I took extensive notes and photographs with the intention of providing a thorough review but the section from Waterperry to Wheatley is simply too dangerous and unpleasant to recommend. For completeness, the section from Thame to Waterperry is great (4/5) and the section from Wheatley to Oxford via Shotover is walked by thousands every year and well documented....

Alan Milosevic

Despite the detour mentioned in the comment below, the towpath leading out of Oxford is quite narrow, so be mindful of cyclists, as this area can get particularly busy on weekends. It’s an enjoyable and easy-to-follow route, especially in mid-July, without concerns about flooding....

Julia F

As a local who frequently walks in the area, I can attest that the path is usually very pleasant (in fact, the stretch between The Perch and Godstow Abbey is my favorite walk in Oxford), except for the one or two times each year when Port Meadow is flooded....

Tony Or

For a longer (and shadier on a hot day) walk, there are footpaths through the woods (Photo 2). I thought it best to cautiously walk along the left-hand verge (Photo 6). The Slow Way crosses the River Thame by a picturesque mill in Waterstock (Photo 8). The Slow Way passes through the woods of Rycote Park and by Rycote Chapel (Photo 10). The final part of this Slow Way is a straightforward walk through Moreton village, and then well-maintained footpaths into Thame, finishing outside the town hall (Photo 12)....

Martin Ellis

Almost at the beginning and only a short distance along the canal towpath, there was a notice announcing that the path was closed due to flooding. Then, just after passing beneath the road bridge carrying the A34, the path follows the Oxford Greenbelt Way. However, I rejoined the farm road alongside the Thames (the Thames Path) but this was also flooded in places so the boots came off a few more times, even once the Thames Path and the Oxford Greenbelt Way merged on the northern edge of Wytham Great Wood....

Litehiker

Very pretty route, provided a good walk for the first 11 or so miles, but the last two miles (furthest from Oxford) were so flooded as to be impassable without taller boots than mine sadly. Nevertheless what of it I could walk I very much enjoyed, and will try it again once I’ve gotten knee boots or the weather has dried. Who would’ve guessed England would be so rainy?...

Wilfried Zibell

An attractive walk which covers a stretch of the Thames Path National Trail, farmland footpaths between villages, and concludes in a stretch of the Shakespeare’s Way long-distance footpath. The route leaves the river at Sandford Lock for a short urban walk and a less than salubrious overgrown path around a sewage works. On leaving the village, a footpath south from the church (Photo 2) can cut a short loop from the route. The Slow Way soon turns east to mostly follow the Shakespeare’s Way all the way to Chalgrove [Photo 3]....

Martin Ellis

A pleasant walk south out of Oxford which first follows the Thames Path National Trail, and then takes farmland footpaths into Berinsfield. The Slow Way leaves the Thames Path at Sandford Lock (Photo 1) for footpaths across fields....

Martin Ellis

From here you must track diagonally across fields which can be confusing, and there is a short section on the busy A4074 to rejoin the route on the far side, which is again confusing as the markings through Nineveh farm are not clear....

Edna1

It's tough resisting the temptation to not divert and just head up into Wytham Woods (an amazing place to just wander). The least interesting part is Swinford up into Eynsham, the village itself is really nice - plenty of places for refreshments and fairly regular buses back into the city....

Sam McKavanagh

The parts opposite Nuneham house are really beautiful and there's a great chance to see lots of amazing birds as you get around the Radley lakes area...

Sam McKavanagh

It then crosses a wooden bridge (Photo 1) to join the Thames Path (Photo 2)....

Martin Ellis

I walked it Oxford-Standlake, and made a further small improvement leaving Oxford: on Osney Island, go down West Street, turn right into Swan Street, cross the footbridge and follow the path across the top of Oatlands Rec before turning left after the bridge to join the path down to North Hinksey. Not a big enough difference to justify another route, though, and you may prefer to take in Osney Lock on the official route....

banburybill

Definitely not one for wheels - there are several stiles, particularly nearer Brill, and the path is frequently muddy, even in summer. As you head out from Elsfield downhill towards Oxford, the odd doubling-back is required to cross a ditch, before you head to the Oxford Ring Road (where there are traffic lights, so you can cross safely)....

Martin McGovern

But being near water always adds to my enjoyment of a route....

Martin McGovern

Leaving Moreton, take the right turn (which immediately bends left), not the straight on track. When you emerge onto the A329 at the Oxfordshire Golf Club gate, continue for 100m before taking the Oxfordshire Way sign into Rycote Old Paddock. After the section of the Oxfordshire Way on Waterstock Golf Course, continue straight onto the field. Continue through Home Farm, and keep left, taking the stile into Rycote Estate. Cross the stile next to the Oxfordshire Golf Course gate, and turn immediately left over a second stile6...

Martin McGovern

The initial stretch between the station and canal route can be tricky to keep track of as there are many turns, but once on the canal path it's fairly easy to follow (and there are several signs to help get to the towpath, even if it's not strictly the way this route suggests.) As previous reviewers have mentioned, the stretch along the canal from Wolvercote has been recently resurfaced, making it nice and smooth for going by wheel. The views are plentiful and ever-changing, both with season and distance - it starts off with many houses on the banks, passes a school, under a dual carriageway and then meanders past some greener pastures and a pond that was just teeming with birds when we passed! All ascents and descents are fairly minimal and unnoticeable, too, which is great for those not a fan of big hills....

fliss.harper

I completely agree with Mtormey's review....

Martin McGovern

I tried cycling it: the section from Kidlington to the A44 was OK on a hybrid bike (half-way between a mountain mike and a more traditional road machine), but was muddy and uneven - I wouldn't ride it on anything less rugged, and don't recommend this section for wheelchairs or buggies. At the time of writing (May 2021), the section from the A44 to Godstow Road is being resurfaced, which should bring it up to the standard of the southern section, which is suitable for wheels....

Martin McGovern

I agree with the previous reviews - this is a pleasant walk following about 9 miles of the Thames Path, plus a short distance at each end into the town....

Martin McGovern

It's reasonably gentle, with a nice range of path types - a nice stretch of riverside, with others being more or less wooded, and others going through farmland....

Martin McGovern

Crossing the toll bridge at Swinford is unpleasant and not entirely necessary. Again, if you have an Ordnance Survey map, you will see that it is possible to avoid the toll bridge if you cross at Eynsham lock and then follow the path over the weir....

Dan

An easy riverside walk following the Thames Path from Oxford to Abingdon. Be careful after heavy rainfall as parts of the path can flood easily, sometimes making it inaccessible....

lajammy

This was particularly true of this route, with two significant sections (one running westward out of Marsh Baldon towards Nineveh Farm, and one from the A4074 to Lower Farm) being difficult to identify. The Marsh Baldon section was a wheatfield which had been harvested, and was therefore easy to cross, but the A4074-Lower Farm section had fully grown pea plants on it. I didn’t have the same problem at the same place, but there were several bullocks at Marsh Baldon....

Martin McGovern

The section along the B4495 (Marston Ferry Road) veers to the left (starting from Brill), and crosses the Cherwell some way from the road. Starting from Brill, there are impressive views, including the TV mast at Beckley, marking the approximate half-way point of the route. Shops are available in Brill itself, in Oakley, and the Oxford area. Tricky turns - Brill to Oxford1 As you leave Oakley Road, take the farm track (not the path). tricky turns - Oxford to Brill....

Martin McGovern

It is pretty nice, though there are a few places that I think would be difficult or impossible to pass in a wheel chair (a couple of small bridges [photo 2] that require a step up, a very steep stepless bridge and a section of path with big roots and no way around [photo 3]). Also the bit where a detour via the Victoria Arms adds two quite difficult road crossings (crossing Marston ferry and then crossing back to get to the pedestrian path on the side) as well as making the root longer, so I cut that off....

thk123

You drift away from the river across Kennington Meadow and then back to the least used part of the path between Oxford and Abingdon at least as far as the Radley School Boathouse....

John Howson

A section of about 2.5km leaves the Thames Path, to follow the Oxford Green Belt Way, but then rejoins the Thames Path. About 800m after joining the Thames path, you go through a gate - turn immediately right onto the Oxford Green Belt Way to continue on the official route2 Once you've passed under the A34, go straight ahead onto the Oxford Green Belt Way to continue on the official route.....

Martin McGovern

Good route, but the walk out of Oxford is fairly circuitous when it could be made much more direct; also, when heading from Oxford to Standlake, the path turns north out of Appleton to reach a bridge to cross the Thames, but no path connection exists there. I've uploaded a new route that fixes both of these issues....

mtormey

Super varied in terrain and scenery, and a beautiful way to get out into the countryside from Oxford!...

mtormey

Significant parts of this route use existing pathways – Shakespeare’s Way specifically, including sections where Shakespeare’s Way and the Thames Path are one. One possible route variation at Stadhampton – the official route takes you on the road and past shops and a pub – if you aren’t hungry you can continue on the Shakespeare’s way going across the B480. At Chalgrove, the route seems to leave the road at the Lamb pub. As the route bends right and leaves the Kassam Stadium/Grenoble Road area, the route is hard to spot....

Martin McGovern

I walked part of the Oxford to Berinsfield route with the intention of completing the whole route and doing a survey....

emmajt

Great quiet & scenic route linking Abingdon and Oxford along the River Thames. It can occasionally be flooded at some times of year....

davidemms

The lovely Port Meadow runs parallel to the towpath after Wolvercote so you may want to detour ever so slightly from the towpath to amble through the meadow; The Perch Inn makes for a good spot to fill your boots before finishing off the last couple of miles into Oxford...

PeteDouglas