Welcome to our Oxfordshire Way Walks page - one of a series of pages of walks instructions
and photos on our website describing hiking trips from around The Chilterns (Buckinghamshire
and Oxfordshire) in England.These walks vary between 8 to 12 miles and are circular. The walks all involve using The Oxfordshire Way to some degree and also at times use other National Trails including The Ridgeway, The Icknield Way and the South Bucks Way as well as parts of Grim's Ditch and the Thames Path.  The Stonor to Stonor walk described below goes through Red Kite country - we have walked this excellent route many times and have never failed to spot many Red Kites as well as Buzzards, Hawks, Woodpeckers, occasional Owls as well as many other birds whilst in the woods and up on the ridge. Once down onto the River Thames there are loads of ducks, herons, gulls and quite often the flash of a kingfisher to enjoy. To see a complete list of the walks on our site please select the UK Walks option at the bottom of this page. |
Stonor to Stonor via Assendon Ridge, Oxfordshire Way, Maidens Grove.
You can park on the B480 opposite the main entrance to Stonor Deer Park
[], there is usually room for around 10 or 12 cars, however on weekends
this can be full up whilst during weekdays parking is usually easy.
OSGB map to use is Explorer 171
Facing the Park go right along the road into and through
the village - as you get to the end of the village there is a farm and
barns on your left, and a footpath on the left just beyond these barns.
Cross the field with the barns on your left and go on up through the woods
- at the top continue slightly right through Coxlease Farm - (white
arrows) - on meeting the cross-track turn right and continue along
Assendon Ridge with its lovely views and frequent sightings or red kites
(showing off as always). The track bears right and then enters Paradise
woods - a good name as you will discover as you follow the winding
footpath as it descends slowly down the ridge. When the woods end continue
half right down the field to the road.
Turn left and follow this road to a junction where you
turn right and then right again (passing Bix Hall Farm) - although a road
this is now in fact the Oxfordshire Way. Usually a very quiet road, follow
it as it winds round and when eventually coming to a T-junction, stay
right. Still following the road pass a farm on your left and shortly
afterwards arrive at the ruins of St James's Church on your left. A few
hundred yards past this ruin the Oxfordshire Way returns to being a lovely
hedge track as it leaves the road on the right and climbs up into the
woods.
Keep climbing through the woods for quite a while - as you eventually leave the woods there is a sign for Lodge Farm on the right but continue slightly left on the track - when this tracks soon splits stay left again to come out on a road with a huge Common area (Russell's Water Common) on your left. Cross the road and take the track opposite which is marked Maidens grove Farm - the path goes into the farm and bends sharply left by a barn - you can then clearly see a double arrow marked path between two fences in front of you. Carry on across the field and on down through the woods - clearly marked with white arrows.
At the bottom needless to say you then
have to go up the other side of the woods and then on across a field to
the edge of the next woods (Long wood) - turn right and follow the track
(which goes just inside the woods) down to a T-junction at the bottom.
Slight diversion here? - you can turn left and have a look at Pishill Church
which is only a couple of hundred yards away - there are a couple of seats
here for a picnic and also good views of Stonor Park).
At the T-junction turn right and follow the Oxfordshire
Way downhill - ignore a track going off to the left - continue straight on
and up the other side of the field into the woods. Continue UP steeply
through the woods keeping to the main track and eventually this track goes
down to a road - cross the road and take the footpath opposite which
quickly goes slightly right of the track up into the woods again and then
arrives at a field edge. Cross the field (half right) and then at
the edge of the field where a clear track goes straight on, turn sharp
left and follow a clear path across the field to the woods (Park Wood).
Follow the marked path down through these woods to arrive at a style -
cross this into a field and continue on down - crossing another field - to
the road. Turn left back to Stonor Park main entrance.
Stonor to Stonor circular via Henley - The Thames - Oxfordshire Way. As with the above walk this starts on the B480 opposite the main entrance to Stonor Deer Park, where there is usually room for around 10 or 12 cars along the roadside; note however on weekends this can be full up whilst during weekdays parking is normally easy. Pack some bread since there are plenty of starving (fat actually - amazing they can fly..) ducks and hungry swans to feed when you get down to the River Thames. OSGB map to use is Explorer 171
Facing Stonor Park go right along the road then shortly after passing a road on the right look out on the left for a signposted bridleway which goes between houses. Once past the houses the path heads very steeply up - the deer fence protecting the Park is on the left and low level woodland on the right. The path emerges on a farm road - turn left and then go right at the road junction. Follow this narrow high hedged lane past several houses to then reach the entrance to Coxlease Farm. Turn right and follow the track past the barns and then the farmhouse (on the right). Continue along now on Assendon Ridge - this is a favourite walking area for us, the views are really good when it's not raining too hard and it is very unusual not to see lots of red kites showing off in the thermals.
As the track ends bear right and follow the field edge to soon reach the
edge of Paradise Wood. The narrow path wanders through the woods with the
field edge close by on the left and heavy woodland to the right - this is
yet another really nice path - especially in Spring. On leaving the woods
carry on across the field - the path drops down to the road.
Turn left and
follow the road into Middle Assendon. Just after passing the very
picturesque Rainbow Public House go left on a narrow road which after a
short distance reaches another road, turn left up this now going by houses
on the right. Shortly take a path leaving off on the right - this is now
marked as the Oxfordshire Way - it welcomes you by climbing very steeply
up between high hedgerow and then emerges at a field edge. It continues
climbing across the field to reach a hedgerow - continue along over two
fields sometimes between wooden fences to reach a small road.
Cross the road and continue along the track
passing a duck pond on the right. Now simply stay on the track, eventually
passing several large houses and the track becomes more surfaced. Just
after passing Henley Park House the track bears left but stay ahead going
through a gate - this is still The Oxfordshire Way and is clearly
signposted. The path goes almost straight across fields usually populated
with inquisitive sheep - then the path starts to descend and enters a
small wooded area. At the far side of the woods bear right on a narrower
path which then continues with a field on the right and a playing fields
on the left to finally arrive at the A4130 road just outside Henley. Turn
left and follow the road - just after the Magistrate's Offices look out
for and take a signed footpath on the left - this takes you between houses
to arrive on the A4155. If you miss this path simply go on down to the
roundabout and turn left onto the A4155 instead.
Cross the road and then just after
the entrance to the Rugby club take a signposted path on the right -
this will bring you down to the River Thames. Turn left and follow
the river bank heading towards trees - the Thames is really wide
here and is well used by the rowing fraternity as well as by lots of
pleasure boats and barges. The path continues through the trees and
crosses a brook via a small wooden bridge and stone/brick archway
and comes out on a grassy area where there are several seats - just
about right for a lunch break. This is also very much hungry duck
(as well as gulls and swans etc.) territory.
Continue over an inlet and
then through a gate into a protected wetland area - note if it has been
raining this can be very wet or even possibly flooded to some degree.
Temple Island is clearly visible in the centre of the river - shortly
after passing it the path veers away from the river. It crosses over
several
wooden plank bridges and then goes half left across a field - passes over
a small metal road - to eventually reach a style by the main road.
Turn right and follow the road -
when you get near to some buildings on the left carefully cross this
often very busy road. Continue along the main road and soon take a marked
track on the left - continue along the track as it passes farm buildings
and houses and heads into the hills. The track gently rises - when it
splits keep straight ahead - the track now climbs a little more steeply -
ignore side tracks and just keep winding up into the woods. This is
definitely red kite country - we have never been along here without seeing
lots of them showing their flying skills. As the track starts to level out
the valley below is full of rhododendrons - the area in this part of the
woods (Great Woods) really is excellent for walking.
The track goes through fir trees and then reaches a track junction - take
the left hand fork and almost immediately go left again on a marked narrow
path - this climbs and winds up fairly steeply through the trees and
becomes a sunken path. Continue along the path - the small trees either
side almost make a tunnel - to eventually arrive at a farm drive. Keep
straight ahead along the drive to reach a road at Upper Woodend Farm. Turn
right and follow the road to a T-junction, go straight across and over a
style into a field. Cross the field to the wood edge and then continue
straight on through dense fir trees.
The path descends to cross a track
and then climbs a steep short section to reach a field edge. Continue
along the field with a hedge on the left - when you reach a hollow
surrounded by trees keep ahead aiming to the left of the buildings now
visible. Go over the style by the buildings and continue ahead to the
road.
Cross the road and continue straight ahead
on a wide track - this now part of the Stonor Estate. Go straight ahead at
a track junction - the track now starts to descend and this is another
area full of rhododendrons. Simply follow the track downhill and then go
left on a marked path - soon going via a high fenced area and kissing
gate. Stonor's large estate house soon comes into view on the right as
well as other old buildings and a church. This is also deer country and of
course another red kite spotting area - there are also buzzards and other
hunting birds often to be seen. Simply follow the path as it wanders along
the top of the hillside and then eventually starts to descend quite
steeply down to a gate. Turn right and go back along the road to shortly
be at the original start point.
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