Oxfordshire Way
Encyclopedia
The Oxfordshire Way is a long-distance walk
in Oxfordshire
, England
, with 6 miles in Gloucestershire
and very short sections in Buckinghamshire
. The path links with the Heart of England Way
and the Thames Path
.
The path runs for 68 miles (109.4 km) from Bourton-on-the-Water
, Gloucestershire to Henley-on-Thames
. It passes from the Cotswolds
to the Chiltern Hills
, with hilly sections towards each end and gentler country in the middle sections. It takes between 4 and 6 days to walk.
From Bourton-on-the-Water to Kirtlington
the path forms part of European walking route E2
.
and Bledington
, then follows the valley of the River Evenlode
to Shipton-under-Wychwood
, Ascott-under-Wychwood
and the small town of Charlbury
. It then passes through Stonesfield
and follows Akeman Street
for 6 miles, including a crossing of Blenheim Park. After crossing the Oxford Canal
the path passes through Kirtlington
and Weston-on-the-Green
to Islip
, the half way point.
From Islip the path runs by Noke
, Beckley
and the southern edge of Bernwood Forest
to Waterperry
. It then passes through Waterstock
, Tiddington
and Tetsworth
. Across the M40 motorway
it passes the small settlements of Adwell
and Wheatfield
, then after a glimpse of Shirburn Castle
it reaches Pyrton
.
From Pyrton the path crosses the Ridgeway National Trail, and climbs the Chiltern escarpment to Christmas Common
. The remainder of the route is through the Chiltern beechwoods, passing Pishill
, Maidensgrove
, Bix Bottom and Middle Assendon
to arrive at Henley.
and Charlbury
(on the Cotswold Line
), Islip
and Henley-on-Thames
are on the path. Bourton-on-the-Water can be reached by good bus services from railheads at Cheltenham
and Moreton-in-Marsh
.
Long-distance trail
Long-distance trails are the longer recreational trails mainly through rural areas, used for non-motorised recreational travelling ....
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with 6 miles in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and very short sections in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. The path links with the Heart of England Way
Heart of England Way
The Heart of England Way is a long distance walk of around through the Midlands of England. The walk starts from Milford Common on Cannock Chase and ends at Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds passing through the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire.The walk provides links...
and the Thames Path
Thames Path
The Thames Path is a National Trail, opened in 1996, following the length of the River Thames from its source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier at Charlton. It is about long....
.
The path runs for 68 miles (109.4 km) from Bourton-on-the-Water
Bourton-on-the-Water
Bourton-on-the-Water is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England that lies on a wide flat vale within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, Gloucestershire to Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
. It passes from the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
to the Chiltern Hills
Chiltern Hills
The Chiltern Hills form a chalk escarpment in South East England. They are known locally as "the Chilterns". A large portion of the hills was designated officially as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1965.-Location:...
, with hilly sections towards each end and gentler country in the middle sections. It takes between 4 and 6 days to walk.
From Bourton-on-the-Water to Kirtlington
Kirtlington
Kirtlington is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about west of Bicester.-Archaeology:The Portway is a pre-Roman road running parallel with the River Cherwell on high ground about east of the river. It bisects Kirtlington parish and passes through the village. A short stretch of it is now...
the path forms part of European walking route E2
European walking route E2
The E2 European long distance path or E2 path is a 4850km long-distance footpath that runs from Galway in Ireland to France's Mediterranean coast, via Scotland, England, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France...
.
Route
From Bourton-on-the-Water the path passes through the villages of Wyck RissingtonWyck Rissington
Wyck Rissington is a village and parish in the picturesque Cotswold hills of Gloucestershire, England. The village is located 1.5 miles north-east of Bourton-on-the-Water...
and Bledington
Bledington
Bledington is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England, located about four miles south-east of Stow-on-the-Wold and six miles south-west of Chipping Norton...
, then follows the valley of the River Evenlode
River Evenlode
The River Evenlode is a river in England which is a tributary of the Thames in Oxfordshire. It rises near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire in the Cotswold Hills and flows south-east passing near Stow-on-the-Wold, Charlbury, Bladon, and Cassington, and its valley provides the route of the southern...
to Shipton-under-Wychwood
Shipton-under-Wychwood
Shipton under Wychwood is a village and civil parish in the Evenlode valley about north of Burford, Oxfordshire. The village is one of several named after the ancient forest of Wychwood. The others are Milton-under-Wychwood immediately to the west of the village and Ascott-under-Wychwood about to...
, Ascott-under-Wychwood
Ascott-under-Wychwood
Ascott-under-Wychwood is a village and civil parish in the Evenlode valley about south of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.-History:The village is one of several named after the historic forest of Wychwood; the others being Shipton-under-Wychwood and Milton-under-Wychwood.Ascot d'Oilly Castle was...
and the small town of Charlbury
Charlbury
Charlbury is a small town and civil parish in the Evenlode valley, about north of Witney in West Oxfordshire. It is on the edge of the Wychwood forest and the Cotswolds.-Place name:The origin of the town's toponym is obscure...
. It then passes through Stonesfield
Stonesfield
Stonesfield is a village and civil parish about north of Witney in Oxfordshire.The village is on the crest of an escarpment. The parish extends mostly north and north-east of the village, in which directions the land rises gently and then descends to the Glyme at Glympton and Wootton about to the...
and follows Akeman Street
Akeman Street
Akeman Street was a major Roman road in England that linked Watling Street with the Fosse Way. Its junction with Watling Steet was just north of Verulamium and that with the Fosse Way was at Corinium Dobunnorum...
for 6 miles, including a crossing of Blenheim Park. After crossing the Oxford Canal
Oxford Canal
The Oxford Canal is a narrow canal in central England linking Oxford with Coventry via Banbury and Rugby. It connects with the River Thames at Oxford, to the Grand Union Canal at the villages of Braunston and Napton-on-the-Hill, and to the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury Junction in Bedworth just...
the path passes through Kirtlington
Kirtlington
Kirtlington is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about west of Bicester.-Archaeology:The Portway is a pre-Roman road running parallel with the River Cherwell on high ground about east of the river. It bisects Kirtlington parish and passes through the village. A short stretch of it is now...
and Weston-on-the-Green
Weston-on-the-Green
Weston-on-the-Green is a village and civil parish about southwest of Bicester.-Manor:Wigod of Wallingford held the manor of Weston at the time of the Norman conquest of England. Wigod died shortly after the conquest, leaving his estates including Weston to his son-in-law, the Norman baron Robert...
to Islip
Islip, Oxfordshire
Islip is a village and civil parish on the River Ray, just above its confluence with the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, England. It is about east of Kidlington and about north of Oxford. This village in Oxfordshire is not related to Islip, New York...
, the half way point.
From Islip the path runs by Noke
Noke, Oxfordshire
Noke is a small village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about northeast of Oxford. It is on the southeast edge of Otmoor and is one of the "Seven Towns of Otmoor".The toponym is derived from Old English and means "at the oak trees"...
, Beckley
Beckley, Oxfordshire
Beckley is a village in the civil parish of Beckley and Stowood, overlooking Otmoor to the north. The village is about northeast of the centre of Oxford. It is noted for its towering TV mast.-Archaeology:...
and the southern edge of Bernwood Forest
Bernwood Forest
Bernwood was one of several forests of the ancient kingdom of England and was a Royal hunting forest. It is thought to have been set aside as Royal hunting land when the Anglo-Saxon kings had a palace at Brill in the 10th century and was a particularly favoured place of Edward the Confessor, who...
to Waterperry
Waterperry
Waterperry is a village beside the River Thame about east of Oxford in Oxfordshire and close to the county boundary with Buckinghamshire.The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary the Virgin has Saxon origins and notable medieval stained glass, sculptural memorials, Georgian box pews and...
. It then passes through Waterstock
Waterstock
Waterstock is village and civil parish on the River Thame about west of the town of Thame in Oxfordshire. The parish is bounded to the north and west by the river, to the south largely by the A418 main road, and to the east largely by the minor road between Tiddington and Ickford Bridge across the...
, Tiddington
Tiddington, Oxfordshire
Tiddington is a village about west of Thame in Oxfordshire, England. The village is on the A418 road between Thame and Oxford.Tiddington is in the civil parish of Tiddington-with-Albury, which is on the county boundary with Buckinghamshire. Historically Tiddington was a manor and hamlet of the...
and Tetsworth
Tetsworth
Tetsworth is a village and civil parish about south of Thame in Oxfordshire.-Manor:At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Tetsworth did not exist as a separate manor. In the 12th century, benefactors gave land in the area to the Cistercian Thame Abbey and these lands were brought together as an...
. Across the M40 motorway
M40 motorway
The M40 motorway is a motorway in the British transport network that forms a major part of the connection between London and Birmingham. Part of this road forms a section of the unsigned European route E05...
it passes the small settlements of Adwell
Adwell
Adwell is a village and civil parish about south of Thame in South Oxfordshire. The parish covers and the village has 9 homes.-History:Adwell Cop, southeast of the village, is a hill 148 metres high crowned with a Bronze Age burial mound. Iron Age pottery has been found nearby...
and Wheatfield
Wheatfield, Oxfordshire
Wheatfield is a civil parish and deserted medieval village about south of Thame in Oxfordshire.All that remains today is the crenellated Church of England parish church of Saint Andrew, former rectory and the old stables. Wheatfield Park was the home of the Tipping family from the 16th century...
, then after a glimpse of Shirburn Castle
Shirburn Castle
Shirburn Castle is at the village of Shirburn, south of Thame, Oxfordshire.Shirburn Castle was the seat of the Earls of Macclesfield. George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield , celebrated as an astronomer, spent much time conducting astronomical observations at Shirburn Castle, which his father...
it reaches Pyrton
Pyrton
Pyrton is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about north of the small town of Watlington and south of Thame.The toponym is from Old English meaning "pear-tree farm".-Archaeology:...
.
From Pyrton the path crosses the Ridgeway National Trail, and climbs the Chiltern escarpment to Christmas Common
Christmas Common
Christmas Common is a hamlet in Watlington civil parish about south of Thame in Oxfordshire, close to the boundary with Buckinghamshire. The hamlet is above sea level on an escarpment of the Chiltern Hills. Because of its elevation, Christmas Common has two radio masts that are prominent local...
. The remainder of the route is through the Chiltern beechwoods, passing Pishill
Pishill
Pishill is a hamlet in Pishill with Stonor civil parish about north of Henley-on-Thames in South Oxfordshire. It is in the Stonor valley in the Chiltern Hills about above sea level.-History:...
, Maidensgrove
Maidensgrove
Maidensgrove is a hamlet above the Stonor valley in the Chiltern Hills, adjacent to Russell's Water common. It is about northwest of Henley-on-Thames in South Oxfordshire, England....
, Bix Bottom and Middle Assendon
Middle Assendon
Middle Assendon is a village in the Stonor valley in the Chiltern Hills. It is about northwest of Henley-on-Thames in South Oxfordshire, England.The village has a public house, the .-External links:*...
to arrive at Henley.
Transport
Railway stations at Shipton-under-WychwoodShipton railway station
Shipton railway station serves the villages of Shipton-under-Wychwood and Milton-under-Wychwood in Oxfordshire, England. The station and all trains serving it are operated by First Great Western.-Services:...
and Charlbury
Charlbury railway station
Charlbury railway station is a railway station serving the town of Charlbury in Oxfordshire, England. This station and all trains serving it are operated by First Great Western...
(on the Cotswold Line
Cotswold Line
The Cotswold Line is an railway line between and in England.-Route:The line comprises all or part of the following Network Rail routes:*GW 200 from Oxford*GW 310 from Wolvercot Junction*GW 300 from Norton Junction*GW 340 from Worcester Shrub Hill...
), Islip
Islip railway station
Islip railway station serves the village of Islip, Oxfordshire, England. Islip is north-east of Oxford. Services run south to away and north-east to .Islip is served by Chiltern Railways using Class 165 Diesel Multiple Units.-History:...
and Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames railway station
Henley-on-Thames railway station is a terminal railway station in the town of Henley-upon-Thames in Oxfordshire, England.The station is served by local services operated by First Great Western on the Henley Branch Line from on the Great Western Main Line about to the south.-Service:There is a...
are on the path. Bourton-on-the-Water can be reached by good bus services from railheads at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Spa railway station
Cheltenham Spa railway station is in Gloucestershire, England, on the Bristol-Birmingham main line. It is managed by First Great Western and is about one mile from the town centre.-History:...
and Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh railway station
Moreton-in-Marsh railway station is a railway station serving the town of Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire, England. It is on the Cotswold Line between and stations....
.