Somerton - Oxford Canal - Aynho - Souldern - Somerton - 15kms
fairly flat. The map used for this walk is the O.S. Explorer 191 Oxford
The walk starts at Somerton in Oxfordshire - there is a little bit of parking
available by the canal bridge at Somerton.
From the bridge go left onto the
towpath with the canal and railway lines on your right. Simply follow the canal
past Somerton Lock and then a swing bridge as far as Souldern Bridge (192) by
Wharf Farm.
Cross the bridge and walk up past the farm and along Wharf Lane going over one railway bridge and then under another railway bridge - continue on the lane and look out and take a somewhat hidden signed path on the left (this is about .5km from the canal). Go along the field edge - this path drops down to cross a stream and arrives at a t-junction. Turn right and follow the marked path as it heads for the noisy M40 motorway. (If you look behind you there are very good view of the large railway viaduct).
Continue under the motorway and then the path swings round the field and
comes out a the very pretty area of Souldern Mill.
Cross the stream onto the driveway, turn left and re-cross the stream on a ford
and then follow the drive as it climbs.
You eventually get a pretty good view of Aynhoe Park and House and
the church over the fields to the right. Just continue along until reaching a
small road, turn right and follow this road round the Park's walls to a road
junction. Turn right again and follow the road on round through the town passing
the house and church still on the right. Just as you get to the edge of the town
look out for a footpath sign on the right - this footpath goes down between
really nice stone walls.
The marked path descends across a field then through a
small wooded area where it re-crosses the steam before climbing back over a
field to arrive at Souldern Church.
From the church continue straight on to a road with a village duck pond on
the left. Go across the crossroads and walk up
the narrow lane which winds round
to the right - just at a road junction look out and cross a scruffy green style
on the left (who knows this might well be a nice smart style one day of
course..). The path goes reluctantly between houses - soon take another green
style on the right.
Keep to the field edge and look out for a stone style on the
right - cross and join Fox Hill Lane (a track), turn left on this lane and
follow it to reach a road. Turn right and cross the Motorway - continue on the
road and take the next track on the right leading to Upper Souldern Grounds Farm
- just before reaching the farm take a marked path over a style on the left.
The path continues up a field, crosses a track and then passes Hill House -
shortly bear slightly right and pick up an enclosed path which takes you over
the top of the railway tunnel.
This path could easily be extremely overgrown
with bramble and nettles so you may decide/need to walk the field edge instead.
The path goes through a small wooded area - continues across fields with good
views back on the right of the huge railway viaduct, before
climbing to meet a cross path - go right here and walk down over scruffy thistle
and nettle and boggy fields to arrive at a driveway.
Go left and then almost
immediately turn right onto a road and follow this back to the Oxford Canal.
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