Witcha three

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I walked this route yesterday, setting out from Witney, and am still debating whether it deserved the full five stars. In its favour were the Cotswolds at their winter best: snow‑dusted thatch, cottages fit for a Christmas chocolate box, and more opportunities for refreshment than any walker has a right to expect. What counted against it, only slightly, but enough to trouble the conscience, was the short spell of verge‑walking beside the busy Witney Road. Brief though it is, it mars perfection.

From Witney the way leads along the High Street and over the River Windrush, then past the pretty Holy Trinity church before threading through the suburb of Woodgreen. Suburbia is left behind at the Hailey Road fuel station, where the walk takes on its rural character, crossing open fields on the approach to Hailey.

Beyond Hailey lies the quiet hamlet of Delly End, where the curious stone Peace Memorial sits proudly on the green. As the road bends left on leaving the hamlet, keep an eye open for the honesty box at Hawkwell Hatchery, fresh eggs for the fortunate passer‑by. Soon after, the route slips into Wood Lane, a charming tree‑tunnel flanked by ancient moss‑clad walls.

Emerging from Wood Lane, you arrive in Whiteoak Green, where a pub awaits those in need of fortification. Then comes, in my view, the walk’s one low point: a 300–400‑metre stretch of verge beside the busy Witney Road. Thankfully it is soon over, and the far quieter Wychwood Way, following the line of the old Roman Akeman Street, leads pleasantly into Ramsden. Here the Church of St James and The Royal Oak offer interest and hospitality in equal measure.

Leaving Ramsden, the route passes a handful of attractive cottages before reaching the newly diverted footpath to Finstock. The village greets you with the thatched Plough Inn, an 18th‑century gem. Opposite the pub, the path drops into a narrow valley towards the Evenlode, though it turns northwest before reaching river or railway, climbing over farmland to meet the tarmac access road to Southill Business Park.

Despite its unpromising name, this road is a delight: a quiet, tree‑lined avenue past a working farm, eventually delivering you to the mischievously titled Lake Superior of Cornbury Park. From here the route skirts the deer park, arguably the highlight of the day, though opinions may differ. A distant herd of deer added to the charm, but the path itself is reward enough. North Lodge marks the end of the parkland, after which a crossing of river and railway leads to a short pavement stroll into Charlbury.

This is, in truth, a lovely walk. There are stiles, footbridges, gates, and variety enough to satisfy most walkers. It feels almost unfair to withhold the fifth star, but that brief encounter with the Witney Road just, and only just, prevents a perfect score. I would gladly walk it again, and commend it warmly to others.

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