The short section between Stratford Bridge and the railway crossing (photo 3) was very waterlogged when I did the walk, but I just about managed to pick a dry-ish route through. The actual mapped route here takes you along the road between these points, but I definitely recommend the footpath to/from the car park. After the car park you have to re-join the road for a short section of road walking to get to the cattle grid at the top. The footpath does continue up to the summit of the hill and Chastleton Barrow, but unfortunately this route turns off the footpath to join the road again. It's this detour along the road that made me consider dropping the route to 4 stars, but that would be harsh, particularly as the road walking is relatively pleasant and quiet (photo 12). After crossing the A436, the route takes you through Cornwell Holt woodland to agricultural land above the village....

Steve Litchfield

Walked this route from Chipping Norton to Shipton under Wychwood in March 2024 after a very wet winter. 294219 suggest not using the bridleway and footpath via Merriscourt Farm in wet/muddy conditions...

CazMac

Staircase crossing of A3400 isn’t great condition, take care....

Paul

Between a stile at what3words ///rushed.brimmed.thinnest and ///interacts.hangs.lines is tricky in parts: a stile overgrown with brambles and foliage and fallen tree nearby (can avoid this if use nearby 5-bar gate in same field to cut this part out), a badly damaged bridge over river, and a few overgrown brambles between fields and over a small brook, also a couple of fields that could potentially be quite muddy to cross, and an occasional tricky stile. Chipping Norton: bus (check timetable before travelling), accommodation, food and other shops, cafes and pubs. Shipston-on-Stour: bus (check timetable before travelling), accommodation, food and other shops, cafes and pubs....

Ruth Broadbent

There is greater total descent than ascent in this direction if that is a factor you're interested in, however there are still two good ascents in the walk, Baker's Hill on leaving Little Rollright and Margett's Hill on leaving Long Compton. Leaving Salford, the route climbs gently before descending again into the pretty Little Rollright. The route then climbs steadily away from the village up a metalled farmers track (photo 7) and over the route's first significant hill. On reaching the village, there's a walk alongside the main A3400 road before leaving on the northern side and up the second significant ascent of the route, Margett's Hill....

Steve Litchfield

At GR SP291357 the path is very muddy due to a spring. Suggest go through wide gateway on the left and rejoin path after about 100 yards.....

Litehiker

After crossing the main road (B4026) after Dean, look for the Salt Way restricted byway and an enjoyable route to Chipping Norton, along tracks and across fields and meadows, including a nature reserve by Glyme river (we didn’t detour to look around it but noticed a stile into it). We also walked another footpath route from Chipping Norton to Dean as a potential alternative to avoid the quiet country lane out of Dean but although enjoyable, it passed over quite a few fields and narrow paths and included a stile, so Chicha One and Two are probably better, especially if wet weather....

Ruth Broadbent

After crossing the main road (B4026) after Dean, look for the Salt Way restricted byway and an enjoyable route to Chipping Norton, along tracks and across fields and meadows, including a nature reserve by Glyme river (we didn’t detour to look around it but noticed a stile into it). We also walked another footpath route from Chipping Norton to Dean as a potential alternative to avoid the quiet country lane out of Dean but although enjoyable, it passed over quite a few fields and narrow paths and included a stile, so Chicha One and Two are probably better, especially if wet weather....

Ruth Broadbent

I walked this route on 31 August 2023 in reasonable weather....

Litehiker

The Shakespeare's Way is not well marked and some paths are missing where crops have been panted causing the route to be modified to go around field boundaries...

Lodge101

Lovely route out of Chipping Norton, using tracks through fields and woodland with a few small Holloway’s thrown in, and nice dry paths. The middle section is mostly on tarmac and though the roads are very quiet there, it’s a bit much for the pooch’s paws. The final third is pretty but the paths were wet and sloppy even in summer....

Chris White

A very enjoyable walk between Chipping Norton and Charlbury on well established footpaths and minor roads....

Sandsayre

The section south of the B4026 (roughly 1/3 of the way from Chipping Norton to Charlbury) is tarmac, single track road with not great visibility - I didn't encounter any cars on a Sunday morning but depending on when the verges are cut and how fast the cars would be going it might be unpleasant....

Rolf

There are no real landmarks on route, just fields and occasional small woodlands....

Berkshire Walker

There are no real landmarks on route, just fields and occasional small woodlands....

Berkshire Walker

There are two awkward roads to cross A41 (with two steep staired banks) and the Hook Norton road just by Fanville Farm near the end of the walk....

Lodge101