OXON 40-2018

Route Description

Place names: Italics = name can be seen from route

CAPITALS = name appears on O.S. Landranger 165/175 (1:50,000) - or Street Name

Abbreviations: ahd=ahead: B=bear: bld=building: BW=bridleway: ByW=byway: CB=compass bearing (magnetic): cont=continue: CW=Chiltern Way: enc=enclosed: F=fork: fld=field: fllw(ing)=follow(ing): FP=footpath: FPS=footpath sign: G=gate: GR=O.S. grid ref: immed=immediately: junc=junction: KG=kissing gate: L=left: LHS/RHS=L/R hand side: m=mile: opp=opposite: OW=Oxfordshire Way: R=right: RD=road: RW=Ridgeway: SP=signpost(ed): ST=stile: TK=track: thru=through: T=turn: wd=wood: WM=waymark(ed) (often white arrows): X=cross/across: yds=yards

All GRs are SU xxxxxx

Start Longburrow Hall. GR 760 964.

Thru carpark, ahd to junc & TL on TK. Thru ‘Private Road’ signs to 4 way junc. BR & cont thru G/KG past Hallbottom Farm sign. BL downhill with TK & when TK bends R go ahd on FP (FPS) into wd. After 70yds X TK (white arrow on tree) to junc TR (just before Tjunc with TK) on FP with white arrow on L. X TK & ahd to TR with FP & fllw LH edge of wd for 650yds to Tjunc, TR. At TK junc TL to leave wd. FR between fences, pass farm blds on R & BL between fence & hedge to X ST in corner on R. GR 752 976

1.5m. TR to TK junc, TsharpL uphill. At TK junc ahd on FP (white arrows) 800yds to RD, TL 25yds, TL on TK (SP Crowell 1m) downhill to XTK. GR 750 992

2.8m. TL 1200yds on RW to RD. X RD (SP Watlington 4.6m) 950yds to XTK, TR on BW to RD. GR 728 986

4.5m. X RD (Carefully) to RD opp (SP Aston Rowant only). After 450yds TL into Church Lane. Past houses & onto gravel, pass TK from R to TK Junct (WMs), TL on TK (SP: Copcourt 1.5m). After 30 yds BL on BW to RD at Blue Cross Animal centre.  GR 717 988

5.7m. TL 30yds, X RD (With Great Care) into BW opp. Under M40 then imm TL on FP. Thru wd, pass ST, in 100yds TR X fld CB240 to WM in opp hedge. TL & fllw RH fld edge towards church. In RH corner of fld thru KG into churchyard. Fllw grass FP past church to exit thru Gs to RD. TL, at end of RD TR into:

CP1 Lewknor Village Hall. GR 718 976 6.9m

Opens 08:30 Closes 10:15

6.9m. Retrace route to RD, TL back past church to XRD at Ye Olde Leathern Bottle, TL (Hill Road). At end cont on stepped FP to RD. TL to X RD at bollards & into RD opp. After 350 yds TR at FPS before Knapp Wood Farm. Keep hedge on L round corner to TK (RW). GR 719 967

8.0m. TR on RW  for 1.7m to 1^st RD, X RD, 0.5m to 2^nd RD. X RD ½L, in 50yds FR, 1000yds to X 3^rd RD onto tarmac. In 5yds X ST/thru gap on L, TR & fllw RH fld edge to corner. TR out of fld to 5 TK junc.  GR 690 928

11.1 is from 20 walk on 20-03-18 distances from here are  0.2m less than stated

11.1m. Ahd on TK past Ridge Farm (RW) 1400yds to X RD, after 400yds TL (RW) past G, BL by blds on FP (RW) uphill. Ignore all FPs to L + R to fllw RW WMs over summit & back up thru KG to RD. GR 683 904.

13.4m. Ahd on RD opp. BR in front of St Botolph’s Church & TL thru G into churchyard, pass church & thru G. TL (CW), BR on grass path between bushes, to X RD into enc FP, thru KG. X fld ½R (CB110) uphill, thru KG & ahd on CW. 10yds before RD BR on FP. At junc by G (FPS) TR on BW & fllw LH edge of wd 1250yds to:

CP2 Swyncombe Lodge. GR 687 892 15.0m.

Opens 10:15 Closes 12:30

14.8m TL on lane (CB130), FR to RD. X RD (With Great Care) TR on verge 20yds  & TL past shelter. At grass triangle TR with RD then at next bend TL on TK before Wild Wood. 25yds after TK joins from R TR onto FP (FPS Nettlebed 1). Thru 2 KGs & past house to KG into fld. Thru/pass G in fld pass wd on L cont ahd (CB160) to KG in hedge. Ahd (electric fence on R) thru KG into wd, ahd to BR with FP after arrow on tree, FL & fllw TK to drive.  GR 699 877

16.2m. TL on drive. Immed before G (Westwood Manor Farm) TR to fllw LH edge of wd. At house cont on drive (BW). In 150yds at tree with diagonal arrow TL (CB090 not direction of arrow) on earth TK uphill thru trees to gravel TK. TL past houses and pond, after 150yds ignore lane to R, ahd to XTK by Soundess House, TR. At RD junc ahd & BL on RD, in 80yds TL on lane (Catslip) 800yds to XTK at Solar House. TR to Main RD. GR 708 863

17.6m X RD (With Care) to BW opp (SP Highmoor 1). Fllw WMs on winding TK to XTK (WM). TL 550yds on ByW to junc, ahd 650yds to TR on TK (ByW). Ahd to XTK by houses. GR 716 846

19.0m. Ahd on TK (SP Bromsden Farm). Pass farm (Golden Eye statue on R) on BW L of barn to permissive BW behind barn. X clearing, 40yds after start of fence on L TR downhill on TK to TK junc. TL at WM & ahd on valley bottom for 900yds to WM on R. BR diagonally uphill on FP. Thru G, XTK, thru G. Farm on R X farm TK & ahd on FP (now fence on R) to lane. TR to main RD at BIX.  GR 725 852

20.3m. X RD (With Extreme Care) to KG opp (FPS Bix Bottom 1m). X fld (CB360) into wd & ahd on CW. FP joins TK, as TK TR into fld ahd on FP to L of fld. Fllw wire fence on R, TL at large gate, thru KG and fllw RH fld edge.Thru KG to TK, TR (WM). As TK TR ahd thru G, thru farm yard to lane at BIX BOTTOM. GR 727 867

21.3m. TL 1900yds in valley bottom. At junc by blds ahd on ByW (SP Park Corner 2m). Pass Warden’s House & at car park entrance ahd 200yds to G on R. Thru G (SW23) & uphill on FP ahd at 1^st WM to 2^nd WM (pointing ahd - 30yds before G). TL on broad clearing (permissive FP) thru G into wd. Ahd to Tjunc at TK. TR on TK to RD.  GR 718 886

23.2m. X RD, TL on RHS of RD for 400yds. Opp Cookley Hill Farm TR on TK for Nuttalls Farm. After 120yds at faint Xpath TL (CB300) in direction of gap in trees. Fllw this path thru gap & ahd on LHS (west side) of common for 700yds to meet gravel TK. TL & fllw TK for 300yds, past G, past duckpond to RD, BR to:

CP3 Russell’s Water Village Hall. GR 708 898 24.3m.

Opens 11:45 Closes 15:15

24.3m. Retrace steps past pond & cont on TK, X common, pass farmhouse to G, thru G & farm (PS22). Ahd for 1500yds on enc FP ignoring all turnings, then BL (PS22) to join lane thru PISHILL, passing church on L. Ahd on lane to meet RD. GR 726 900

25.9m. CARE ON ROAD. TR for 40yds, then L on TK at Pishill Farmhouse & immed after garden TR thru G on enc FP (PS6). Uphill for 350yds to X lane, ahd 250yds downhill with line of young trees on R to X TKs in valley. Ahd uphill on TK for 750yds becoming encl, when TK swings R ahd thru KG (FPS) to X fld (CB040), thru 3 more Gs to garden (final gate catch thru hole). Keep on FP to R of lawn & thru Gs on R of main G of Saviours & ahd to RD. GR 743 909

27.3m. X RD to RD opp (SP Turville 2¼). After 100yds, TL on RD. At end BR to Turville Grange sign, TR on gravel and bear L to G by FPS. Thru G on encl FP, thru KG & fllw RH fld edge to KG on R, thru KG, thru G & TL. Fllw LH fld edge, when hedge TL ahd X fld (CB130) to X TK & ahd fence on L. Thru G (WM). BL on permissive FP, thru G fllw FP into fld (WM). Fllw RH fld edge to small G in hedge. Thru G, X TK ½R, thru G to encl BW (WM). Thru G fllw RH fld edge, thru G fllw LH fld edge. After 3^rd power pole on R BR (CB100) downhill to G in hedge. Thru G TL, thru G in corner to encl BW & on RD past school to RD at TURVILLE. GR 767 911

28.8m. Ahd to R of small green, X RD to TK opp, as TK TL ahd thru G on encl FP, thru KG & ahd uphill to RH fld corner. Thru KG to R, X RD, TR & X ST on L. After 170yds TL at WM thru fence, TR on FP thru WD. X fld (CB060) to ST by G. X ST & ahd to RD. GR 774 918

29.4m. TR 80yds, TL thru KGs, fllw RH fld edge uphill thru G into wd. Fllw WMs across 3 TKs to Tjunc (WM post). Tsharp R on TK & pass information boards. As TK starts to descend ignore TK to L & cont downhill to G & into enc FP. Thru G, X ST & BR to RD at FINGEST. TL on RD to T junc. GR 777 911

30.5m. TL on RD 120yds, TR thru KG, fllw RH fld edge uphill thru KG to XST on R into wd. Thru wd, X fld (CB110), pass G into wd & ignore TKs on R. At TK junc BR (BW) 500yds to RD at Spurgrove Lane. Ahd to Tjunc, TL. After 220yds TR into:

CP4 Frieth Village Hall GR 795 902 32.0m

Opens 13:15 Closes 17:30

32.0m. From CP back to RD, TR past Church to XTK (FPS on R). TL on enc TK, thru KG & fllw LH fld edge, up steps thru KG to encl FP. Thru KG down steps to RD (CARE) TR. As RD bends R TL on TK past Sunnydale. As TK TL by FPS ahd on narrow FP thru KG. At end of fence on L (WM) TR thru G. X fld (CB040) thru G & down steps to RD. X RD ½R to FP. GR 796 910

32.6m. Thru KG, ahd on TK fence on R then WD on L, #thru G & ahd RHS fld to TR thru G (WM). At end of wire fence TL thru G. Hedge on R. After 150yds by unused KG and hedge gap TR on LH fld edge. Thru G/ST on enc FP to FL past allotments to lane at Hideaway Cottage. GR 804 913

33.5m TL on lane. At end TR thru wooden posts. Fllw LH fld edge, X TK, X church path. At wall corner thru posts, BL (CB330) to gravel TK junc, TR past Baker’s Piece on R to RD. X at crossing on R & ahd thru carpark (toilets in car park). Keep to LHS, L of power pole & X on LHS of common. X TK, past pole with LEFC sign to RD, TL to RD junc. TL over bridge & at Wheeler End sign X RD & ahd on grass in front of houses to 5mph sign. X TK onto grass, BL on FP behind seat (CB290). Keep on RHS of TK, pass R of houses to TK, TR to RD. GR 801 928

34.8m X RD on FP (FPS). In 15yds BL past notice board & TR on TK on LH edge of wd 550yds to XTK (WM). TR on BW, BL in front of houses to TK junc. TR to RD. TL, after 30yds TR with RD. Imm after Private Road sign TL thru KG X fld, thru G in LH corner on enc FP. Thru G, X TK, thru G opp. At end of WD TR on TK. As TK TR ahd on grass to wd. TL 5yds to FR into wd (white arrow) to XTK in valley bottom. TL 3yds, TR on LH fld edge. At top of rise BR X fld (CB350) to WM post in valley. X TK, X fld & pass ST into wd. Ahd with white arrows ignoring all turnings to reach RD. GR 791 950

36.8m X RD (CAREFULLY) TR 25yds, TL thru KG (FPS Bottom Wood 1Km).  Fllw LH edge thru 3 flds to X ST into wd. At XTK by notice board ahd thru G on enc BW. At junc by Gs TR on RD. In 330yds TL into Green Lane. At end X RD, TL 70yds to TR on enc FP by war memorial. Into wd, pass house on L to drive, TR to RD at BENNETT END GR 782 971

38.6m TL on Grange Farm Road. As RD bends R ahd on TK. In 250yds at FPS BL X fld (CB220). Up steps, X TK, up steps thru hedge gap by WM. TL fllw LH fld edge. X grass cont on LH fld edge. At WM TL thru hedge to TK, TR on TK to barrier. FL X fld (CB220) to LHS of power pole. Fllw hedge on R for 25yds, As hedge turns L TR to hidden KG in hedge. Thru KG & X fld CB210. Thru KG to TK. TL on TK to TR at junc into Longburrow Hall and don’t forget to register at the FINISH.

Well Done!

You have completed the 2018 Oxon40.

40.2 miles 4050 ft ascent