upland landscapes and hidden honey-coloured stone hamlets, revealing the fascinating contrasts of peaceful, timeless villages and bustling market towns, complete with ancient manor houses, churches, and traditional pubs. With the introduction of new routes, to feature beauties of nature in the Forest of Dean and the Malvern Hills, these routes are absolutely charming and will leave you wanting to experience it all over again.
 
In an area rich in history and natural beauty like the Cotswolds, it is sometimes difficult for visitors, even those who have been before, to find the most scenic country roads and the most picturesque villages. Our guide to the Romantic Road provides touring routes which are easy to follow and traces the tales of the many artists, writers and craftspeople who have drawn inspiration from the Cotswold landscape. 
 
The two romantic journeys: A Road for Today and A Road for Tomorrow, are each designed to be completed in a single day, at a leisurely pace, allowing time to enjoy the towns, villages, and scenery en-route. They will introduce you to some of the places which have proved so popular with generations of visitors to the Cotswolds and to some of our less well-known favourites. For visitors with time, there are many suggestions for places along the route in which to linger. On the Romantic Road you will never be far from your starting and finishing point in Cheltenham.