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Staeyn Survey

3XJuly 2022 by Banburybill

Route description

This walk started as a survey of StaEyn1, but I decided while sorting out the actual route to be followed around West End to take a detailed track of a significantly more direct route. This alternate route does follow a section of the Thames Path starting at West End, but leaves when the Thames Path turns east towards Pinkhill Lock and the river in favour of following a green farm lane and then a footpath direct to the south of Eynsham. The Thames Path, a route I've walked many times, is scenic, but in following the river does meander somewhat. Also, once at Swinford Bridge, there is no choice but to trudge the narrow pavement beside the often unpleasantly busy B4044 for nearly 1km before taking a huge dog-leg into Eynsham. This route does join Oxford Road in Eynsham for the last 400m or so, but at a point only 100m before where StaEyn1 joins that road, and well after the B4044 traffic has turned off towards the A40. I walked Standlake to Eynsham. Leaving Standlake is a pleasant walk through a small village. The church is well worth a look. After than one heads into gravel pit country. You need to keep an eye out for traffic for the short section along Cow Lane. Immediately after that you turn into a gravel pit section that is rather unpleasantly fenced, the fences often accompanied by some rather threatening signage. Once you leave that behind at West End there's a short walk along the lane to join the Thames Path, and the only remaining dicing with traffic is crossing the B4449 once you reach the south of Eynsham. There's two or three stiles - the pictured one on the Thames Path is about as bad as it gets. In summary, then, you don't get to walk alongside the river or to visit Pinkhill Lock. But you do avoid a busy road, take a nicer route into Eynsham and save yourself a good km or more of walking.

About the surveyor

Coming soon.

Survey Contents

Grading

Path surface grading

3 Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections.

Accessibility grading

X 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.

Photos

Photos from surveys are coming soon.

Facilities

  • Public toilet
  • Wheelchair accessible toilet
  • Supermarket
  • Restaurant
  • Vegan restaurant
  • Accommodation
  • Accommodation < £50
  • Campsite
  • Bothy
  • Free wifi
  • Public phone
  • Mobile Phone Coverage
  • Train station
  • Bench
  • Picnic table
  • Bus stop
  • Ferry

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Challenges

  • Scrambling
  • Wading
  • Swimming
  • Climbing
  • Stepping stones
  • Very slippery
  • Very muddy
  • Very icy
  • Likely to flood
  • Long grass sections
  • Crops encroaching on path
  • Diverted path

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Obstacles

  • Stiles
  • Step and kerbs
  • Possible to avoid steps, if applicable
  • Flights of steps
  • Gates
  • Kissing gates
  • Locked gates
  • Disables access gates
  • Cycle barriers
  • Ladders
  • Cattle grids
  • Fords
  • Narrow bridges
  • Ferry required
  • Acceptable road walking
  • Unacceptable road walking
  • Dangerous road crossings
  • Walking on paths beside roads
  • Walking on verges beside roads
  • Railway crossings
  • River crossings
  • Cattle possible
  • Horses possible
  • Tidal area
  • Potential falls
  • Exposed to elements
  • Remote area
  • Mountainous area
  • Military training area
  • No visible path
  • Seasonal nesting birds
  • Other hazards

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Accessibility

  • Not present at time of survey Free of stiles
  • Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs
  • Present at time of survey Free of flights of steps
  • Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles

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Measurements

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

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Successfully completed

  • Small Pug-sized dog
  • Small Labrador-sized dog
  • Large St. Bernard-sized dog
  • Standard pram
  • Off-road rugged pram
  • Standard wheelchair
  • Off-road rugged wheelchair
  • Standard mobility scooter
  • Off-road rugged mobility scooter

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Expert recommendations

  • Small Pug-sized dog
  • Small Labrador-sized dog
  • Large St. Bernard-sized dog
  • Standard pram
  • Off-road rugged pram
  • Standard wheelchair
  • Off-road rugged wheelchair
  • Standard mobility scooter
  • Off-road rugged mobility scooter

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Terrain

No data yet

There is no data on how much of this route is paved

There is no data on how much of this route is lit at night

There is no data on how muddy this route is

There is no data on rough ground

There is no data on long grass

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