The Seven Shires Way - Stage 6

 Banbury to Aynho Friday 1 March 2013

Looking across the Cherwell valley

We’re back. Bad weather and overseas business trips have dented our reputation of walking every three to four weeks. No matter the walk on Friday 1 March was a gentle walk from Banbury station  (where we left off last time) to Aynho mainly along the Oxford canal. The path was in reasonable condition though it was clear that only a few weeks ago the canal had been over-spilling its banks.

On towards Kings Sutton

We set off at 10:30 (usual CrossCountry train) and picked up the route of the canal and then southwards to where the Seven Shire Way joins the canal towpath near to the M40. So as to allow access via public transport we had left the “official” route and walked into Banbury last time so this time we followed the canal out of Banbury until we regained the route.

Lift bridge (one of many)

The rumble of the M40 was present most of the day though as we were upwind it wasn’t too bad. Delightful old canal buildings turned into (presumably expensive dwellings) seem permanently blighted by the M40. On the plus side were frequent trains and delightful countryside. Only saw one narrow boat underway and a work boat lopping overhanging branches ready for the boating season. Several moored narrow-boats were obviously occupied and sported collections of old bikes, wood for the stove and generators puttering away on the sterns.

Old railway crossing (lunch stop)

Weather could have been a bit warmer but the rain held off and a sheltered spot on a welcome tree trunk was found for picnic lunch. This was very close to the disused crossing of the Kings Sutton to Kingham railway (closed in the early 1960s). In the days of steam this line would have connected Banbury to Chipping Norton and the Cotswold Line.

Cherwell joins the canal

Leisurely lunch and then pushed on to Aynho wharf (near the junction of the Banbury to Marylebone and Banbury to Oxford lines). Lots of interesting side weirs, very deep and narrow locks and hydraulic structures along the canal which about a mile from Aynho wharf which receives the River Cherwell and becomes wider.

We left the canal and found the warm and comfortable Great Western Arms pub. Reasonable selection of beer. The Old Hooky was very smooth though N stayed on the Bombardier. We gave the Great Western Arms an 8 out of 10. There was cause to celebrate as we had just completed 50 miles since leaving Moreton-in-the-Marsh.

Aynho junction lock

The downside was the walk along a busy road from the pub into the village of Aynho to catch a bus back to Banbury. Strictly we should have continued and ended up in Souldern but then we would have still needed to get back to Aynho to catch a bus.  We plan to see Souldern next walk.

Aynho is an interesting village and we discovered later that it is the most southerly parish in Northamptonshire so technically we were also in the East Midlands! Research on Traveline.com had revealed that there was bus back to Banbury. This in fact is a minibus (Tex Cars and Coaches T1A) working from Bicester to Banbury. We were the only passengers until we picked up a family in Charlton or was it Kings Sutton? Good timing into Banbury which meant we could catch a CrossCounty train back to Oxford and Reading without much of a wait.

Summary: Total distance walked 8 miles (a reasonable breaking-in after an eight week gap). Pleasant country side, not too muddy. Hopefully the last of the Winter.