Rural Ways Rural Ways

Oxfordshire Way

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Route Overview A lowland path to the north of Oxford linking the Cotswolds with the Thames via the Chilterns.


Distance - Full 65 miles / 104 km
No. of Days to Complete Route 6
Start Point Bourton on the Water
End Point Henley on Thames


Type of Route: Linear Level of walk: Easy
Route Features Historical Interest Plant Interest View Water Wildlife Interest
Accessibility / Facilities Begins near bus route
Begins near parking
Begins near picnic area
Begins near pub
Begins near toilets
Begins near train station
Ends near bus route
Ends near parking
Ends near picnic area
Ends near pub
Ends near toilets
Ends near train station
Picnic area enroute
Pub enroute
Suitable for Dogs
Toilets enroute
Terrain Bridle Ways
Fields
Muddy Tracks
PROW (Public Right Of Way)
Public Byways
Roads


Route Description The Oxfordshire Way is a 68 mile recreational walk which runs South-east from Bourton-on-the Water through to Henley-on-Thames. The route passes through the most rural and scenic landscapes of Oxfordshire, including two areas of outstanding natural beauty: the Cotswolds, with their characteristic grey limestone buildings and walls and the Chilterns, with their flint and brick architecture and famous beech woods. The Oxfordshire Way brings the traveller to rest in the beautiful town of Henley-on-Thames upon the bank of the Thames. On your travels you will have encountered many of the little streams and rivers that culminate into this, England's most famous river.
Terrain Details Awalk of this length is bound to have varied surfaces but on the whole the contours are easy going.
Additional Info / Warnings The Oxfordshire Way: A Walker's Guide edited by Faith Cooke and Keith Wheal, ISBN 1 900478 01 3. Oxfordshire County Council, £5.99 + 50p p&p Guidebook with maps, plus accommodation and public transport supplement. Whether you are a serious walker wishing to walk the route in one go, or a more casual walker looking for an afternoon's or day's walk, this guide will help you follow and enjoy the Oxfordshire Way. The route has been split into easy walking distances, allowing you to select particular stretches if you wish. The guide is packed with useful information to help you get the most from your walk. Advice on public transport and accommodation, places of historical interest, geology and the natural history of the area are all to be found at your fingertips. New - additional information An Oxfordshire Way addendum sheet with web addresses for accommodation is now available through Tourist Information Centres, Libraries and bookshops, or you can order a copy directly from weblink below.
Access Info / Public Transport Bourton has buses to Kemble (trains for London, Reading, Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Birmingham) or Moreton-in-Marsh, on the Thames Trains line between Oxford/Reading/London and Worcester. This line is roughly parallel to the Way between Shipton and Combe, with intermediate stations near the route at Charlbury and Finstock. Other Thames Trains services near the route serve Tackley (Oxford, Banbury and Birmingham), Islip (Oxford and Bicester Town) and Henley (Reading and Twyford with connections to London, Birmingham and southwest England).
Services / Amenities See guidebook for details
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More info The Oxfordshire Way