Walking in England - Hiking Guides mostly for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

These walks involve walking some part of The Grand Union Canal towpath in England.

• Ashby St. Ledgers Footpath and Canal Towpath Walk to try in England
• A circular walk from Ashby St. Ledgers village, partly Jurassic Way, via Braunston, Grand Union and Leicester Canals and back.
• A bumpy towpath and path walk from Marsworth up to Ivinghoe Beacon, Tring and back
• This 12 mile walk goes along the Grand Union Canal, then paths to Ivinghoe Beacon, The Ridgeway Path to Tring and back along the canal.
• Tring Reservoirs Walk along Towpath and Paths in Buckinghamshire, England
• A Circular Walk starting at Startops End Reservoir going along parts of the beautiful Wendover Arm and The Aylesbury Arm.
• A circular walk from Soulbury 3 Locks up to Greensand Ridge in England
• From Soulbury 3 Locks along the Grand Union Canal to Old Linslade, up to GreenSand Ridge, Great Brickhill and back.
• Northchurch Circular Walk on The Hertfordshire Way and Grand Union Canal
• Goes across Northchurch Common then through woods on the Hertfordshire Way down to the Grand Union Canal and back - 11 miles.

The following series of walks at some point use at least part of The Ridgeway National Trail or Path.

• Avebury Stones to Barbury Castle walk - The Ridgeway Path
• Looking at Avebury Stone Circles and Henges in Wiltshire, West Kennet Long Barrow, Silbury Hill, Barbury Castle.
• Chequers and Coombe Hill Circular Walk - partly along The Ridgeway Path
• This is a 14km walk in Buckinghamshire which goes around Chequers - there are several steep climbs, beautiful woods and excellent views of the English countryside.
• Pulpit Hill Fort Walk in The Chilterns in England
• A 5 mile circular walk in The Chilterns up to Pulpit Hill Fort and returns partly on The Ridgeway Trail passing near Chequers Court, England.
• A short circular walk from Chinnor in Oxfordshire, England
• This walk takes about 90 minutes from Chinnor to Bledlow and includes tiny bits of the Icknield Way, Ridgeway Trail and a pub.
• Halton and Wendover Woods circular walk part on The Ridgeway Trail England
• A lovely walk from Halton into Wendover Woods, Tring Park and along The Ridgeway National Trail and then back to Halton.
• A Bledlow Ridge Circular Walk via Radnage in The Chilterns, England
• Starting from Bledlow Ridge this 12km Walk goes to Radnage before returning on The Ridgeway near Chinnor in Oxfordshire.
• Cowleaze Wood, Pyrton Hill, Aston Rowant Ridgeway Trail Walks England
• A Cowleaze Wood - Pyrton Hill - Aston Rowant walk using the Ridgeway National Trail with beautiful views of The Chilterns.
• Ridgeway Trail walk - Wendover Woods then Wendover Canal back to Halton England
• A Ridgeway Path walk from Halton going up into Wendover Woods and Town then back along The Wendover Arm towpath to Halton.
• Wantage to Wantage walk in England visiting Letcombe Castle Fort
• This circular walk starts out at Wantage and includes Letcombe Castle Hill Fort on The Ridgeway National Trail, England.
• Watlington Hill circular walk partly on The Ridgeway Path - Oxfordshire
• This walk starts from the top of Watlington Hill in The Chilterns, is around 14kms long and involves several steep climbs.
• Walking through Wormsley Estate and along The Ridgeway Trail, England
• Walking partly in the woods and paths in the Wormsley Estate then part of the Ridgeway National Trail, The Chilterns, England.
• A Whiteleaf Hill Circular Walk partly along The Ridgeway Path in Buckinghamshire
• This fairly strenuous 8 mile walk starts near Chequers and follows The Ridgeway Trail - goes up Whiteleaf Hill, then to Great Hampden and back.

Walks which take you partly along bits of the Oxfordshire Way National Trail.

• Stonor to Stonor Walk going via Assendon Ridge, Oxfordshire, England
• A circular walk going from Stonor Deer Park via Assendon Ridge to Henley and back using the Oxfordshire Way National Trail.
• Oxfordshire Way Path walk from Beckley to Thame - England
• A nice one way walk in Oxfordshire which starts at Beckley and goes via Waterperry and Rycote Chapel to Thame.
• Lower Heyford, Steeple Barton and Barton Abbey grounds, Tackley, walk in England
• A long Lower Heyford circular walk via Steeple Aston, Steeple Barton and Barton Abbey grounds, Tackley Oxford Canal towpath.
• Stonor via Henley Walks using The Oxfordshire Way National Trail England
• Stonor to Stonor walk going via Henley using The Thames Path and the Oxfordshire Way National Trail in England.
• Thame Circular Walk using the old Oxfordshire Way Trail, England
• A really good circular walk out from Thame (Oxfordshire, England) walking via Shabbington and Rycote Chapel.

Four walks in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire which go through beautiful Bluebell Woods in the English countryside.

• Churches and Bluebells Walk in Oxfordshire partly on The Ridgeway Trail
• In May there are millions of bluebells to be seen on this 23km circular walk, it has several quite steep climbs, visits 4 churches and goes through beautiful woods on paths and tracks.
• Charlbury Circular Walk visiting Wychwood Forest, Oxfordshire, England
• This circular walk of just under 9 miles takes you into the ancient and beautiful Wychwood Forest in Oxfordshire, England.
• Cowleaze Bluebell Woods walk in The Chilterns England
• A Bluebell Woods circular walk at Cowleaze Woods, part Ridgeway Trail and Aston Rowant Nature Reserve
• Ibstone Circular Walk in Buckinghamshire in Bluebell Woods
• This is a Turvill - Ibstone circular walk with several climbs and also loads of Bluebells to see in The Spring.

These variety of hiking ideas take you nicely into the English countryside and also go at least partially along The Oxford Canal Towpath in England.

• A Kidlington Circular Walk through countryside and part Oxford Canal
• This pleasant 11 mile walk goes out across the Oxfordshire countryside, passing several churches and then returns alongside The old Oxford Canal.
• Braunston - Lower Shuckburgh - Rugby area Oxford Canal walks in England
• A Lower Shuckburgh to Braunston walk (a sort of circular) and a one way Oxford Canal towpath walk from Braunston to Rugby.
• Brinklow towpath walks along the Oxford Canal in England
• Two Oxford Canal towpath walks - Rugby to Brinklow and a Brinklow to Hawkesbury Junction which goes via Ansty.
• Fenny Compton, Claydon, Cropedy and Banbury Walk - Oxfordshire, England.
• Walking from Fenny Compton via Claydon and Cropedy to Banbury, a one way walk along The Oxford Canal towpath (10.5 miles).
• Fenny Compton circular walk in England via Marston Doles and Priors Hardwick
• A towpath and countryside walk from Fenny Compton via Marston Doles and Priors Hardwick then back on he Oxford Canal.
• Islip Circular Walk via Kidlington in Oxfordshire, England
• A nice 17 mile walk in Oxfordshire, England - goes through Kidlington and includes walking along part of The Oxfordshire Way.
• Lower Heyford Walk in England: Steeple, Middle, North Astons, Somerton and back
• Walking from Lower Heyford visiting Steeple Aston, Middle Aston, North Aston, Somerton and back beside The Oxford Canal.
• Marston Doles - Napton - Oxford Canal Towpath Walk in England
• A circular walk which goes to Lower and Upper Shuckburgh, Napton on the Hill and back to Marston Doles.
• Oxford to Lower Heyford 23km one way Oxford Canal towpath walk in England
• Oxford to Lower Heyford - one way towpath i.e. flat walk - and another walk the other way - Banbury to Lower Heyford.
• Somerton - Aynho - Souldern Circular Walk in Oxfordshire, England
• From Somerton following The Oxford Canal towpath via Aynho to Souldern then walking back to Somerton, England (15kms).
• Woodstock and Blenheim Palace Great Park walk in England
• This is a particularly lovely walk in the English countryside especially in The Spring - a 17 miles Circular Walk from Stonesfield which goes via Blenheim Great Park and Woodstock (partly on The Oxfordshire Way and The Oxford Canal towpath).

These following walks are circulars which involve walking partly alongside the River Thames on The Thames Path.

• Culham, River Ock, Abingdon, Culham Circular walk, Oxfordshire England
• Walking from Culham Lock along the Cut and River Thames Path to Abingdon and then back via Sutton Courtenay to Culham.
• Culham Circular walk out to Clifton Hampden and Abingdon in England
• From Culham Lock to Clifton Hampden, around UKAEA Culham then across country to Abingdon and back beside The Thames.
• Goring to Moulsford and back longish Circular 15 mile Walk, England
• A 15 mile circular walk from Goring - this has several steepish climbs then undulates until it returns beside The River Thames.
• A nice Henley circular walk starting from Hambleden Lock
• This 15km walk goes across the hills from Hambleden via Remenham to Henley - then comes back following The River Thames.
• Circular Walk to Wittenham Clumps and Dorchester Abbey in Oxfordshire England
• A 9 mile walk from Clifton Hampden to Round Hill and Castle Hill (Wittenham Clumps), optional circular 2 mile walk to Dorchester Abbey then returning along The Thames Path.

Walking Gear and Possible Hazards when hiking in the English Countryside. Everyone has their preference for what to have on their feet when out rambling but certainly some of these walks really do require walking boots or at least wellies rather than simply trainers. For instance the Oxfordshire Way Trail is quite often really wet in places - it just seems to have a remarkable ability in finding underground springs on it's route - so sometimes you can be walking through deep slippery mud patches. It is also of note how quickly the weather can change especially in the winter - we have set out on The Ridgeway Trail in reasonably warm conditions, then ended up being snowed on a few hours later so again taking a bit of appropriate gear is worth while. The Ridgeway is surprisingly isolated in places especially towards the Wiltshire end (Avebury area etc.). Also we usually take a walking pole with us particularly when we expect to be walking across fields where they may be cows and sometimes even bulls grazing.
In England public footpaths and Rights of Way are by law not meant to be blocked or obstructed or create any sort of hazard to walkers however young cattle in particular have a habit of running towards you. This is simply because they are inquisitive. However 20 or 30 calves racing towards you is a bit of a hazard in that (we know) sometimes they forget they have to actually stop in time - what they do tend to respect and pay attention too is a stick being waved at them. Remember also that normally docile cows can become somewhat concerned and even aggressive when they have very young calves with them so give them plenty of room. Obviously dangerous bulls are not allowed to wander freely where public access is permitted however you can come across a bull now and again. The one thing that might just help you should you come across a bull is by having a stick or walking pole - bulls know about sticks and respect them (again usually!.)

The instructions for the walks are for guidance although we believe them to be accurate however a relevant Ordnance Survey Explorer map should be carried/utilised as well. Quite apart from the lovely countryside around the area when walking it is always worth slight diversions to look at the churches in the various villages, some of which are very old.
In addition at the appropriate time of year we have the "pre-Spring warning" of snowdrop displays followed by the massive displays of bluebells doing their thing in the woods - for example up at Christmas Common. Then there are the fantastic autumn leaf displays for which Wendover Woods is justifiably famous.
As far as wildlife is concerned The Chilterns is full of all sorts to enjoy - particularly we have a thriving population of Red Kites. For instance around Thame (Oxfordshire) it is very unlikely that you will fail to see at least 5 or 6 and quite often 30 or more of these wonderful birds flying around often at tree height. Other locations to expect to spot these Red Kites is around Christmas Common, Watlington Hill, Wormsley Estate and up at Stokenchurch. If you are happy to go walking then another good place to spot Red Kites is around Stonor Deer Park where in addition you often see hawks and buzzards as well as sometimes owls, woodpeckers and other birds.