| Oxfordshire Way | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Length | 68 mi (109 km) |
| Location | Oxfordshire (andGloucestershire), England |
| Trailheads | Bourton-on-the-Water toHenley-on-Thames |
| Use | Hiking |
TheOxfordshire Way is along-distance walk inOxfordshire, England, with 6 miles inGloucestershire and very short sections inBuckinghamshire. The path links with theHeart of England Way and theThames Path.
The path runs for 68 miles (109 km) fromBourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire,[1] toHenley-on-Thames.[2] It passes from theCotswolds to theChiltern Hills, with hilly sections towards each end and gentler country in the middle sections. It takes between 4 and 6 days to walk.
From Bourton-on-the-Water toKirtlington the path forms part ofEuropean walking route E2.
From Bourton-on-the-Water the path passes through the villages ofWyck Rissington andBledington, then follows the valley of theRiver Evenlode toShipton-under-Wychwood,Ascott-under-Wychwood and the small town ofCharlbury. It then passes throughStonesfield and followsAkeman Street for 6 miles, including a crossing ofBlenheim Park. After crossing theOxford Canal the path passes throughKirtlington andWeston-on-the-Green toIslip, the halfway point.
From Islip the path runs byNoke,Beckley and the southern edge ofBernwood Forest toWaterperry. It then passes throughWaterstock,Tiddington andTetsworth. Across theM40 motorway it passes the small settlements ofAdwell andWheatfield, then after a glimpse ofShirburn Castle it reachesPyrton.
From Pyrton the path crosses theRidgeway National Trail, and climbs the Chiltern escarpment toChristmas Common. The remainder of the route is through the Chilternbeechwoods, passingPishill,Maidensgrove,Bix Bottom andMiddle Assendon to arrive at Henley.
Railway stations atShipton-under-Wychwood,Ascott-under-Wychwood (limited service), andCharlbury (on theCotswold Line),Islip andHenley-on-Thames are on the path, andTackley andKingham are near to it. Towns and villages on or near the route with bus connections to railheads include Bourton-on-the-Water (forCheltenham andMoreton-in-Marsh), Woodstock (forOxford), Kirtlington (for Oxford andBicester), Tiddington (for Oxford andAylesbury), and Watlington (for Oxford, some services toReading). The route also passes not too far fromLewknor, where theOxford Tube coach service frequently connects to Oxford and London.
