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Outside of the main cities, Oxfordshire has some beautiful scenic countryside, perfect for easy walks either along the canals or great circular walks where you explore the area.
Walking is one of the best ways to relax and feel good, great for families looking to reconnect and an easy way to keep fit!
Here you’ll discover our top tips on the best walks in Oxfordshire, both easy and more challenging walks that can be completed whilst your on your narrow boating holiday or in general.
Circular Walks in Oxfordshire
Everyone loves a circular walk! It seems to give you a sense of accomplishment, as opposed to a simple return walk, as well as getting to see more of an area.
There are a few circular walks in Oxfordshire that we would recommend, both close to the canals where you’ll be boating or slightly further afield.
Here’s an overview of some of our favourites.
Walk 1: St Mary’s Church Kidlington Circular Walk
Distance: 4.5 – 5 miles
Approximate time to walk: 1.5 to 2 hours
Level of difficulty: Easy to Moderate
The countryside surrounding the village of Kidlington is full of history and beauty and the walks around here are a mix of paved paths, grassy trails and canal towpaths.
On this nice walk in Oxfordshire, start at St Mary’s Church (which dates back to 1220) then walk along Church Street to the junction with the Moors and Mill Street, turn left along Mill street. Follow this to Cherwell Green then turn right down Bicester Road. Look out for Rosie the Elephant on the Kidlington roundabout!
Here you’ll reach Stratfield Brake Sports ground, walk across and head towards the woods and the Oxford Canal. Enjoy a lovely walk heading north along the canal until you reach the football club, then head into Kidlington town back towards the church.
Walk 2: Thrupp Circular
Distance: 3.3 miles
Approx time to walk: 1 hour 10 minutes
Level of difficulty: Easy
This circular trail near Kidlington, Oxfordshire is a relatively easy route taking just over an hour to complete. Dogs are welcome.
You can begin your walk at Annie’s Tea Room – perfect for refreshment at the start of end of your hike! Head northwest / left along the River Cherwell until you reach the Holy Cross Church, when you’ll cross on a path heading east over the River and on to Saint Giles church.
It’s then a countryside walk heading south east down to Saint Mary’s Church before encountering the River Cherwell again and heading north back up to Annies Tea Room.
This trail is fairly well marked but a map or navigation app would be useful. Some sections can be muddy so wear some sturdy walking shoes. This is a great walk for wildlife spotting and bird watching.
Walk 3: Lower Heyford and Steeple Aston Circular
Distance: 4.3 miles
Approx time to walk: 2 hours
Level of difficulty: Medium
This is a lovely countryside circular walk from Lower Heyford, one of our narrowboat hire bases in Oxfordshire. You can start from the base walk along the Oxford Canal until you reach the Railway Bridge. Cross the railway bridge and take the path heading west which continues along the southern edge of several fields with a wire fence initially on your left and later on the right. Along the way you will see on your right the three distinctive arches of the folly Rousham Eyecatcher, built in the 18th-century on the Rousham House estate. The path goes through several metal gates and becomes a concrete farm path leading to The Dickredge and Heyford Road in Steeple Aston.
Turn left along Heyford Road following the footpath and turn left at the traffic lights over the one-way stone bridge, from where you will have a view on your right of Rousham House. You can stop off here and visit the beautiful gardens which are open every day to the public.
Carry on across the bridge and continue along the road as it passes the entrance to Heyford Station car-park and goes over the railway line and canal, and then turn immediately sharp left.
Cross back over the canal and turn right down to the towpath. This should take you back to the Lower Heyford hire base.
Canal Walks in Oxfordshire
You’ll no doubt be doing some walking during your canal boat holiday in Oxfordshire, and along the canal is one of the most relaxing places to stroll, taking in the peace of the inland waterway, along with all the nature and wildlife that exist there.
These historic waterways, once used for transporting goods such as coal and pottery, are now used mainly for leisure, so you’ll see lots of other boaters, walkers and runners making the most of the canal towpaths.
It’s a very unique environment, with the historic locks, still very much in working order even though they were built in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the beautiful old stone bridges and canal boat wharfs.
The main waterway running through this region is the Oxford Canal – north and south – which winds south from the Midlands of England all the way to Oxford itself.
Walk 1: Thrupp to Shipton Weir Lock
Distance: 1.5 miles
Approx time to walk: 30 minutes
Level of difficulty: Easy
On this short walk in Oxfordshire you’ll start at Sparrowgap Bridge in Thrupp and meander down the Oxford Canal through a countryside setting with willow trees hanging over the water.
It’s a relaxing and easy walk, ideal for a a pre-dinner leg stretch from the boat.
Walk 2: Banbury to Cropredy
Distance: 5 miles
Approx time to walk: 2 hours
Level of difficulty: Moderate
Starting at Banbury’s historic boatyard, you’ll follow the towpath past reservoirs, nature reserves and country parks. A lovely countryside walk in Oxfordshire, you’ll simply follow the Oxford Canal as it winds it’s way north.
You’ll arrive in the lively village of Cropredy after a couple of hours – perhaps stopping off for a pint at The Brassenose Arms, before heading back. You could catch a bus or taxi back to your starting point.
Walk 3: Lower Heyford to Oxford (Isis Lock)
Distance: 14 miles
Approx time to walk: 6 hours
Level of difficulty: Challenging
This full-day Oxfordshire canal walk begins at Lower Heyford in rural Oxfordshire and ends in the city of Oxford. It’s a one-way towpath walk, pretty flat much of the way and an easy route to navigate.
Highlights include the Trap Grounds nature reserve, wide views over Port Meadow, photogenic lift-bridges near Wolvercote, and the deep, wooded cuttings beyond Shipton-on-Cherwell.
It’s good to pack a picnic or you could stop off in Kirtlington or Tackley, both a short detour from the path.
The canal path will get busy once you get closer to Oxford, with lots of cyclists and walkers. Once you reach the ‘dreaming city of spires’ you can get a bus or taxi back to your starting point at Lower Heyford.
Summary
Oxfordshire is perfect for anyone that loves easy walks. Not too hilly – especially along the canals – so it’s all about absorbing the landscape at your own pace.
The area offers quintessential English countryside, complete with picture box villages and traditional pubs as well as lovely natural surroundings, with plenty of opportunity to do some wildlife spotting and bird watching.
Why not make your visit even more memorable with a narrowboat holiday in Oxfordshire? With Black Prince Holidays, you can moor up in scenic spots and step straight onto the footpath, combining life on the water with relaxing walks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you walk along the river in Oxford?
Two main rivers wind through the city of Oxford, the River Thames (known locally as the Isis) and the River Cherwell. You can walk along the Port Meadow and Thames Path, plus the Thames Path is a nation trail that follows the river south through Christ Church Meadow and beyond to Sandford Lock. The Cherwell Riverside walk follows the river through the University Parks, past Magdelen College, towards South Park. Head here for great views of the city.
Where does the Oxford Canal start and finish?
The 78-mile long Oxford Canal runds from the centre of Oxford to Hawkesbury Junction near Coventry in the West Midlands. It originally formed a vital part of the ‘canal highway’, linking the Midlands to London.
How long is the South Oxford Canal?
The South Oxford Canal is around 47 miles long, and generally refers to the stretch between Oxford and Napton Junction, near Braunston. It’s a peaceful, countryside stretch of canal, popular with walkers and narrowboaters.
How many locks are there on the Oxford Canal?
There are 46 locks on the Oxford Canal, 36 on the South Oxford and 10 on the North Oxford.
WHERE WILL YOU START?
Take a look at our LOCATIONS page to start planning your narrowboat holiday.
Or if you would like help planning your adventure then call on +44 (0)1527 575 115 and a Black Prince team member will be happy to help!