Mad Max Tours

Who they are

Mad Max Tours is a Bath company that has run small-group day trips through the English countryside since 1991. The name combines that of its founder, Maddy, and her dog, Max. It has been based in Bath for almost 35 years and is now an independent member of the Go Tours UK family, which runs similar trips from London and Edinburgh with a different website. It describes itself as an award-winning company recommended by the Rick Steves guidebook, without detailing the awards.

What they do and where

It departs every day from Bath. The most requested trip combines Stonehenge and the Avebury stone circle with two Cotswold villages, Castle Combe and Lacock. Another is devoted to the Cotswolds alone, with Castle Combe, Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. There are also five-day trips around Cornwall and Wales. The routes take back roads, with stops in villages with pubs, cafés and bakeries for lunch.

Groups, meeting point and minimum age

They travel in 16-seat minibuses, designed to take narrow roads, with a maximum of 16 travellers per group. The guides are local drivers. Departure is in the centre of Bath, a short walk from Bath Spa station; the exact spot and time appear on each trip's page. The guides cannot wait for latecomers, so it is best to allow some margin. The return can be delayed by traffic.

They do not accept children under seven. They do not run private tours, either from Bath or from London. They can store some luggage, such as two large suitcases, but do not guarantee it: one of the minibuses has no boot and wheelchairs take priority. Trips run in any weather, so bring comfortable shoes, layers and a waterproof. You walk as much as you like, although there are cobbles, grass and uneven ground; anyone with mobility problems can be picked up from their accommodation in Bath.

What is included and what is not

Admission tickets are not included. The Stonehenge one is booked by the company to avoid queues and paid to the guide on the day, preferably by card; the price is set by English Heritage and is a little cheaper for groups. Lunch is not included either: the guide recommends where to eat and anyone with allergies should bring their own food.

Bookings and cancellations

You book on their website, where they guarantee the best price. They refund everything if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure and change the date for free with the same notice, subject to availability. They also guarantee departure even with few bookings.

Languages

The trips are in English. According to the company itself, they also serve those who do not speak it well: on the Stonehenge trip they hand out written notes in the minibus, and at Stonehenge there are audio guides in several languages. The website is in English, Chinese and Spanish.