Start / Parking: Layby in Rosamund Drive, off Manor Road via Vermont Drive, Old Woodstock. G.R. 441172
Distance: 2½ miles. Allow 1½ hours.

Early November is usually the best time to enjoy the colours, particularly the beeches.

N.B. Blenheim passes are NOT required for this walk, which uses rights of way only. Wear stout footwear.

Walk to end of Rosamund Drive on to Westland Way and go right to main road by pedestrian crossing. Cross here then go left downhill to 2nd exit on right after about 120 yds. Go up rising tarmac way between cottages and enter Blenheim Park through small gate, with the Column of Victory seen ahead. Stay on firm path which bears slightly left and descends to join road. There are good views across lake (Queen Pool) to Blenheim Palace.
Go right on road to reach cottage (The Fisheries), pass in front of cottage on grassy path and go left on road. Look out for stile on right a short way along here, which you cross to climb gently to left of the blue-green cedars and to right of the copper beeches higher up. Familiarise yourself with this section as you will be returning by same route later. Continue on grassy path well to left of the Column of Victory, passing through two avenues of lime trees and to right of small avenue of copper beeches.

Stop when you are level with the Column of Victory to take in the view down to the Grand Bridge and the Palace, both designed by John Vanbrugh. On the mound to left of the Grand Bridge is the site of Henry I’s hunting lodge, which was converted into a Royal Palace (Woodstock Palace) by Henry II in the mid C12. There is a stone memorial on the site. ‘Woodstock Park’ was once part of the Royal Forest of Wychwood.

The Column of Victory, also designed by Vanbrugh, has a statue of John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, atop. Blenheim Park was given to John Churchill by Queen Anne in recognition of his victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.

From the copper beeches the path curves gradually to right to join corner of fence on your right. Now go right for a few paces, bear left through trees and cross stile on to road. Go left for a few paces then right on grassy path which drops gently down through valley. At end go left on firm path and continue alongside narrow arm of lake known locally as The Creek. The path later climbs to offer fine views across The Lake to Blenheim Palace and the Grand Bridge (with Woodstock church beyond). Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped the Park in the mid C18, when the River Glyme was dammed to form the lake (Queen Pool and The Lake) either side of the Grand Bridge.

After path (track) bears right, continue along straight section then descend on grassy path by clump of trees towards lake. At the bottom here, behind railings on left, is Fair Rosamund’s Well, a survivor of pools laid out by Henry II with a bower (retreat) for his mistress Rosamund Clifford (‘Fair Rosamund’); this included a maze as the entrance.

Just beyond the well bear left on climbing path to join road. Go left along road which levels out then descends to reach stile on right which you crossed earlier. Cross stile again and return to car by same route you came, via The Fisheries. The Black Prince, by the River Glyme, is a popular hostelry and well worth the stop.

Russell and Anne Cherry

Start / Parking: Layby near Red Lion, Cassington for 2 longer walks. G.R. 454107, or (for 2¼ mile walk only) opposite Yarnton church (Church Lane) G.R.477116 - text for this walk starts in 4th para.
Familiarise yourself with the first section to Worton for the 7 mile walk and to Yarnton for the 5½ mile walk as you return by the same route.
Distance: A choice of a 7 mile (3½ hour), 5½ mile (3 hour) or 2¼ mile (1½ hour) walk.

N.B. Blenheim passes are NOT required for this walk, which uses rights of way only. Wear stout footwear.

Wear stout footwear. Avoid in flood conditions.

Cross green opposite Red Lion and take path left between cottage and school and continue straight on to lane. Now go left for 50 yards and take path on right (under tree!), signed ‘Yarnton 1½'. Cross field by trees, then lakes (old pits) on left. Continue straight ahead on clear waymarked path to join track to left of wall and soon reach lane by postbox at Worton. Go straight over and maintain your direction between large barns then pass to left of Worton Organic Garden.
At end of straight section go right on path alongside hedge then bear left over footbridge then straight ahead between hedge and fence. Pass through gate, cross stile and track and continue ahead on grassy path to reach railway. Now go right on path alongside railway to reach stile in fence on left. Cross railway with care, pass behind wire fence, cross stile and continue ahead on path, firstly through trees then straight ahead to right of hedge and then on narrow metalled lane to join another lane.
Go left on lane and look down the drive to the impressive Yarnton Manor on left just before church. Take path through metal gate opposite Manor, cross field alongside fence and go through metal gate. Now bear right diagonally through long field, cross stile in corner and continue alongside hedge to pass through metal gate. Go ahead with fence on left, cross footbridge beyond metal gate then follow alongside hedge on right and pass under railway (Oxford-Worcester line). Now go left by hedge, pass through wide opening in hedge before field corner, bear right alongside hedge and pass through hedge ahead and then go diagonally left to join canal towpath.
The 4th Duke of Marlborough was a large shareholder in the Oxford Canal and he instructed the construction of this waterway to link the Oxford Canal with the River Thames, over land within his estates, to enable the Oxford Canal Company to trade directly on to the river and supply the whole of the upper Thames Valley. This is known as 'Dukes Cut', and Eynsham, 3 miles away, prospered from this link.
Go left along towpath for 100 yards to reach the Oxford Canal with Dukes Lock and Cottage and a well placed seat. Retrace your steps alongside Dukes Cut and stay on towpath and pass through Oxey Mead Nature Reserve, returning to Dukes Cut after a short detour towards A40. At end of long meadow, where the Cut bears sharp left (to join the Thames nearby), go ahead to join wide grassy track and now go right to reach A40.
Cross road with great care and go straight ahead on bridleway. Go under railway and immediately bear left and (ignoring next path on left shortly afterwards) continue through trees and cross narrow field to re-join grassy path by trees. Yes, you were here earlier! (For 5½ mile walk only go left here and retrace earlier route back to car). Go right (on earlier route) then left on lane past Yarnton Manor and enter church to see some fine stained glass, medieval wall painting and monuments to the Spencers of Althorp, the family of the late Lady Diana / Princess of Wales. (2¼ mile walk ends here.)
Continue along lane to road junction and go left, pass The Red Lion, then on bend 25 yards beyond the de-regulation signs take signed footpath on right. This is Frogwell Down Lane, an ancient routeway, and the route King Charles 1 took when dashing from Oxford (his Civil War HQ) at night on 3rd June, 1644 with 3,000 horse and 2,500 foot soldiers to frustrate the Roundheads’ plans to encircle the city.
Stay on this path, gradually climbing, and cross track to keep to path between hedges. Later, join track and continue ahead with Cassington church seen over your left shoulder and Wytham Great Wood and Hill to its left. After track bears right you reach waymarked crossways, where go left straight across field to gap in hedge to left of tree. Over your right shoulder is Bladon Heath with Church Hanborough’s church spire to its left.
Now bear slightly left across field, keeping to high ground, then drop down to opening in bottom left corner of field. Cross stile by metal gate and go along lane over railway to join road. Cross here and go along lane through avenue of trees back to Worton. Go right opposite postbox and retrace your earlier route back to Cassington. Don’t miss the ancient Norman church with original arches, wall painting and C15 pews.
The Red Lion is a ‘traditional village pub’. The Chequers is more ‘up-market’, serving good food.

Russell and Anne Cherry

A level walk alongside the Thames with a choice of 3 popular pubs!
Distance: 4 miles . Allow 2 hours, excluding stops. Wear stout footwear.
Start / Parking: Car park (with toilets), Lower Wolvercote. G.R. 487094.

From the car park cross the road and go left over the river, pass the cottages on right then the Trout Inn on the left. Immediately after crossing the Thames beyond the pub (Godstow Bridge) go through the gate on left onto the Thames Path.

You now stay on this riverside path for the next 1¾ miles, soon passing the remains of Godstow nunnery. This was a Benedictine nunnery founded in 1133. Rosamund Clifford (‘Fair Rosamund’ ), mistress of Henry II, eventually became a nun here and also died here. Only part of the C15 domestic buildings remain. The Trout Inn was originally built in 1133 as a hospice for visitors to Godstow nunnery.

You then pass Godstow Lock. After a further 1½ miles, look for the sign on the right inviting you to make a short detour to The Perch, Binsey, a popular hostelry originally built 500 years ago; there is a large garden here. Binsey is a delightful small settlement of stone cottages and farm buildings clustered around the green.

Retrace your steps back to the Thames Path and continue to pass through Bossoms Boatyard then cross the river by the large arch of Medley Footbridge. Go right a short way then cross on to Port Meadow via the footbridge on the left. Now go left and keep alongside the Thames, and later its backwater beyond Godstow Lock, and back to the car park.

Port Meadow was given to Oxford’s citizens by William the Conqueror as a free common, which it still is. In the past Wolvercote villagers had the right to graze geese here. Grazing rights still continue, with commoners and freemen able to let their horses and cattle onto the meadow; the animals are rounded up and impounded once a year by the Sheriff of Oxford and any owners who have no right to pasture their animals here must pay a heavy fine before they can be released from the pound.

The Trout at Godstow Bridge is another well known and popular hostelry. Another excellent eatery is The Jacob Inn which you will have passed on your journey to the car park. The food here is superb and it’s best to book a table.

Russell and Anne Cherry

Distance: 6 miles. Allow 3 hours. Wear stout footwear.
Start / Parking: Spendlove Centre car park, off Enstone Road, Charlbury.

Turn right along road from car park to crossroads and go left along Sheep Street past The Bull to reach roads junction (Five Ways). Cross and continue ahead along Woodstock Road and at sharp left bend go straight ahead on Stonesfield Lane (‘Oxfordshire Way’). At top of slope bear sharp right on bridleway (to right of ‘Forest Cottage & ‘Pippins’). Continue on the Oxfordshire Way, with openings on right giving good views to Cornbury Park (part of the ancient Wychwood Forest) and, later, back to the ‘big’ house.

When you reach the clearing, continue straight ahead with hedge on right. Where track bends sharp right downhill before house, look for Oxfordshire Way marker and follow route to left of hedge through gate (not the main track). Pass through 2nd gate close to house, go left on track for a few paces then right along metalled lane.

At crossways just beyond telegraph pole and before barn - with Stonesfield ahead (church also dedicated to St. James the Great) - go left on grassy track and at
end of field on left pass between hedges to right of gate, continuing ahead in same direction. Many roofs in the area have Stonesfield slates on them, and the local stone pits and slate quarries date from the C16. The last pit closed over 100 years ago.

The route soon opens up. Continue straight ahead with hedge firstly on left, later on right. At crossways by two gates go left (on Wychwood Way), around field edge, then cross the often busy B4437 with care and go ahead on grassy bridleway. This is the Salt Way, one of many such routes leading to Droitwich where there were brine springs and from where salt was brought. In Anglo-Saxon and medieval times, salt was a valuable commodity, used for preserving food. This section of the route is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve due to the variety of flowers, including field scabious, greater knapweed, wild basil and rockrose, which attract a wide range of butterflies and other insects.

Just before you reach the metalled lane and stone walls at Ditchley Park Farm (shown on maps as Dustfield Farm), go left on bridleway and continue on this broad track between fields. The track bears sharp left in front of gate, then after just 50 yards go right between hedges, and later bear sharp right at paths junction.
The route bends round to the left then straightens up for 50 yards, bringing you to a marker post and metal gate on the left. Go straight ahead here (i.e. not through gate) and later continue with houses on left to join road (Ditchley Road). Now go left to T junction, then right to crossroads and then left back to Spendlove Centre. As you will have observed earlier, there are several hostelries in the centre of Charlbury.

Russell and Anne Cherry