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Oxfordshire Way
The Oxfordshire Way is a 68 mi (109 km) long-distance footpath in Oxfordshire, with short sections in Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire.
Understand
[edit]
The Oxfordshire Way is a signposted walking route, using existing rights of way, largely (as the name suggests) in the county of Oxfordshire. It runs in an arc to the north of Oxford, from Bourton-on-the-Water in the west to Henley-on-Thames in the southeast, connecting the Cotswolds and the Chilterns. It connects with the Heart of England Way at Bourton and the Thames Path at Henley. It is 68 miles long and is usually walked in 4 to 6 days from west to east.
Although relatively flat and unspectacular, the Way passes through some pretty villages and varied and attractive countryside. Landscapes include honey-coloured Cotswold villages, the fine parkland of Blenheim Palace, the Oxford Canal, quiet hamlets on the Oxford Plain and the chalk-and-flint woodlands of the Chilterns.
Prepare
[edit]Accommodation is mainly in small villages and towns, where the choice may be limited, particularly between Islip and Watlington, so you are advised to book ahead. Oxfordshire is relatively flat, so fitness is not a major issue, but you should possess the necessary equipment (walking boots or shoes, waterproof clothing, maps, rucksack, etc.). Although the route is signposted, maps are essential to avoid getting lost.
- Oxfordshire County Council. Downloadable maps and directions
- Walk the Landscape, ☏ +44 1295 811003. Company offering accommodation booking and luggage transfers
Maps
[edit]The following Ordnance Survey maps may be used:
- OS Explorer 45: The Cotswolds - Covers Bourton to Ascott-under-Wychwood section (£8.99).
- OS Explorer 191: Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton - Brief section between Ascott-under-Wychwood and Charlbury; not essential (£8.99).
- OS Explorer 180: Oxford, Witney & Woodstock - Ascott-under-Wychwood to Tetsworth section (£8.99).
- OS Explorer 171: Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames & Wallingford - Tetsworth to Henley (£8.99).
Get in
[edit]Bourton-on-the-Water can be reached by bus from Moreton-in-Marsh (25 min) and Cheltenham (50 min) via Pulhams 801 service. Henley-on-Thames has links to Reading and London Paddington by train, and to Reading, High Wycombe and Maidenhead by bus.
There is no direct public transport from Oxford to either end of the Oxfordshire Way, so you’ll need to change at least once. The best option for Bourton is to take a train to Moreton-in-Marsh (about 35 minutes) and continue by bus to Bourton (around 25 minutes). For Henley, take the train and change at Twyford, with a total journey time of about 90 minutes. Bourton is 30 miles from Oxford by road, while Henley is 23 miles away. Rail stations along the route include Ascott-under-Wychwood, Charlbury, Tackley (near Kirtlington), and Islip, all with fast and direct trains to Oxford. With careful planning, it’s possible to stay in Oxford each night and travel to and from the trailheads by public transport.
Walk
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The route passes through the following places (split into six suggested day-long sections):
Day 1: Bourton-on-the-Water to Shipton-under-Wychwood
[edit]- Distance
- 10 mi
The Oxfordshire Way begins at 1 Bourton‑on‑the‑Water, a popular Cotswold village laced with footbridges over the River Windrush. Heading east, the path climbs gently out of the valley past meadows and dry-stone walls to 2 Wyck Rissington 
, a quiet hamlet with a green and church once served by Gustav Holst. Continue through open countryside to 3 Bledington , known for its traditional village green and the well-regarded King’s Head Inn. The trail then winds through farmland and light woodland to 4 Bruern Abbey, once a Cistercian monastery and now home to a private school, before reaching 5 Shipton‑under‑Wychwood , nestled in the Evenlode Valley with its stone cottages and historic church.
Day 2: Shipton-under-Wychwood to Woodstock
[edit]- Distance
- 13 mi
Leaving 6 Shipton‑under‑Wychwood , the trail soon reaches 7 Ascott‑under‑Wychwood , a small village once rocked by the 1873 “Ascott Martyrs” incident. The route then follows the gentle curves of the Evenlode River through quiet countryside to 8 Charlbury , a lively market town with rail connections and a rich Quaker history. After skirting Cornbury Park, the trail heads southeast, dipping in and out of woodland before crossing the River Glyme near 9 Stonesfield , a village noted for its slate quarries. A final stretch through fields and copses leads into 10 Woodstock, home to Blenheim Palace and a good range of amenities for walkers.
Day 3: Woodstock to Islip
[edit]- Distance
- 11 mi
From 11 Woodstock, the Oxfordshire Way skirts the edge of Blenheim Park before joining quiet tracks through arable fields and woodland. The route crosses the Oxford Canal near 12 Kirtlington , a village with a fine manor house and historic pub. It then continues across undulating farmland, passing near RAF Weston-on-the-Green, to reach the small village of 13 Weston‑on‑the‑Green . The final stretch follows lanes and field paths southeast into 14 Islip , birthplace of Edward the Confessor and perched above the River Ray.
Day 4: Islip to Tiddington
[edit]- Distance
- 12 mi
Leaving 15 Islip , the trail crosses open fields before ascending slightly to 16 Noke , a small village on the edge of Otmoor with distant views over the wetlands. The path continues through woodland and pastures to 17 Beckley , perched on a ridge and offering a glimpse of Oxford’s spires on clear days. Descending eastward, the trail meanders through farmland to reach the peaceful village of 18 Waterperry , known for its ornamental gardens and historic church. A short distance on lies 19 Waterstock , a quiet hamlet with manor house and riverside meadows. The day ends at 20 Tiddington , a modest village just west of the River Thame.
Day 5: Tiddington to Watlington
[edit]- Distance
- 12 mi
From 21 Tiddington , the Oxfordshire Way heads southeast across rolling farmland to the secluded 1 Rycote Chapel, a rare surviving Tudor chapel tucked among trees. Continuing through open countryside, the route reaches 22 Tetsworth , a village straddling the old Oxford–London coaching road. The path then climbs gently toward 23 Adwell , a tiny estate village surrounded by parkland, before descending into 24 Pyrton , where a quiet churchyard and manor set a tranquil scene. The stage ends in 25 Watlington , nestled at the foot of the Chilterns and the smallest town in Oxfordshire.
Day 6: Watlington to Henley‑on‑Thames
[edit]- Distance
- 11 mi
From 26 Watlington , the Oxfordshire Way climbs into the wooded slopes of the Chiltern Hills, reaching 27 Christmas Common , a hamlet high on the escarpment with views over the Thames Valley. The route follows wooded bridleways and sunken lanes to 28 Pishill , then skirts beechwoods and open commons to reach the clustered houses of 29 Maidensgrove . A little further on, the trail passes 2 Little Bix Bottom Farmhouse, an old brick farmhouse in a secluded valley, then descends past chalk grassland into 30 Middle Assendon , nestled in a narrow valley. The final stretch leads through fields and hedgerows into 31 Henley‑on‑Thames, a bustling riverside town famed for its regatta and elegant Georgian architecture.
Stay safe
[edit]Go next
[edit]The Oxfordshire Way connects with several other long-distance paths and offers onward travel options:
- At Bourton-on-the-Water, connect with the Cotswold Way or explore local circuits in the North Cotswolds, including the Heart of England Way.
- At Islip, join the Oxford Green Belt Way for a circular route around the city of Oxford.
- At Henley-on-Thames, the trail links with the Thames Path National Trail, which follows the River Thames west to its source or east to London.
- Nearby, the Ridgeway National Trail can be accessed via local trails and lanes heading south from the Watlington or Henley area.
Public transport is available in several trail towns, including Oxford, Charlbury, and Henley-on-Thames, allowing easy return or continuation to other parts of southern England.
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