• Start – 4.6 miles from Bloxham
• Length of walk – 6.5 miles (10 km)
• Gently undulating
• Dog – friendly – but take a lead

Introduction

Deddington is a pretty village with an attractive market place. Deddington Parish Church first appears in historical records in 1254. The massive west tower once had a tall spire that collapsed in 1634, damaging the rest of the church. Rebuilding had to await the end of the Civil War during which King Charles I had the church bells melted down for artillery.
There was also a Deddington Castle dating mostly to the 11th-14th centuries but this is now just a grass mound.
The walk starts in the MarketPlace, heads south-east and then loops north to Clifton. From here it goes north-west towards PaperMill cottages before looping back south-west to Deddington. The walk is signposted but when we walked this at least two signs were totally overgrown.

Deddington is about 6 miles (10 km) south of Banbury and 7 miles (11 km) from Junction 10 of the M40 motorway.

GPS Data

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Google Maps

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You can get an online OS map here.

• Start – 2.7 miles from Bloxham
• Length of walk – 2.8 miles (4.5 km)
• Fairly flat
• Dog – friendly

Introduction

The walk starts at the village green, heads off towards Bodicote and then to the end of Bloxham Grove before heading back to Adderbury.

Adderbury is about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Banbury and 9 miles (14 km) from Junction 10 of the M40 motorway. The Sor Brook divides the village in two and each part has its own green and manor house.

GPS Data and route instructions

Google Maps

Click here for a google map of the walk.

You can get an online OS map here.

• Start: within Bloxham – Courtington Lane
• Length of walk: 4.3 miles (6.9km)
• Steep hill- Can avoid by starting along Ells lane instead of up Hobb Hill.
• Dog hostile – stiles from Ells Lane to Broughton impossible for large dogs.

Introduction

Hobb Hill offers a panoramic view of Bloxham. In the snow it is a mass of slithering humanity utilising gravity assisted motion on sleds, trays and polythene bags!
Broughton is the site of Broughton Castle but this is not directly on the route.
There are historical references to Robert de Wykeham, mill owner, around 1218. The Mill would have been powered by the waters of the Sor Brook.
More recently the Wykham Mill Buildings has been the site of manufacture of the Jaguar XJ220 and then subsequently the Aston Martin DB7 from 1994 – 2004.

GPS Data and Route

Google Map

Click here for a Google satellite view of this walk.

Ordnance survey maps

You need OS Map 191
You can get an online OS map here.

• Start of walk: within Bloxham
• Length of walk: 7.3 miles (11.7 km)
• Some quite steep gradients but rewarding views!
• Dog hostile – especially Ells Lane to Broughton.

Introduction

This walk starts by heading up over Hobb Hill and across fields to Broughton.
Broughton has Broughton Castle a country house dating to the 14-16C of Baron Saye and Sele of the Fiennes family but this is not directly on the route.
From Broughton we head to Salt Way , an ancient road pre-dating Roman times hat used to run from Droitwich to London primarily for the transportation of salt.
We then cut back across fields to Wykham Lane. There is a good farm shop at Wykham Farm that may provide an interesting aside. From here the route passes a lake as we trek on to Bloxham Grove and then back to the starting point.

GPS Data

Google Map

Click here for a Google satellite view of this walk.

Ordnance survey maps

You need OS Map 191
You can get an online OS map here.

Grimsbury Reservoir is a relatively small reservoir fed by the River Cherwell and owned by Thames Water and used both for water supply and sporting activities.
In the mid 1960s, when the reservoir was built the Banbury Ornithological Society negotiated  for a four hectare area to be set aside and developed as a wildlife sanctuary to address the potential importance of the area to birds .
A walk around two sides of the reservoir has been established  but this also links up with a pathway through a nature reserve and  the canal towpath . This walk takes in all three providing a short but varied exploration of the area.

GPS Data

Route Description

This is a very simple route.

1. Follow the signs to Grimsbury Reservoir off Hennef Way, Banbury.
2. Park in the car-park adjacent to the entry to the waterworks.
3. Enter the road to the reservoir and Banbury sailing club.
4. Follow the pathway to the right of the reservoir until you reach a wooded conservation area.
5. Take the pathway through these woods.
6. At the end of this path you can turn left back to a walk down the other side of the resrvoir or else turn right onto the canal towpath. Take the towpath.
7. Continue down the towpath and when you arrive back at the Waterworks cross a stream to arrive on a road back to the car-park.

GoogleMaps

Click here for a Google satellite map of this walk. (Awaited!)

Ordnance survey maps

You need OS Map 191
You can get an online OS map here.

• Start 5.4 miles from Bloxham
• Length of walk: 4.6 miles  (7.4 k)
• no steep gradients
• dog friendly

This information is mainly drawn from Wikipedia:(See also the walk – Great Tew Circular 1)
Evidence of early settlement include a Bronze Age barrow south and Roman mosaic floors from the 3C.
The village was founded in Anglo-Saxon times and its ownership was linked to St Albans Abbey
Unlike neighbouring Lttle Tew it had its own church and in Old English Cyrictiwa means “Church Tew
William the Conqueror granted the manor to his step-brother and it is recorded amongst Odo’s estates in the Domesday Book. The present parish church dates back to Norman times but has been substantially rebuilt since then.
The cottages and houses, mostly thatched, date back to the 17C and are built from the local ironstone from the Great Tew quarry. Look out for canework figures in the old school yard.
In the late 1700s the estate was bought by George Stratton, who had made a fortune in the East India Company. He had the dilapidated manor house demolished and engaged garden designer John Loudon who contributed much to the delightful appearance of the village and of Great Tew Park.
In 1815-1816 the son of the Birmingham manufacturer Matthew Boulton bought the Great Tew estate. Innovations in the middle of the 19C included a saw-mill powered by a beam engine of which the engine house and tall chimney still survive.
In 1914 the family died without heirs and for fifty years its properties became unoccupied and derelict.
In 1962 Major Eustace Robb inherited the estate and declared he would restore its prosperity but little improvement was seen but its subsequent owners, the Johnson family, have worked hard to restore the village.

GPS Data

Route Description

1. Start from car park. Head down to the village pub and head to the end of New Road.
2. Head onto a footpath more or less opposite the end of New Road heading South
3. Arrive near Tracey Barn Farm and take a left turn (South-East)
4. Hit a farm road and head East onto a road opposite Lady Grove. Turn left (North) here.
5. Arrive near Tracey Barn Farm and take a left turn (South-East)
6. On the right is a turning to Beaconsfield farm. This is where mosaic floors from a is a Roman Villa were found.
7. Back North along the lane until you hit the Little Tew to Ledwell Road. Turn right (East) towards Ledwell.
8. Arrive at a footpath on the left across Great Tew Park. Take this North
9. The footpath intersects with a bridleway. Turn left onto the bridleway heading West.
10. Keep heading West
11. Arrive back in Great Tew and head for the car park.

Google Map

Click here to see a Google satellite map of this walk.

Ordnance survey maps

You need OS Map 191
You can get an online OS map here.

• Start: 2.2 miles from Bloxham
• Length of walk: 2.25 miles  (3.6 km )
• Fairly flat
• Dog friendly but  farm animals on outward route

This walk commences in Barford St Michael whichis is a village on the south bank of the River Swere. Barford probably means barley ford – a place to cross the river at harvest time. In 1086 it was known as Bereford, and by around 1250 as Bereford Sancti Michaelis. Barford

The village has an attractive church which may be worth a visit before the walk. Some of the church is Norman but much of the rest was rebuilt in the 13th century in the Early English style

The second half of the walk runs alongside a disused airfield: RAF Barford St John’s .
The airfield was opened in World War 2 as training facility used primarily by the Flying Training School from RAF Kidlington. It was later modified for use by RAF Upper Heyford and Bomber Command flew Wellington bombers and Mosquitoes from there .
In 1943 it was used for test flights of the first jet, the Gloucester Whittle, and it’s successor the Meteor. The airfield was mothballed in 1946 but has subsequently assumed a role in government communications as evidenced by the many aerials dotted across it.

GPS Data

Route Description

1. Start – straight along farm road.
2. Dilapidated farm cottage and pond.
3. Keep heading towards the big farmhouse and then turn left (North) to pass through a field along the bottom of a hill on which the farmhouse stands.
4. Leave the field via a cronky wooden gate! You can go wrong here! Don’t follow the main footpath North. Turn left and pass through another gate just 20m or so away.
5. Now head more or less west along the side of the field with a ariels on your right.
6. Keep going basically west.
7. Keep going basically west.
8. The pathway bends slightly northwards here.
9. Arrive at a gate to your left and head through this to the road.
10. Turn left and head back to the starting point along the road.

Google maps

Click here for a Google satellite map of this walk.

Ordnance survey maps

You need OS Map 191
You can get an online OS map here.

• Start: 4.1 miles from Bloxham
• Length of walk: 3.5 miles  (5.6km )
• gentle to moderate gradients
• dog friendly

A walk starting from Nether Worton, heading up Raven Hill and just skirting Great Tew on the homeward journey. The walk is mainly on broad tracks through the countryside and so far as I am unaware there are few points of historical interest

GPS Data

Route Description

1. Set off from little “roundabout by Nether Worton House. Head West along the road to Sandford
2. Just past the bend head into a field and along the edge – still heading west.
3. Just B4 a new field follow a footpath sign NW across a field.
4. Next head basically north towards a copse.
5. Follow around the edge of the copse (Raven Hill) and then head in the general direction of Lower Grove Ash farm on the left.
6. Skirt the farm and follow the farm road up the hill to the B4031.
7. Walk along the B4031 until you get to the main farm road to Hill farm.
8. At this point cross the road and head down a wide farm road.
9. Keep going straight. You pass a neat farm with a small lake.
10. Turn left (east) into another wide track. There are supposedly some lakes on the right at the start of this track but they may be in a died-up state
11. Just keep going
12. Eventually you see the copse on Raven Hill that you passed on the outward journey.
13. Retrace the outward route back to the starting point

Google Map

Click here for a Google satellite map of this walk.

Ordnance survey maps

You need OS Map 191
You can get an online OS map here.

• Start: 5.4 miles from Bloxham
• Length of walk: 2.9 miles (4.7km)
• Mostly flat
• Dog friendly

This information is mainly drawn from Wikipedia:
Evidence of early settlement include a Bronze Age barrow and Roman mosaic floors from the 3C.
The village was founded in Anglo-Saxon times and its ownership was linked to St Albans Abbey
Unlike neighbouring Lttle Tew it had its own church and in Old English Cyrictiwa means “Church Tew
William the Conqueror granted the manor to his step-brother and it is recorded amongst Odo’s estates in the Domesday Book. The present parish church dates back to Norman times but has been substantially rebuilt since then.
The cottages and houses, mostly thatched , date back to the 17C and are built from the local ironstone from the Great Tew quarry.
In the late 1700s the estate was bought by George Stratton, who had made a fortune in the East India Company. He had the dilapidated manor house demolished and engaged garden designer John Loudon who contributed much to the delightful appearance of the village and of Great Tew Park.
In 1815-1816 the son of the Birmingham manufacturer Matthew Boulton bought the Great Tew estate. Innovations in the middle of the 19C included a saw-mill powered by a beam engine of which the engine house and tall chimney still survive.
In 1914 the family died without heirs and for fifty years its properties became unoccupied and derelict.
In 1962 Major Eustace Robb inherited the estate and declared he would restore its prosperity but little improvement was seen but its subsequent owners, the Johnson family, have worked hard to restore the village.

GPS Data

Route Description

1. Start at the car-park. Turn Left down the lane then Right into Old Road near the post office.
2. Turn left immediately after the pub and basically keep heading East
3. Keep right on
4. Care here – there are footpaths in 5 directions! You want the bridleway that is straight ahead.
5. Follow the field around towards Hobbshole farm.
6. Skirt the edge of Hobbshole farm.
7. Keep to the bridleway
8. Keep to the bridleway
9. Arrive at the Gt Tew to Ledwell Road just outside Ledwell. Turn right to head West back towards Great Tew
10. Keep going (West) You reach a junction where you can see the Manor House and ahead the local cricket ground.
11. Turn right and head (N) along New Road . St Michael’s Church is to your right just a little way down. There is a small lane past the front of the Manor house if you want a small diversion before heading back to the car-park

Google Map

Click here to see a Google satellite map of this walk.

Ordnance survey maps

You need OS Map 191
You can get an online OS map here.

• Start: 21 miles from Bloxham
• Length of walk: 4.12 miles ( 6.6 km)
• Vey flat
• Dog friendly

The starting point is Eynsham (or Egonesham) which is mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon chronicles. About 1005 a Benedictine Abbey was founded there and parish boundaries defined.
Part of the walk is along the Thames Path which is is a National Trail that follows the river from the Cotswolds to the Thames Barrier.
The manual beam pound lock at Pinkhill was built in 1791. Whilst it looks pretty much as it would have in the 18C merchant’s barges are replaced by pleasure craft. The stone lock keeper’s house dates from 1932.
We leave the Thames Path at the Swinford Toll Bridge which was built under a
special Act of Parliament and opened in 1769 to replace an dangerous ferry system in which several people had lost their lives.

GPS Data

Route Description

1. Leave car park into Clover Place. Left down Wastie Lane to Acre End Street.
2. Turn eft in Acre End Street and then Right into Station Rd.
3. After about 300m turn left onto a footpath and follow the brook into a playing field. Carry straight on, following field edge to a bridge.
4. Into a playing field and along hedge to the road.
5. Cross the road and go through kissing gate and SE along field.
6. Cross the field to a bridge in the left corner.
7. Cross the next field on a diagonal footpath
7a And similarly the next.
8. Through kissing gate into Pinkhill lane.
8a Turn left over an iron bridge and then right diagonally to corner of field
9. Left (E) onto field edge path. A stile leads into a narrow meadow and on through a gateway.
10. Head east towards the bridge.
10a Cross stream then turn right and follow stream to kissing gate. Cross field to bridge over Pinkhill weir.
11. Cross bridge over Pinkhill Weir
12. At the road turn left and head along it for a short distance.
13. –
14. Left again to the Caribbean Marina.Turn right and follow the Thames back to the bridge.
15. Over another stream before heading up to the road at the toll bridge. Turn right and head NW over the toll bridge and back to Eynsham continuing NW over the roundabout.

Google map

Click here for a Google satellite map of the walk.

Ordnance Survey map

You need OS Map 180 SP435095.
You can get an on-line copy here