The map used for these walks is the O.S. Explorer 206 Edge Hill and Fenny Compton Oxford.
The English Canal Walks on this page describe walking along the Oxford Canal as it meanders
between Banbury, Cropedy, Claydon, Fenny Compton Wharf and Marston Doles. The
canal is particularly interesting in the stretch between Fenny Compton and
Banbury - with lovely countryside plus lots of locks and bridges to explore -
including old disused railway bridges. There is also an old warehouse at Cropedy
and an unmarked (either on the map or even signposted from the canal) very old
brick-kiln where the bricks were made for the now extinct Fenny Compton Tunnel.
We have walked the whole of the Oxford Canal (taking photos of all
it's bridges and locks for our web site) - one of the problems in doing was
the often lack of public transport in some locations. Therefore we had to
sometimes park and then use a taxi to get to the start of a walk - for instance
on the Fenny Compton to Banbury stretch. This also means our walks described do
not always walk the canal in the same direction - we walked south from Fenny
Compton to Banbury and north from Fenny Compton to Marston Doles.
Fenny Compton Wharf to Banbury - one way and around 10.5
miles flat. This is a really uncomplicated walk since all you do is follow the
canal from Fenny Compton Wharf back to Banbury - to do this we parked at Banbury
Railway station (it is free parking on Sundays at time of writing (August 2007)
but you are apparently meant to be a rail user...).
There is a taxi rank at the
station and our fare to Fenny Compton Wharf cost us 15 pounds (note there is no
realistic public transport available). Walk down onto the tow path by the Wharf
Inn and turn right heading south towards Cropedy and Banbury. The pub itself is
covered in flowers and looks really pretty and almost immediately the tow path
and canal are bordered by trees, wild flowers and foliage - it really is
pleasant walking. The canal narrows considerably after a short distance as it
goes - for once - quite straight through a cutting - this was originally the
Fenny Compton Tunnel.
Just after going under Bridge 138 (which carries the A423 road) you will see a
narrow path going half back and up the canal bank - just a little way up you
come to an old brick kiln. This was where the bricks were made for the old
tunnel - the building is still intact though somewhat covered in vegetation
including some huge stinging nettles however you can go inside it.
Back on the canal the towpath slowly climbs for a while before dropping back
down to the become a proper towpath again as it nears Wormleighton Reservoir -
the route of the canal also goes back to what it knows best - wandering around
with bends etc. everywhere. The railway is quite close by along the old tunnel
route with frequent trains just about visible as they rush by but perhaps of
more interest are several semi-dismantled railway bridges where once another
line existed.
Around Claydon there are a series of locks within a short distance
so this part of the canal is quite busy especially on summer weekends however
after this things become much quieter again until you reach Cropedy. The church
is quite near to the canal and well worth looking around and there is also a
pub/restaurant opposite the church. After Cropedy the canal again becomes serene
until you get closer to Banbury and the noisy M40. The end of this walk is just
after Bridge 166 where it's just a short walk back up to Banbury railway
station.
Fenny Compton - Marston Doles - Priors Hardwick - Fenny Compton -
a circular walk of around 14
miles - flat for 8 miles then a little hilly in places for the return. If you
don't really believe that the Oxford Canal wanders around a little then this is
the walk to do - in one part between
Griffins Bridge and Stoneton Bridge you
almost expect it to go underneath itself on an aqueduct - the twist is so huge.
This section of the Oxford Canal goes almost entirely through open countryside
with just several bridges to look at and not a lock and hardly any buildings
around.
There is a limited amount of parking by the wharf on the old disused road by the
bridge. From Fenny Compton Wharf by the Wharf Inn go down onto the towpath and
turn left on the towpath and then immediately going under Bridges 136 and 136A.
The only lock on this walk is Napton Top Lock which is where you leave the
Oxford Canal at Marston Doles. Cross over Marston Doles Bridge and walk up the
quiet road for several 100 metres, then take a smaller barely surfaced road on
the right.
The semblance of road surface disappears by some buildings and the
now track goes off sharp left. It eventually arrives at a very sharp
right hand bend at a track/path junction - when we were last there a load of
plastic covered straw bales had been dumped in front of one path/style and a
huge mound of grey gravel had been dumped on the left hand side in front of
another style/path entrance. Go sharp left walking over the gravel heap (if it is still
there) and follow the field with a fence/hedge on the left and heading toward
some woodland. Once at the woods follow the field edge round the front of the
trees then stay ahead where the woods end now cross over the field heading
towards a small derelict building.nbsp; Carry on in the same direction now
climbing - the path goes directly towards and into
Priors Hardwick village - head for the church.
From the church continue along the road passing in front of a large
restaurant - at the road junction go left and shortly look out for and take a
footpath on the right. Once into the field go half right climbing up the field
i.e. head for the top right hand corner. Once through the gate continue straight
ahead now walking across the top of the ridge and with the field edge on the
right. After passing through another gate the path bears right and starts to
descend - head for a dip in the field to the right of the trees - take the
marked path ahead which goes across the next field and onto a small road. Go
left along the road and then almost immediately look for and go through a gate
on the right - the path now dips up and down as it crosses the fields and passes
Stoneton Manor. Go through a gate and then bear half right to arrive at Newfield
Pool. Keep to the right of the pool and continue ahead on the marked path - over
several fields - to reach Wormleighton. The church can be reached by heading
right along the road.
From Wormleighton there are two choices to get back to Fenny Compton - one of
which is to simply walk the country lane which heads almost directly back to the
Wharf - this is obviously the shortest way.
However since the map shows that
there is the site of the medieval ruins of Wormleighton nearbye and we don't
like walking on roads too much anyway, we took a concrete road leaving by the
church which headed down to the Sewage Works - to the right of the (not smelly)
works enter a field. Head half right down the fields with lots of furrows and
mounds etc on the left showing where the old ruins once were - in fact there is not a
lot see apart from these grassy mounds. Aim towards the clearly visible Oxford
Canal and Wells Bridge 134. There is or may be quite a lot of undergrowth at the
bridge - cross over the bridge and then immediately on the left and well hidden
in the quite dense foliage is a gap where you can get down to the towpath - turn right to
head back to Fenny Compton Wharf.
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