Hook Norton — Banbury
Hooban three
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Hooban here.
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Hooban here.
By Steve Litchfield on 04 Aug 2024
Description
A corrected version of Hooban one, mainly submitted to correct access issues with Hooban one upon leaving Swalcliffe towards Lodge Farm. This revision also corrects a few minor accuracy issues with the mapped route, particularly around Lodge Farm and throughout by using the gpx file from the route actually taken
A corrected version of Hooban one, mainly submitted to correct access issues with Hooban one upon leaving Swalcliffe towards Lodge Farm. This revision also corrects a few minor accuracy issues with the mapped route, particularly around Lodge Farm and throughout by using the gpx file from the route actually taken
Status
This route has been reviewed by 1 person.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Hooban three
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 0
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Hook Norton
Grid Ref
SP3552233081
Lat / Lon
51.99506° / -1.48403°
Easting / Northing
435,522E / 233,081N
What3Words
grows.reds.mailings
Banbury
Grid Ref
SP4588740611
Lat / Lon
52.06199° / -1.33207°
Easting / Northing
445,887E / 240,611N
What3Words
curving.forks.link
| Hook Norton | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SP3552233081 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.99506° / -1.48403° |
| Easting / Northing | 435,522E / 233,081N |
| What3Words | grows.reds.mailings |
| Banbury | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SP4588740611 |
| Lat / Lon | 52.06199° / -1.33207° |
| Easting / Northing | 445,887E / 240,611N |
| What3Words | curving.forks.link |
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review
Steve Litchfield
04 Aug 2024I completed this route yesterday walking southwest from Banbury. It was at first an attempt to complete Hooban one which I have failed and uploaded this alternative to mainly deal with access and accuracy issues - particularly around Swalcliffe.
Leaving Banbury, you pass by the amazing St Mary's Church (photo 1). If it is open when you pass, I recommend it is worth a few minutes of your time to pop inside. The interior is amazing and surprised me at just how beautiful it was inside. The route then takes you around People's Park before heading towards the outskirts.
The route as it leaves Bretch Hill passes by a housing development (photo 2) around the water tower. It isn't particularly attractive as it cuts through urban woodland by the flats, but it is passable. It looks like the development site will get bigger as several adjacent fields had heras fencing around them ready for the developers to move in. The route then descends through woodland (photo 3) as it heads towards North Newington.
Leaving North Newington (photo 4) the route eventually takes you through fields (photo 5) to a dip and then back uphill to a field which asked us to not use the field margin due to nesting birds (photo 6). Descending this field then takes you across the quiet Sandfine Road and then around farm buildings before taking you to Fulling Mill.
The route then takes you across the Shutford Rd and then along the Roman road next to Madmarston Hill and then into the pretty village of Swalcliffe. The Stag's Head here is a recommended spot for refreshments. Leaving Swalcliffe, the route takes you around the school and down Park Lane and through Park Wood (photo 10).
As the route took us towards Lodge Farm, it took us through some fields of sweetcorn which it looked like had only recently had a path cleared to follow the right of way (photo 11). I could only imagine how difficult it would have been had the path not been cleared so felt lucky with our timing. The route here is the best way around Lodge Farm to the road.
The route then takes you across more agricultural fields as it descends towards the destination. There are a couple of paths between the houses (photo 15) to take you into the heart of Hook Norton where you may enjoy more refreshments at The Sun Inn.
The route has a fair amount of gates, stiles, and footbridges to negotiate. It misses out on five stars mainly due to the unattractive route out of Banbury and some of the agricultural fields which didn't feel particularly well maintained, but it can be recommended.
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