To see a complete list of each of the English walks described/available on our site please
select the English Walks Menu option at the end of this page
We usually take our GPS so we can later plot out our walks - various
readings (OSGB British Grid and shown in [ ]s) in easterly and northerly order are scattered around
the walks descriptions. It is important to set up plotting with the correct Grid Letters
entered into your GPS ( i.e. our first walk uses SP grid letters.)
Thame (S. Oxfordshire) via Shabbington + Rycote Chapel.
This meadowland and forest walk starts at The Prebendal
and Thame Church [ SP 7040 0638 ] where you will usually find plenty
of parking space on the roadside.
Note however that if there has been
recent heavy rain the fields just after the start of the walk do flood
easily (they are water meadows of course and meant to do this)
or can be very muddy - Thame river does go over it's banks with
little encouragement and if the fields are flooded here then probably the area
after the Fisherman's pub will be too wet to walk.
With the church behind you head north
(through some white traffic barriers) along the old road soon crossing two
bridges and shortly arriving at the by-pass (A418); cross this busy road
with great care.
After a few metres take the path on the left (marked
Thame Valley Walk) and head across the fields in a westerly direction
until you reach a minor road [ SP 6803 0777 ]
Turn left on this road then when
the road bears right take a path leaving on your left (Thame Valley Walk)
and follow this across the fields to emerge on a road by Shabbington
Church.
Turn left and follow the road - passing the Fisherman Pub off to
the right but staying on the road as it goes sharp left over two hump
bridges - the path continues on the right just after the second bridge
[ SP 6697 0651 ]. Now simply follow the river until the path seems to end [SP 6682
0551 ], where you turn sharp left and head to the now visible and noisy
A418 main-road.
Cross this with care and take the opposite path for a
few yards, then turn right onto the old disused railway track. Follow this
track soon going through some gates and then after passing woods on your
left arrive at a driveway, turn left up this driveway towards the houses
and farm buildings. At a T-junction you pick up the Oxfordshire Way
[ SP 6635
0486 ], go left here and follow it to Rycote Chapel (The Oxfordshire
Way goes right passed the Church - which is sometimes open in the
Spring/Summer - and also note there are seats at the Chapel for a picnic break)
Leaving the Chapel continue into the woods and then follow the path
until eventually coming to a field - cross this and back into the woods on
the far side. Stay on the main track through the woods until you arrive at
the road (A329). Now cross the road and onto the golf course and continue
on the Oxfordshire Way as it passes the two artificial lakes a little way
to your left and continues up to the club house which is also on your left.
Bear left just passed the club house and join a tarmac road - head down
this narrow road with the club house now on your left and practice greens
on your right - this road then soon becomes a track - follow this track
down as it heads towards Moreton.
The track ends at some gates, go through
these gates and head in the same direction down the road passing Elm Tree
Farm on your left into Moreton. When a small road comes in from the right
keep straight on and follow the road until it forks, go right here and
continue along through this very pretty village, passing a small duck pond
on your right (ignore the road going off to the right here - it's a dead
end). The road ends at some houses, look for a path going straight on
between houses+gardens and follow this mostly tarmac path - soon going
over a small stream and then with a field on your right - until this path
meets a track [ SP 7018 0513 ], turn left down this track and head back into Thame. The
track eventually reaches houses and then a tarmac road, continue in the
same direction - with playing fields on your left - until you reach a
roundabout, turn left here and follow the road until it reaches Thame high
street. Turn left here (, go across the road and then continue along until it turns very
sharp left on it's way out of Thame - take the small road on your right
which will take you back to the Church.
Charlbury to Charlbury via the ancient Wychwood Forest.
This walk is around 8 and a half miles, undulates, takes in a lovely green
track, then the former hunting forest of Wychwood and finishes by the river
Evenlode. Park at Charlbury railway station [ SP 35219 19441 ] - loads of space on the weekends.
Walk back to the road (B4437), turn left crossing the
railway line and then turn right along the small lane to Walcot Farm
(this is in fact the Oxfordshire Way). The track bears slightly left at the
farm and changes from tarmac to a grassy and gravel surface. Passing a
derelict barn (Top Barn) continue along the track to Catsham Lane [ SP
33367 20000 ]. Turn right and almost immediately left - signposted
Shorthampton, you will soon see the church in the distance on the right.
Carry straight on at the first road junction ( but it
is well worth first diverting right down the small road to the church and taking a
look ) and then as the road turns right at the bend carry straight
on along another grassy track.
On reaching the road at Chilson [ SP 31857 19547 ]
turn left and walk out of the village up to the main road (B4437). Turn right towards Burford but very shortly take the
signposted footpath on the left - pass some houses, go along a hedged
track and look for a style on the right. Follow the footpath on the left
side of the field up into the woodlands ahead. Follow the marked path
through Knighton's Copse until you reach a signposted path junction - go
left and then shortly right and follow this track down through
Cockshoothill woods - you should have a fields on your left. This takes
you down to a small road.
Turn left up the road following it until
you come to Waterman's Lodge farm. Opposite the farm entrance turn right
[ SP 33276 18217 ] onto a quite muddy track and immediately right again and
follow this main track through Wychwood Forest - it eventually turns into
a very wide grassy track - keep going along this wide grassy area (almost
avenue) until you reach Vista Gate [SP34530 17553], turn right along the
track here and follow it passing disused sawmills and dropping steeply
down to a lake. Turn sharp left here (steel gates in front of you) and
after a few yards turn right on a steep track back up into the woods.
Carry along this track which eventually comes out into more open
countryside - the track has it's own name "Patch Riding Track". Keep going
until you reach the main road at Finstock.
Turn left along the road and follow it out of the village - pass a road junction coming in on your right and just a little way down the hill there is a footpath on your left - it is a stone style with an arch cut into the hedge. There are a couple of ruined stone buildings ahead of you, pass to the right of these to go through a gate and continue along a track as it sweeps down and then up and around fields eventually with a high hedge on your left.
Turn right [ SP 35778 17358 ] down a track and after a few
yards look for an avenue of trees slightly to your left (Cornbury House is
away on your left) and walk through these trees (this is a marked
footpath) - this then brings you down to the lakes by Park Farm. Cross the lakes with an old building on your left and shortly take
a public footpath along the side of Cornbury Park (metal railed fence on
your left).
Simply continue along to North Lodge [SP 35473 18739] - turn
right to cross the beautifully named river Evenlode and then the railway
bridge to a t-junction, turn left along this road back into Charlbury and
then back down to the railway station.
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