Throughout this route guide you will be able to open a larger map image by clicking on the thumbnail maps.
Trinity College to St Clements Church
Start at Trinity College, Oxford
Cross Broad Street and go down Turl Street to High Street.
Cross High Street and go down Oriel Lane to Oriel Square and Oriel College.
Go East down Merton Street, then, before Merton College, South along a path into Christ Church Meadow.
Turn East (left), walk along the path beneath Merton College wall and leave Christ Church meadow to enter Rose Lane.
Walk up Rose Lane and cross the High Street (pedestrian refuge) at Magdalen College. Cross Magdalen Bridge and proceed along St Clements and London Place. At the traffic lights turn left along Marston Road and go on to St Clements Church on the left after Cherwell Street.
Cross Broad Street and go down Turl Street to High Street.
Cross High Street and go down Oriel Lane to Oriel Square and Oriel College.
Go East down Merton Street, then, before Merton College, South along a path into Christ Church Meadow.
Turn East (left), walk along the path beneath Merton College wall and leave Christ Church meadow to enter Rose Lane.
Walk up Rose Lane and cross the High Street (pedestrian refuge) at Magdalen College. Cross Magdalen Bridge and proceed along St Clements and London Place. At the traffic lights turn left along Marston Road and go on to St Clements Church on the left after Cherwell Street.
St Clements Church to St Aloysius Church
After visiting St Clements retrace your steps across Magdalen Bridge and proceed down High Street to the University Church. From the University Church go down the High Street westwards and turn right (North) to walk up Cornmarket, Magdalen Street and St Giles (on the West side) passing Pusey House until you reach St Aloysius at the South end of the Woodstock Road, just after Little Clarendon Street.
St Aloysius church to St BarnabAs Church
Return to Little Clarendon Street and go down it to Walton Street. Cross Walton Street and turn right, going past the University Press. Turn left at Great Clarendon Street and go down it until you reach St Barnabas Street. Turn right to St Barnabas Church.
St BarnabAs Church to St Margaret’s Church
Go past the East end of St Barnabas Church along Canal Street and at Mount Place turn left and cross the bridge over the Canal. Turn right along the path and continue to the next bridge. Leave the canal path via a ramp up onto Waltonwell Road and turn left crossing William Lucy Way and continuing across the bridge over canal and railway. Ignore the first footpath on your right and enter Port Meadow opposite Waltonwell Road Car Park on your left. Take the track which continues straight on (not the one going right) and walk to the River Thames. Go through the gate, over the bridge and turn right. Cross the bridge and turn right onto the Thames Path. Cross the next bridge and turn right. Pass Bossoms Boatyard and Medley Sailing Club on your left and then leave the river, taking the track to Binsey. The track joinns Binsey Lane. Continue to houses and with them on your right go round a right hand bend, and along the road to St Margaret’s Church. St Margaret’s Well is in the churchyard near the West end of the church.
St Margaret’s Church to Godstow Priory
Return to the Thames and the Thames path (there is a shortcut through the Perch Inn), turning left at the river and continue North to Godstow Lock and Godstow Priory ruins.
Godstow Priory to Eynsham lock
Cross Godstow Road by the gate nearest the river and continue through the gate on the other side of the road. Continue on the Thames Path passing under the Western bypass (A34) and going through a gate to a metalled track. Do not take the track, but cross the field in front of you half-rightwards to a stile visible in the hedgerow. Cross the stile and continue towards a house (Wytham Mill) which is reached via a footbridge over a stream (where the waymarks indicate you are on the Oxford Green Belt way and the Circular Walk). Continue with outbuildings on your left and the Mill house on your right and along the drive to a road. At the road go straight across, entering FAI farms land (see notice). Continue on the footpath to the left of the hedge up to the top of the field. Turn right through the hedge and continue along footpath following the hedgerow on your left. At the corner of the field cross a stile and go through a gate, continuing with the hedgerow on your left to a further stile. Cross this and turn left on the track going towards across a further stile into track and turn left, up the hill towards gates into Wytham Wood and then right along the edge of Wytham Wood. Continue along track until it ends at a gate and stile. Go through gate or over stile and turn left, skirting the wood on your left. Continue over a stile to the end of field. The footpath continues over a stile in the corner of the field, but becomes rather difficult. You may prefer to turn right and walk the short distance to the Thames Path (however, there is no right of way). In any case, the two paths eventaully converge just before Eynsham Lock.
Continue through the Lock (there are toilet facilities available) and under the road bridge.
Continue through the Lock (there are toilet facilities available) and under the road bridge.
Eynsham lock to St. Michael's Church.
(If you do not want to visit Stanton Harcourt, you can can get up onto the road by a path on your left just before the bridge and turn right to walk into Eynsham. Alternatively you can cross the river at the lock and reach Eynsham via a footpath.)
Go through a gate and continue on the riverside path. Once the fence on your left comes to an end the route of the path can in some weathers be indistinct, but keeping reasonably close to the river will bring you eventually to a gate. Go through this and conitnue to the boatyard. As you reach the dock turn left and go up to the road. Turn right along the road. After about 200 metres you will reach Thames House on your right. Just after this property, turn right down at the Thames Path sign to reach the river again. Turn left , cross the bridge and continue along the river to Pinkhill Lock. Go to the left of the lock and towards the end of the lock turn right to enter it. Cross the lock and take the path going half left from the lock's end. Cross the weir and go through the gate. Cross the field in the direction indicated by the Thames Path sign. Go through the gate and stay close to the river, now on your left. Go through a gate where the hedgerow meets the river and make for the far right hand corner of the field. (The path is rather indistinct at this point and the Thames Path sign indicates a direction in fact too far to the right).) Go over a stream and head for the far corner of this field. In the next field keep the hedgerow on your right until at the end of the field you reach a metalled track. Turn right onto this and follow it into Stanton Harcourt, with houses eventually appearing on your left. At the junction with the main road turn right and skirt Stanton Harcourt Manor on your right until you reach the driveway to St. Michael's Church.
Go through a gate and continue on the riverside path. Once the fence on your left comes to an end the route of the path can in some weathers be indistinct, but keeping reasonably close to the river will bring you eventually to a gate. Go through this and conitnue to the boatyard. As you reach the dock turn left and go up to the road. Turn right along the road. After about 200 metres you will reach Thames House on your right. Just after this property, turn right down at the Thames Path sign to reach the river again. Turn left , cross the bridge and continue along the river to Pinkhill Lock. Go to the left of the lock and towards the end of the lock turn right to enter it. Cross the lock and take the path going half left from the lock's end. Cross the weir and go through the gate. Cross the field in the direction indicated by the Thames Path sign. Go through the gate and stay close to the river, now on your left. Go through a gate where the hedgerow meets the river and make for the far right hand corner of the field. (The path is rather indistinct at this point and the Thames Path sign indicates a direction in fact too far to the right).) Go over a stream and head for the far corner of this field. In the next field keep the hedgerow on your right until at the end of the field you reach a metalled track. Turn right onto this and follow it into Stanton Harcourt, with houses eventually appearing on your left. At the junction with the main road turn right and skirt Stanton Harcourt Manor on your right until you reach the driveway to St. Michael's Church.
St. Michael's Church to St Leonard's Church
Turn right out of the church driveway at the main road and when the road bends left, go down the entry towards the Primary School on your right and then along the Leys Footpath (signed). Turn right at the end of the path and go through the village of Sutton, passing Duck End Lane on your right. Where the lane peters out continue straight on (there is a sign 'Footpath River Thames 1'). Go round a gate and into the field and continue straight on. Towards the end of the field cross it rightwards to reach a footbridge. Cross this and aim for the far left hand corner of the field (the line of the path is very indistinct) At the corner of the field go through the hedge across a stile and turn right onto the track. The track takes you into the next field and continues to a footbridge in the corner. Cross this and turn left onto the bridleway. This eventually passes through two gates and bears right along a hedgerow to reach some houses. Turn half left onto the track/road down an avenue of trees, with a brick house on your left and a stone one on your right. Continue along the road which eventually turns left across a stream. Shortly after this go through a gate in the hedgerow on your right and cross the field to a gate in the far hedgerow. Go through this gate and cross the field to another gate. Go through and cross the field half-leftwards, go through another gate and over a footbridge and half-leftwards again to reach a steal which leads you onto a road. Cross the road and enter the recreation ground. Walk up the right side of the ground, noting stones from Eynsham Abbey formed into a mount for one of Heritage Trail boards which at various points in Eynsham give information about the Abbey. Continue across the recreation ground to the road and turn left, proceeding to St. Leonards' church which stands in the Market Square to the left of the road. Behind St Leonard's Church is the site of the Abbey Church.
St Leonard's Church to the Church of St Peter and St Paul
Leaving the Abbey Church site turn left out of the Market Square and then right into Mill Street. Turn left into Spareacre Lane (signed 'Bartholomew Sports Centre' and 'Village Hall'. Go past Back Lane on your left, Marlborough Place on your right and Stratford Drive on your left. Where Spareacre Lane bends left continue straight on on the pathway and through to the A40. Cross this using the pedestrian refuge and go straight on along the bridleway. At a fork (there are bridleway markers on a telegraph pole to your right) turn right. Keep on this bridleway going through two gates then turn left over a footbridge onto a footpath.
Continue past the site entrance on your left until you come to a metalled track. Turn left and follow the track round a right hand bend and past the houses. At the gates the footpath diverges leftwards from the track. Go through the footpath gate and half left until you reach a track. Bear left briefly on the track and then turn right, eventually picking up a hedgerow line to your left . At the corner of the field go through the gate and follow the hedgerow on your right up the hill. Go through the gate and straight on on a grassy track. Continue through a gate and on into Church Hanborough. Turn left at the road to reach the Church of St Peter and St Paul on your left.
Continue past the site entrance on your left until you come to a metalled track. Turn left and follow the track round a right hand bend and past the houses. At the gates the footpath diverges leftwards from the track. Go through the footpath gate and half left until you reach a track. Bear left briefly on the track and then turn right, eventually picking up a hedgerow line to your left . At the corner of the field go through the gate and follow the hedgerow on your right up the hill. Go through the gate and straight on on a grassy track. Continue through a gate and on into Church Hanborough. Turn left at the road to reach the Church of St Peter and St Paul on your left.
church hanborough to freeland
From the Church retrace your steps on the main road and take the first right towards Freeland. In Freeland the road joins Wroslyn Road at a T-junction across from which is the entry to the Community of St Clare.
freeland to north leigh church
Turn right up Wroslyn Road and go through Freeland to the junction with the A 4905. Cross the road and turn left, signed N.Leigh and Witney. After Cuckoo Lane turn right down Boddington Lane (signs for Finstock, West End and Roman Villa). Go on past a right turn towards the Roman Villa and past Gorselands Hall on the left. Turn left onto the footpath through Perrotts Hill Farm and follow the track to the farm buildings. Go past the farmhouse on your right and at a small pond on your left, turn right down a footpath, crossing a cattle grid, keeping close to the wall on your left and going through a gate. Follow the path along a wall and then a hedge through a gate into woodland and then out into field. Turn left down the hill towards North Leigh Church, following the path and then a track until you reach the road. Turn right for the Church.
North Leigh Church to wilcote
After visiting the Church go round the West to a gate in the churchyard wall and turn left onto the bridleway (the driveway to Field Farm and the Old Bakehouse Guesthouse). At the farm continue on a footpath keeping a wire fence on your right, going through a gate and hedge, then crossing a filed and picking up a hedgerow on your right. The track goes down to a stream and crosses it to bring you to Bridewell Farm. Turn left onto the footpath that skirts the property to the South. Go past the outbuilding and turn up right behind it. After the outbuilding do not turn right back towards the house, but leftish across the field. Go through the gap in the hedgerow and half-right to a stile in the fence, through a short stretch of woodland and over another stile. Continue up the hill along an avenue of ancient trees. After two gates you reach a gravel and sand track that takes you into Wilcote (dovecote on right) and to the main road.
wilcote to holy trinity church, finstock
Turn left along the road past the driveway to Wilcote Grange Farm and down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, go over a stile on your right, signed Wychwood Way, Finstock 1. Continue up the slope with wires running over head, go through the hedge at the crest of the hill on continue cross the field keeping the wires more or less overhead and picking up a hedgerow on your right to reach a gate in the corner on which there are Step into the Cotswolds waymarkings. Go through the gate and follow the path into Finstock. At the road, with the Plough Inn on your right, go straight across (signed Charlbury 2 1/2, Village Hall), then shortly right up Well Hill and into School Road. After Walker's Height and Hill Crescent on the right take the footpath on the left of the road just before Old School House (railings). Skirt the School and Jubilee Playground. After the playground go right to reach the churchyard and Holy Trinity Church.
Finstock to Fawler
After visiting the Church retrace your steps to the Plough Inn and, with the front of the Plough opposite you go left along the road in the direction of Wilcote and North Leigh (signed). Almost immediately and before the road starts climbing uphill turn left down the restricted byway Dark Lane (signed). At the fork ignore the right hand option and take the footpath through a gate and across the field down to the River Evenlode. The path turns right along the riverbank and brings you to a footbridge. Cross this and go under the railway bridge. Go into the field via gate or stile and across to another gate and stile, onto the track and into Fawler.
Fawler to kiddington church
At the main road turn left. After a single-track stretch of road turn right up the bridleway (signed Charlbury 1 1/2) at the houses (Charlbury Road 1-4) and continue uphill. eventually at the end of the hedgerow on your left there is a bridleway marker offering four directions. Go right towards a building with four dormer windows some distance away. Before you reach this house turn left off the track at an Oxfordshire Way marker, and keep the hedge on your right until you reach a gate. Turn left and then right onto a metalled road at the house. At a crossways before a corrugated iron barn turn left onto a bridleway and continue until a gate where the bridleway becomes a restricted byway. Continue in the same direction along this byway until you reach the driveway to the house on your right and then the main road. Continue on this road through the Ditchley Park estate (Ditchley Park House eventually becomes visible on your left and can, if you wish, be reached by a footpath) until you reach the A44. Cross this and follow the road past the Kiddington Hall estate offices on your right. As the road bends rightwards and downwards at the remains of a stone cross leave it and go left down a bridleway (signed Radford 1 1/2). Enter the grounds of Kiddington Hall and turn right across the River Glyme, following the path uphill (signs indicate where the right of way lies) to the entrance to the churchyard and Kiddington Church.
kiddington church to St Michaels and All Angels, Great tew
After visiting the Church go on to the driveway to the house and leave the grounds at the Lodge. Outside the gate almost immediately turn left towards Radford on a road marked as unsuitable for motor vehicles. Follow the rod towards Radford. Eventually you should be able to see the chapel designed by Augustus Pugin on your right (crosses on the gables). At Radford Mill the road bends right and uphill. Turn right at the No Through Road sign and go through Radford, noting the Pugin Chapel on your right. At the end of the village take the footpath left round past Radford House. Go through a hedge and after a while go left onto a footpath and then right onto a restricted by way. Continue on the byway across a track (concrete surface, metal gates on either side) past a barn and some double gates on your left until, keeping the hedgerow on your left you reach a gate and the main road. Turn left (signed Enstone, Chipping Norton) cross the road and as the road swings left continue straight on to the right of the cottage and onto Enstone Airfield. You will know you have reached this when you come to a concrete track. Turn right onto this track. When the track goes through a hedgerow at a point where there are two storage cylinders, bear right and then left, ignoring the first leftwards option that would take you between two rows of trees and almost immediately go right at the fork. As you come to some trees go straight on into them, not to the right. Continue on the track, which goes downhill to a ford and footbridge and then uphill to reach a road. Turn left (signed Footpath Little Tew). Just past the driveway to Tracey Farm Cottage, where the road bends left towards Tracey Farm, go right through a gate at a footpath marker and half-left across a field, through a gap in the fence to a gate at the far right. Passing through this, follow the hedgerow on your right and go through the gate at the end of the filed. Continue about 50 meters on the path and turn right through the hedge at a footpath marker. Continue uphill with the trees on your left. At the top of the hill ignore the right bend and keep the trees on your left, passing ruins of Great Tew estate buildings on your left. Come out onto the main road, passing a cottage on your right. Cross the road and go on to a rusticated classical stone gateway on your right opposite the vicarage. Turn through the gate and go up the church walk to the Church of St Michaels and All Angels, Great Tew.
great tew to over worton
Returning to the road, turn right and go down past the entrance to Great Tew House and the end of the wall until you reach a gap in the hedge on the right. Go through this and down to the street. Turn left towards the Falkland Arms. If you wish to go straight to Over Worton, turn right down the track just before the Falkland Arms. If you want to continue on to South Newington, go on past the Falkland Arms on your right and on downhill along the road as it bends rightwards.
Option 1 - Straight to Over Worton
Having turned right just before the Falkland Arms continue straight on with Great Tew House up the slope to your right, past a house on your right at the end of the village. At a fork, do not bend left but keep the wall and then a ditch close to you on the right. Eventually you reach a gate. Go through it half-leftwards to another gate, taking the footpath rather than the bridleway which curves rightwards and upwards. Go down the slope following the hedgerow on the left until you reach at gate, after which turn half right continuing through a gap in the hedge and across the next field. Cross the stream and the next field to a footbridge in the hedge. From here the footpath runs to the far left corner of the field, reaching a road. At the road turn left and follow the road as it swings right into Nether Worton. As the the road swings left at Nether Worton House go straight on down the track (signed Over Worton 1 Gated Road) to Nether Worton Church on your left.
Coming back out of the churchyard turn left. Almost immediately you reach a stile on the right of the track. Cross this and go straight on across the field to another stile (the path is indistinct). Cross this and head for the top left hand corner of the next field (again the path is indistinct). A little down from the actual corner of the field go across a stile. Go half-right and through a gate and walk straight up the field with the fence on your right drawing a little closer until you reach a gate into the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Over Worton.
Coming back out of the churchyard turn left. Almost immediately you reach a stile on the right of the track. Cross this and go straight on across the field to another stile (the path is indistinct). Cross this and head for the top left hand corner of the next field (again the path is indistinct). A little down from the actual corner of the field go across a stile. Go half-right and through a gate and walk straight up the field with the fence on your right drawing a little closer until you reach a gate into the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Over Worton.
option 2 - via South Newington
After the last cottage on the left, called Beebole Cottage, go leftwards along a bridleway. Continue on as the track bends right at a field gate. Ignore a track on the right and continue on to a fork at which go right and pass the entrance of Cottenham Farm. Continue up the hill. At the main road go straight across and continue on the bridleway (signed South Newington 1 1/2). The path skirts Hill Farm and its farmyard turning left at a concrete slab wall and then right. At a fork in the track at a hedgerow turn right and follow the track as it swings left and then, after a steep descent, right at the hedge line. Continue towards the hedge now in front of you but turn left off the track just before the hedge and take the bridleway, keeping close to the wire fence which you reach shortly on your right. Follow the hedgerow to the corner of the field and then turn half-right into some trees and across a stream. Ignore the bridleway to your left and take the footpath almost immediately after it going leftwards up the field with the hedgerow on your left. Turn left to leave the field at the top corner and turn right onto a track which passes a garage workshop on the left and comes to a road. Cross this road and go down the High Street of South Newington to the Church of St Peter ad Vincula.
south newington to barford st michael
After visiting the Church turn left out of the churchyard along The Town and past Green Lane on your right and keep straight on down the footpath entry continuing along the track between houses. Where the track bends right continue straight on through a gate, ignoring a footpath to the left and taking the direction indicated by the footpath sign Barford St Michael 1 1/2. Go throuhgh the gate at the far of this field and do the same in the next two fields. At this point technically the footpath continues some way into the next field and then turn right at a right angle. However, the path is indiscernible and it may be better to turn right immediately on entry to the field, follow the hedgerow on your right and then turn left as you come to hedgerow in front of you. About halfway along this hedgerow go right through the gates in the hedge (footpath markers) and then aim for the far left-hand corner of the next field. At this corner, go through the gate and half-left to further gates and a footbridge across a stream. The path leads straight across the field where a footpath sign marks the entry to a small grove. Go into the grove over a stile and follow the footpath through the grove, across another stile and up the slope, keeping to the fence and hedgerow on your left. Cross a further stile and go down the hill with the house (Rignell Hall) on your left. Go over a stile on the left of the driveway at the corner of the garden of the house. Aim slightly rightwards across the field to reach a stile taking your over a fence and through the hedge. Cross the next field aiming for the last of the chestnut trees towards the far right-hand corner. Leave the field at the footpath sign for the road and turn left into Barford St Michael. Passing the driveway to the Manor House on the left you reach the Church of St Michael via steps on the right.
barford st michael to barford st john
From the Church retrace your steps down the path and steps and go along Lower Street ignoring the right turn up Church St. Turn left down Mill Lane just before the Village Hall (signed Footpath Milcombe 2). Follow the Lane past the Old Mill to the left and then take a narrow footpath to a footbridge over the River Swere. Having crossed the bridge take the right-hand footpath through trees. Go half-left across the field heading for the barns. Go across the footbridge and then right and left round the field boundary and right at the end of the field where there is a footpath marker. Go between the barns. Where Mead Lane meets the main road cross over into Church Lane. After about 150 meters take the entry into Crown House (a footpath sign on the right of the road at this point indicates the route to the Church) and enter the churchyard of the Church of St John through the iron gate.
barford st john to over worton
Returning from the Church to the road enter the field at the footpath sign and go half-right across the fields until you reach the main road at a gate. Turn left crossing the Swere and right into Lower Street. Just before the George Inn turn left up Murreys Lane. At The Green at the top of Murreys Lane turn left. Pass Robis Close on your left and Broad Close on your right. Do not follow the rod as it bends to the left but continue straight on on the Nether Worton Road (signposted to Nether Worton). Go straight across at the crossroads and continue into Nether Worton. In front of Nether Worton turn left to reach Nether Worton Church (signed Over Worton 1 Gated Road) on your left. Coming back out of the churchyard turn left. Almost immediately you reach a stile on the right of the track. Cross this and go straight on across the field to another stile (the path is indistinct). Cross this and head for the top left hand corner of the next field (again the path is indistinct). A little down from the actual corner of the field go across a stile. Go half-right and through a gate and walk straight up the field with the fence on your right drawing a little closer until you reach a gate into the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Over Worton.
over worton to deddington
On leaving Holy Trinity go down the church path to the road and turn left. Continue past Worton House on your left. After the gateposts turn left and go downhill through two gates. After the second gate (unless you want to stay on the gated road, turning right at the junction and continuing to the T-junction mentioned below) turn right (footpath sign) and go through the gate into the field. Passing a stanchion for cables on your left go half-left across the field to a stile at the far corner. Go over the stile and turn right along the garden hedge and then half-right across the field to meet the hedge about half way along its length at a point where the farm track beyond the hedge bends at right angles (the path is now indistinct). Cross the hedge and turn right along the hedgerow. Where the hedgerow forms a corner with the other hedgerow of field you have just left, go half left across the field in which you now are to a gate at in the field's far right-hand corner. Do not go through this gate but go right through a gateway and a short way along the fence to another gate at a footpath sign. Go through this gate onto the track and turn right, continuing to the T-junction. Turn left along the road and cross the bridge over the stream. A short distance further on cross a stile on the right of the road and go half-left across the field. Go through the hedgerow and continue half-right across the next field. At the hedge cross the footbridge over the stream and continue in the direction indicated by the footpath marker to a stile in the wire fence. Cross this stile and the footbridge, climb the steps and turn left. Continue with the hedge on your left for about 100 metres then follow the path rightwards up the hill and into the trees. Follow the wire fence on your left, turning left along it to emerge into a field. Follow the path diagonally across the field. Reaching the farm track cross it and go through a gap in the hedge at a waymark post. Cross this field half-left, go through a hedge and continue half-right. In the next field follow the path straight across the field, descend to a track, cross it and go straight on up and towards Deddington under the cables. Go through a metal gate and at another gate go down a grassy lane to The Grove. Continue down to the main road (High Street), cross and go down Hudson Steet, slightly to the right. This brings you into the Market Square. Deddington Church is at the far corner of the Square.
