Description
This is a Slow Ways route connecting Abingdon and Didcot.
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This is a Slow Ways route connecting Abingdon and Didcot.
Know of a better route? Share it here.
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Abidid one
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 9
Surveys
What is this route like?
Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.
Grade 4X based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
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Description | Note | ||
Grade 4: Route includes very rough surfaces including deep ruts, steep loose gravel, unmade paths and deep muddy sections. Wheelchairs may experience traction/wheel spin issues. Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users. |
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys. | ||
Full grading description |
Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.
Survey Photos
Facilities
Facilities in the middle third of this route.
Challenges
Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.
Obstacles
Obstacles on this route.
Accessibility
Is this route step and stile free?
Measurements
Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.
Narrowest part of path: no data
The steepest uphill gradient East: no data
The steepest uphill gradient West: no data
The steepest camber: no data
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places (1)
Successfully completed
We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.
Recommended by an expert
We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.
Terrain
We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.
10.0% of the route is on roads (1)
10.0% of the route is lit at night (1)
40.0% of the route is paved (1)
50.0% of the route is muddy (1)
10.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)
There is no data on long grass
Report a problem with this data
1 surveys
Information from verified surveys.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Abingdon
Grid Ref
SU4979097050
Lat / Lon
51.67003° / -1.28141°
Easting / Northing
449,790E / 197,050N
What3Words
coins.rent.fines
Didcot
Grid Ref
SU5251690502
Lat / Lon
51.61091° / -1.24298°
Easting / Northing
452,516E / 190,502N
What3Words
exacts.factor.encroach
Abidid One's land is
Abingdon | |
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Grid Ref | SU4979097050 |
Lat / Lon | 51.67003° / -1.28141° |
Easting / Northing | 449,790E / 197,050N |
What3Words | coins.rent.fines |
Didcot | |
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Grid Ref | SU5251690502 |
Lat / Lon | 51.61091° / -1.24298° |
Easting / Northing | 452,516E / 190,502N |
What3Words | exacts.factor.encroach |
Arable | 23.5% |
Other | 19.2% |
Pasture | 23.9% |
Urban | 33.1% |
Water | 0.3% |
Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018
reviews
Martin McGovern
01 Jan 2022Not a lot to add to the two very thorough reviews so far. I can confirm that the route is muddy in winter. The Didcot end, as has been noted, passes through a more industrial landscape - I quite like this sort of thing, but I accept it isn't for everyone. It certainly provides quite a contrast with the riverside and village sections further north - and is predominantly paved, which was useful given the muddy conditions.
Also, I started at the Didcot end. As you walk northward along Church Street in Sutton Courtney, the gpx file is slightly indistinct - you need follow the bend round, and take the footpath that runs northward opposite the pub called The Fish.
Martin Ellis
05 Aug 2021Abingdon to Didcot (Abidid 1) review.
A pleasant Slow Way which follows the Thames from Abingdon, then leaves it at Culham Lock to visit Sutton Courtenay, and finally takes a bridleway into Didcot.
The route begins by crossing Abingdon bridge and heads south along the Thames Path (Photos 1 & 2). The route leaves the river at the Old Culham Bridge to follow a road to Culham Lock. It doesn’t add much to the route to instead continue along the towpath, so I’d suggest that option. In either case, it’s worth visiting the bridge: fought over for its strategic importance in the Civil War (Photo 3).
From Culham Lock (Photo 4), the route takes a bridleway and footpath (Photo 5) to skirt east of Sutton Courtenay. It’s only a short detour into the village, and the George and Dragon pub. The route goes by a churchyard, within which are the graves of H.H. Asquith and George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair).
On leaving Sutton Courtenay, the footpath has a good view of Didcot Power Station (Photo 6), now missing its iconic water towers. The route then turns east down a bridleway, which I found to be rutted in places (Photo 7).
This route becomes a wide road past industrial sites: interesting from an engineering perspective, if not exactly picturesque! My walk was on a hot day, making the area rather dusty (Photo 8).
From there, it’s a walk south past a farm and then an industrial estate, followed by a street walk to Didcot Station.
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Share your thoughts
Helenry
24 Jul 2021Starting in Abingdon town centre, the route heads over the river and then onto the Thames Path which is peaceful, flat and easy-going here (although we did the route in summer and it might get a bit boggy in the winter months). After about 1.5km you meet Culham Old Bridge and the route takes you onto a pavement next to a road called The Burycroft which cuts off the corner of the Thames Path making the route more direct (alternatively, you could just keep following the Thames Path for a more scenic route by the river and fields). The route rejoins the Thames Path at the Culham Cut (photo 1) and then it is only a short distance before reaching Culham Lock (photos 2 and 3). Heading up and onto the road, carefully cross to the pavement on the other side and continue over Sutton Bridge. Once over the bridge, carefully cross back over the road onto the signposted public footpath and on towards Sutton Courtenay. There are a number of nice pubs in Sutton Courtenay which the route takes you past. At Sutton Courtenay, head onto Churchmere road and then onto the public footpath signposted on the right before you get to the lake. The path opens up and then you can see Didcot B power station in the distance (photo 4). At a junction of paths, head left. Even in summer the path was a bit muddy and rutted here. Eventually, you will come out onto a paved access road past a recycling plant and an asphalt plant (photo 5). This was pretty quiet at the weekend but might be busier during a weekday. After about 1.5km you'll meet Appleford level crossing. Bear right before the crossing and head past some fishing lakes and farm buildings. You'll end up at a roundabout by the A4130 with no pedestrian crossing so carefully cross the road onto an industrial estate down the road called 'Collett'. Keep going straight along the pavement and footpath (photo 6), continuing down past the sewage treatment works and towards the road. Cross the road and head round the corner, past the Didcot Parkway Station multistory car park entrance and over the railway bridge. Bear left along the main road and you'll meet Didcot Parkway Station after a short distance.
Highlights of the route are the Thames Path as you leave Abingdon, Culham Lock and the village of Sutton Courtenay.
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