Walking Britain Oxfordshire Walk
Bladon circular from Begbroke
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer 180 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer 180 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 164 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 164 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
Walk Route Description
Starting from the village of Begbroke lying a few miles to the north of Oxford on the A44 this walk captures many of the features typical of the county's scenery. The start is close to the parish church on the west side of the main road and accessed from the roundabout in the village centre (grid ref. SP468138) where limited on street parking is available. Please make sure you park considerately.
After parking, walk west away from the main road along Spring Hill Road. Follow the road as it turns left, right and then left again to reach a track (grid ref. SP465136) on your right. Take this and continue past Hall Farm (on your left). You are now on Shakespeare's Way. Follow this clear path as it crosses fields before entering woodland of Bladon Heath. The path continues through the woods and emerges into open heathland before reaching houses. Do not take the tarmac road ahead instead turn right down the signed footpath (grid ref. SP452144). This path passes a small wood on your left (Withy Clump) to reach a cross path at grid ref. SP454148. Turn left here and continue into Bladon passing Winston Churchill's grave in churchyard of St Martin's on your left.
Walk through the churchyard and take the southern exit (grid ref. SP448148). Continue straight ahead along Church Street to reach a crossroads with Lamb Lane. Go straight across into Manor Road. Follow this road as it bears right and then turns left. Continue to where Manor Road bears ton the right and take the footpath on your left (grid ref. SP446145). Follow this path across a field with the field boundary to your right. Go into the next field and after 200 metres follow the path as it turns sharp right to cross a further field to reach a road (grid ref. SP445138).
Turn left along the road to Burleigh Lodge. The onward path initially skirts woodland to your left before going half left across the second field. Continue across more fields reaching a path junction in just over a mile from Burleigh Lodge at Spring Hill (grid ref. SP463127). Turn left here onto Shakespeare's Way and continue onto a well-made track. Follow this track as it heads towards Begbroke. The track bears left and soon joins Spring Hill Road and the point where your initially joined Shakespeare's Way (grid ref. SP465136). Continue ahead along Spring Hill Way and you will soon be back at the start.
Other walks nearby
Walk 3357 Blenheim Palace Great Park from Woodstock - easy - 6.6 miles/10.7 km
Walk 3456 Swinford Bridge from Lower Wolvercote - easy/mod - 7.0 miles/11.4 km
Walk 3728 Ledwell & Nether Worton from Great Tew - easy/mod - 6.4 miles/10.4 km
Walk 2628 Charndon & Edgcott - easy - 6.0 miles/9.8 km
Walk 1062 Pusey from Buckland - easy - 3.5 miles/5.7 km
Walk 1439 Fulbrook & Widford from Burford - easy - 6.0 miles/9.8 km
Walk 2076 Kingham to Charlbury - easy/mod - 10.5 miles/17.1 km
Walk 1061 Faringdon, Radcot and Littleworth - easy/mod - 8.0 miles/13 km
Walk 1063 Buckland & Pusey from Faringdon - easy/mod - 10.5 miles/17.1 km
Walk 1064 Faringdon Folly, Buckland Warren and Hatford - easy/mod - 8.0 miles/13 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
Navigation
This pocket handbook to navigation will help you master the necessary map and compass skills for mountain walking. Chapters include map scales, symbols and contours, grid references, map reading, bearings, route planning and night and bad-weather navigation, as well as navigating with a GPS.
More information
The End to End Trail
