Walks in 2022

Well January 2023 is nearly over and for those of us in the northern hemisphere there is a noticeable increase in the length of day and thoughts turn again to venturing out for longer walks. These thoughts then morphed into looking at the blog and your author realised that we hadn’t reported anything for 2022. True we didn’t do much and due to other engagements the “we” ended up just being P and T. 2022 wasn’t a very productive year for walking. P & T managed three walks a local circular walk around Sonning Common on 11 April and then two walks along the line of the Oxford canal, north from Tackley station and then south from Tackley on 29 June and 14 July respectively.

Sonning Common to Crowsley Park, circular – 11 April 2022. 

We hadn’t been walking for ages so P (or was it T?) planned a modest afternoon walk from Sonning Common out towards Crowsley Park via Blackmore Lane and Crosscroft Wood (Grid Reference SU7231 8072). There were plenty of wild flowers in the woods, Bluebells, Lesser Celadine, Primrose, Wood Anemone, and possibly Bugle and Speedwell. After passing through the wood we emerged at Kings Farm (SU7297 8084) and followed the lane downhill past a posh country cottage residence and up into Crowsley Park. We last came this way on 5 April 2016 and stopped again at a fallen tree (now much decayed after six years (SU 7326 8030) to admire the view and watch a courier drive his van up King’s lane delivering that days Amazon parcels. We headed up a slight hill and crossed the minor road to Harpsden and walked into the hamlet of Crowsley were some one was attacking their grass with a loud motor mower. We then followed the path west towards the Bird-in-Hand pub (SU7157 7920). T and Cy used to be a customer’s way back in the BC (before children) era. The pub has changed hands and fortunes many times. Crossed over the busy B481 and went through the Millennium Green (SU7144 7928) playing fields (developed no doubt as the village contribution to the Millennium celebrations. Then skirting the newish housing developments to the south of Sonning Common, past the Herb Farm and back to P’s base for a welcome cuppa. A pleasant afternoon walk and a time to catch up on family news. A total of 4.20 miles (6.7 km).

Oxford Canal walks 

Looking at the Google earth display of all our walks since 2009 there was a bit of a gap between Banbury and Oxford so we decided to fill some of that in by walking the Oxford canal path. It ended up being P & T again as A was away in France and N was off to pastures (dales) new in Yorkshire. The attraction was the access given by using Tackley and Heyford stations.

Tackley to Heyford, 29 June 2022 

Holihocks in Tackley

This was another afternoon walk as stopping train frequency between Oxford and Banbury wasn’t plentiful. P & T met up on Oxford station and made the short trip up to Tackley (SP4845 2053). A pleasant village, very quiet (it was lunchtime) and the usual village lanes filled with parked cars. We headed north on a farm lane, parallel to the railway and stopped by a convenient farm gate (SP4826 2153) with a view of the railway below and the Cherwell meandering in the gentle valley.

 

After our lunch break we continued over the railway and down into a field of cattle. Experience has been that we keep a weather eye on cattle and stay near the field margin. All was going well until the animals started to move and we realised that there was a chap causing the cows to move towards us. We eventually met and exchanged pleasantries. He wanted to know if he was heading towards the river – he was but not by a direct route. We left him in his quest for the Cherwell among the disturbed cattle and quickly moved on. We came to the canal and river at SP4896 2202 but could see no way down to join the canal so carried onto Northbrook Spinney and joined the canal at Dashwood Lock. It was an easy towpath walk then into Lower Heyford.

Narrowboat garden

Canal side in Heyford

Well the walking was easy but the towpath was over grown in places and it was certainly a warm day. We had about 50 minutes to wait at Heyford Station (SP4829 2469) for the train back to Oxford, Didcot and Reading. P had a rest and T did a quick walk around the village of Lower Heyford.

T found where The Bell Inn was (didn’t go in) and walked round by the church back to the boat yard adjacent to the station. Great, the boat yard shop was open and had ice creams. So one Magnum Classic later back on the train to Oxford and all places south. A lovely walk of 3.36 miles (5.4 km). Starting to get warm but a great way to see the Cherwell valley.

Cherwell valley view

 

Tackley to Thrupp, 14 July 2022

This time we took the same timed train out to Tackley from Oxford but headed south. We joined the line of the Oxfordshire Way. Goodness, we last passed through here on 25 July 2008 which was another hot day on our way from Charlbury to Kirtlington, we did some long walks in those days. We joined the towpath of the Oxford canal at Flights Mill / Pigeon Lock (SP4868 1940.) and headed towards the general direction of Oxford.

Oxford canal

 

Found a grassy bank and some welcome shade by the canal side at SP4839 1916 and had our packed lunches.

 

 

Enslow canal side

It was getting quite warm so we were grateful for the tree lined canal path as it went under the railway line at Enslow and under the A4095. The canal cuts the meander of the river here at Bunkers Hill.

Bakers Lock

 

Just beyond Bakers Lock the Cherwell River and canal combine for about one kilometre past the disused cement works. At Shiptonweir Lock the canal heads west towards Shipton-on-Cherwell (which is more on the canal than on the Cherwell).

Disused Woodstock Line

 

 

A short distance further on we went under the railway line again and the disused abutments of the old railway line from Kidlington to Woodstock which branched off the main line at Shipton in years gone by. We were now reaching one of those walking nexus points. We went past the footbridge over the canal that we had used on 21 September 2020 when all four of us were walking the Oxford Green Belt Way from Wolvercote to Kidlington and we were on the opposite bank to Shipton Church that we had passed by on 18 December 2015 when we were tracing the course of the Kidlington to Woodstock line.

 

Shipton Church

 It was hot and we were in need of refreshments so we stopped at Annie’s Tea Room (SP4831 1595) and had a refreshing brew sitting outside next to the canal turning pool at Thrupp. It was fairly busy even for a mid-week afternoon. All we now had to do was, after using the facilities, to walk down the lane to the main A4260 and wait in the sun at SP4788 1561 for the S4 bus into Oxford (bus from Banbury). It arrived just about on time and we got back into Oxford for a walk back to the station and our respective trains home. Slightly longer this time at 4.98 miles (8km) not bad for an afternoon ramble. It was getting hot and the shade when available was welcome.

This was our last walk of 2022. The summer continued to get warmer and really wasn’t conducive for walking. Both P & T had other commitments, A was still away and N was only making the occasional visit to the Oxford area. Here is hoping that we can complete that last bit from Heyford to Ayno sometime in 2023 and perhaps find some other walks to fill in the gaps on the map.

The Roman Way - Part III

Third side: Silchester to Bicester (Alchester)

11.    Padworth Common to Bradfield – 23 March 2012, 9.17 miles (14.8km)

 

Another month had passed before we set off on stage 11. Bus from Reading and a walk of nearly 2km back to where we had left off in February. We carried on through the forested area which by now was showing signs of spring with primroses and deciduous trees coming into leaf. We eventually came to Ufton Court (SU6259 6674) an Elizabethan house. This is now an educational charity. T’s daughter went there on a residential school trip when they were “doing the Tudors” at primary school. We continued west to Old farm and were within 500m of the route we had followed on stage 10 on our way to Silchester. 

 

Oak tree, Ufton Green

The path then headed towards Ufton Green slowly descending towards the Kennet valley again. We crossed the river and then the K&A canal and walked over the Ufton Nervet level crossing, SU6167 6880. A major train crash happened here on 6 November 2004. Seven people were killed including the suicide victim who had parked his car on the crossing. Four more fatalities were to occur at the crossing before an over bridge to replace the level crossing was completed in 2016. We walked up to the busy A4 and heeding the advice in the book crossed the road carefully. This place also has a tragic story being where the murder of PC Andrew Harper occurred on 15 August 2019. We stopped in the Winning Hand pub at the road junction SU6137 6900, nothing special and surprisingly empty for a Friday lunchtime. Bit of a road trudge going uphill to Lambden’s farm and then downhill, along Webb’s Lane to cross a small stream that is The Bourne. The path then continued up to Bradfield Southend. The path dodged around rather nice houses (lots of money around here) and headed across fields of horses and small woods towards the valley of the Pang River. The path then took us into Bradfield which is a small village dominated by Bradfield School. There is an impressive sports centre used by Berkshire county-level sports of various persuasions and a Greek theatre! We were in good time so rested on a grass slope (SU6054 7263) in the afternoon sun before catching the bus back into Reading.

 

12.    Bradfield to Aston Tirrold – 13 April 2012, 11.5 miles (18.5km)

 

Bluebells, Ashampstead

Change of rendezvous point. This time the four of us met at Pangbourne Station and took a taxi to Bradfield. It was a pleasant spring day and we made good progress across the water meadows of the Pang River to pick up a well waymarked route heading north towards the M4. 

We were slowly climbing up the Berkshire Downs again but this time most of the route was in woodland, a mix of beech woods and conifer plantations quite a contrast to the open down land further west. 

 

We crossed over the M4 on a foot bridge and pushed onto Ashampstead. This appeared to be an attractive village, miles from anywhere. The guide book recommended having a look at St Clement’s church (SU5642 7680) with its wooden bell tower and what are claimed to be some of the most magnificent medieval wall paintings. We continued northwards past pretty cottages in Ashampstead Green and into the woods again.

 

 

St Clement's church, Ashhampstead

We emerged into an attractive dry valley (SU5604 7777) so stopped for a mid-morning snack to enjoy the view and “recharge our batteries”.

 

Beche Park- recharge time

After what seemed a long 2km through Burnett’s Copse and Parsonage Green we arrived in Aldworth and just had to call into the Bell Inn, SU5558 7965. We had been here before and P often takes guests there as a destination for long rambles from home. We sat in the garden and enjoyed good beer and a pleasant location, certainly rates 8-9 out of 10. The afternoon walk over more open country was familiar. On a historical note it is believed that the area north of Starveall (SU5457 8092) towards the Ridgeway was the battleground of Ashdown AD871 when the Saxons led by Ethelred defeated the Danes.

 

Chilterns from the Ridgeway

We crossed over the Ridgeway and passed below Lowbury Hill (more history here in the form of a Romano-British temple near the summit.) This area was familiar to us having been walked over on our Ridgeway Walk and we were to see it again when we did the Seven Shires Way. 

 

We had now reached the crest of the Berkshire Downs and it was a steady descent downhill past fields of pig enclosures above Chalk Hill Bottom to cross the A417 and into Aston Tirrold.

 

 

Chalk Hill Pigs

The route actually passed P’s house so we were welcomed in and had afternoon tea/coffee. This had been a long walk with plenty of contrasts, scenery and climbs. The rest and refreshments were much appreciated. P gave us a lift to Didcot station where N returned to Oxford and T&S returned to Reading.

 

 

 

 

13.    Aston Tirrold to Warborough – 4 May 2012, 9.41 miles (15.1km)

Transport arrangements were to meet up at Cholsey station where P met us and took us back to Aston Tirrold where we could start the walk and perversely walk back to Cholsey. Well we wanted to keep to the route as closely as possible. P knew the way (it was his patch after all). The route followed a good path past Lollingdon Farm. We met a group of ladies out for a walk heading towards the Astons. This was unusual as we don’t very often meet other walkers. Now that we now walk on Mondays we meet even fewer people. The path took us under the main GWR railway and then under the branch line to Wallingford, known locally as “The Bunk”. T’s brother M who was a train driver had been in the HST 125 that had been shunted onto the branch line to stage publicity shots for the HST service.

Agatha Cristie grave, Cholsey

The path goes uphill slightly to St Mary’s church, Cholsey and we detoured into the church yard to see Agatha Christie’s grave (SU5829 8700.) Adjacent to the church yard is Manor Farm with its Great Barn (SU5835 8717) which, according to the Guide book, was built in the 12^th/13^th centuries and was the largest in England. 

Our route then went over Cholsey Hill and down into the soggy area of the Mill Brook. It had been a very wet spring and the footpath towards Mackney was heavy with mud and difficult to follow. Mackney was, by all accounts, where Em & Ken (Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh), had their honeymoon. That’s a long time ago now. We were still in P territory so he suggested stopping at the Red Lion in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. We were struck by the friendliness of this “Community” pub, not only could you get a drink but there was a Library, they sold local produce and it was a space for all sorts of local groups to gather and meet. Found our way through the back alleys of Brightwell and onto the course of a Roman Road over the Sinodun Hills to the east of Brightwell Barrow.

Just North of Brightwell

Further west are the landmark hills of Wittenham Clumps through that strictly refers to the trees on the top. Another name (according to the guide book is “Mother Dunch’s Buttocks”. We found a sheltered spot that was relatively dry and had our respective lunches but we can’t remember if it was with a view back the way we had come or over the River Thames to the north.

Shillingford Bridge

We dropped down towards the river and walked to Shillingford Bridge and crossed over the bridge to walk through Shillingford village (hamlet) and up to the A4074 in Warborough. We decided that as the Thames was out of bank it wouldn’t be possible to carry onto Dorchester-on-Thames. So we called it a day. N took the Thames Travel to Oxford and P, S and T caught the X39 bus from the other side of the road to Wallingford and Reading. 

 

 

 

 

14.    Dorchester to Oxford (Thornhill) – 1 June 2012, 11.6 miles (18.6km)

 

Met up at the bus stop on the Dorchester By-pass (A4074). Headed north through Berinsfield past Little Baldon (site of a fatal air crash of a RAF Handley Page Hastings on 6 July 1965 - all 41 people aboard, including six crew, perished in the crash, making it the third worst air crash in the United Kingdom at the time).

 

Crossed over the Shakespeare Way in the Baldons, last saw that in March 2010. T took a wrong turn so we ended up seeing the delightful church at Toot Baldon again. Planned to have a pub stop in Garsington but could not find the one and only pub that is now open the others have been closed. To avoid further fruitless detours we decided to press onto Horsepath across a field of fodder beans and under the dismantled railway line that used to connect Oxford to Thame.

 

The Chequers-Taste of India was open. Nothing special but it did have London Pride on tap. After a refreshing drink we climbed up Shotover easily and had a late packed lunch on the top of Shotover Hill (SP5638 0619) with a view of the BMW-Mini factory. Descended via "Narnia" (past C S Lewis’s house) skirted Risinghurst estate and walked to the Park & Ride at Thornhill for a bus ride into Oxford. Stopped off at White Horse in Broad Street (HQ) for a final pint before dispersing home. Forgot the camera sorry - no pictures.

 

15.    Oxford (Thornhill Park & Ride) to Alchester (Wendlebury Stables, near Bicester) – 29 June 2012, 11.5 miles, (15.5km)

 

The day started with drizzle but soon improved to a lovely sunny day with a good breeze, great for walking. Set off from Thornhill at 10:15 and went through the various Barton housing estates. N explained that trainers hanging from overhead wires indicated that drugs were available (is that true?)

 

Looking back towards Shotover

Path then headed north up a gentle slope towards Beckley. We stopped off at the Abingdon Arms in Beckley, last visited it in October 2008 while on the Oxfordshire Way. We rated it as 6/10. Interesting contrast from the outskirts of Barton and its post-war prefabs (now much altered) to Beckley that looks nearly Cotswold like. Great views from Beckley north and south (that’s why the TV transmitter is there). Managed to cross Otmoor following the Roman Road for much of the way. There was no firing on the range – well there were no red flags flying.

Otmoor - starting to get boggy

 

Boggy in places and T forgot to read about the advice in the book which said to divert around a particularly boggy stretch. At one point we were up to our knees in water. Fencott had the look of a Fenland village. Both the villages of Fencott and Merton were rather dismal and appeared to have no soul with no pubs or shops. Just commuter villages for Oxford and the M40 corridor. After crossing the noisy M40 came to a field of extremely inquisitive bullocks. Combined with T getting the wrong compass bearing we ended up spending too much time with our inquisitive bovine friends.

 

Some of the herd were emboldened to have a go at charging us which required quite a bit of shouting to move them to a distance we felt happy about. 

Friendly cattle?

 

Eventually found the footbridge over the River Ray and tracked through a field of forage beans to Merton. Past Wendlebury Stables and its fields of horses decked out in fly hoods.

 

Carried on across the Oxford to Bicester railway (at that stage still to be improved to take trains from Oxford to Marylebone) to our destination the site of the Roman Fort at Alchester (SP5724 2043).

River Ray near Merton

 

A note scrawled in the book claims that we finished at 16:30. Not a great ending if truth be told. It was quite warm and we were tired so we headed for the bus stop on the A41 and a Stagecoach S5 bus back to Oxford.