Wychwood circular walks
A series of circular walks that link in with the Wychwood Way.
All of the Wychwood circular walks link in with the Wychwood Way - a 37 mile route around the heart of the former Royal hunting forest of Wychwood. All the walks lie within the area covered by the Wychwood Project, an initiative which seeks to involve local people and communities in conserving and restoring the landscapes and habitats within the historic forest area.
Charlbury and Fawler
Seven miles with an option of a shorter 2.5 mile route excluding Stonesfield and Ditchley Highlights include passing along the edge of Cornbury Park, a designated National Nature Reserve of 647 acres and The Saltway, an ancient broad trackway along which salt was taken from Droitwich to Princes Risborough, and later used as a drover's road. This route has some stiles.
Charlbury and Spelsbury
Five miles. Highlights include Dean Grove, an area of ancient woodland; All Saints Church, Spelsbury, with Norman origins, this was rebuilt 1740-1774 and contains interesting monuments to the Lees, and their descendants, of Ditchley and is the burial place of the poet Rochester. Taston derives its name from Thorstan meaning ‘Thorstone’ a small standing stone claimed to be a thunderbolt of the god Thunor, which can be found in the centre of the village. This route has some stiles.
Chadlington and Spelsbury
Six miles: Highlights include All Saints Church, Spelsbury, the hamlet of Dean and the Thor stone and medieval preaching cross at Taston. This route has some stiles.
Ascott under Wychwood and Chadlington
Seven miles via Pudlicote and Chilson. Highlights include the remaining fragments of Ascot d’Oilly Castle, a scheduled ancient monument. Thought to have been built around 1129, the castle was named after Roger d’Oilly who was granted it by William the Conqueror. This route has some stiles.
Finstock and Ramsden
Four and a half miles taking in Wilcote and Mount Skipett. Highlights include Finstock Trinity Church which has connections with Sir Arthur de Cros, inventor of the pneumatic tyre, founder of the Dunlop Tyre company and some-time resident of Finstock Manor and a section of Akeman Street, a once major Roman road branches off to the West. It linked Watling Street north of modern day St Albans and the Fosse Way near Cirencester. This route has some stiles.
North Leigh - East End
A walk of four miles taking in the villages of North Leigh and East End. Highlights include rolling farmland, small copses and woodland areas. You may also wish to visit the local North Leigh Roman Villa. This route has some stiles.
North Leigh - Wilcote
A walk of five miles taking in the villages of North Leigh and Wilcote. Highlights include rolling farmland, historic track ways, ancient woodland and a historic well. Nearby to the route is North Leigh Roman Villa. This route has some stiles.
Leafield
A walk of five and a half miles around the village of Leafield, part following the line of the Roman road of Akeman Street. Other highlights include ancient woodland, green lanes and views to distant hills. This route is stile free.
Woodstock - Wootton
A walk of seven and a half miles passing through Woodstock and alongside the village of Wootton. Highlights include historic parkland, river valleys, and ancient track ways. This route is stile free.
Wychwood Way and Chadlington
A three and a half mile walk within the five ‘ends’ of Chadlington. This route has some stiles.
The Wychwood Project along with Oxfordshire County Council's Countryside Service and the Cotswolds AONB Volunteer Wardens have been working with landowners on a programme to replace stiles with kissing gates within the Wychwood area. Financial support for this has come from The Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment (TOE), The Waste Recycling Group (WRG) and the Wychwood Project (Oxfordshire).