Cowley to Shotover, Oxford

Description

(D/A) From Cowley Marsh recreation ground car park, follow the gravel path on the right-hand (North-East) side of the recreation field (Cowley Marsh) and turn right just before the tennis courts. Turn left (North-East) immediately after the courts (before going through the gate), and keep the fence just to your right as you follow the path into and then out of a small nature reserve.

Turn right onto the road (Barracks Lane) following it up a steep hill with the golf course on your left, carefully cross straight ahead at traffic lights (Horsepath Road), carefully cross the ring road and continue straight across. Just past the Mini main entrance (on the right), turn left (North) carefully into the bus depot's car and bus park.

(1) Keep to the left side through the car park, after which the path continues as a grassy track along the side of playing fields. At the "gate" with wooden sleepers turn right (North-East) into Brasenose Woods, following the cycle path and keeping to your right when in doubt.

The path opens out at a complex junction. Here don't follow the path to the right into a field, but instead look for a small wooden bridge ~10m to your left. Cross it, and continue on a made road along the lower, right-hand side of an open grassy field. This is Shotover SSSI.

(2) At the far end of the field, take the rightmost path and follow it uphill, turning left just before the path would enter a private area through a gate. Follow this path uphill until you arrive at cross roads with a relatively major path to the left. (If you reach an open grassy plane, you missed it - retreat about 40m.) This junction is the site of the famous 400 year-old Shotover Oak which died recently from root exposure.

(3) Take the left (North-West) turn and follow the large path which traverses the side of the hill, eventually emerging from the trees into a grass field next to a car park (which is an alternative starting point for the walk) and a notice board with information about the whole park. (If you can't find it, head uphill, and you will find the car park.)

(4) Continue West across the top of the grassy area (parallel to the made road leading down the hill,) taking in near and distant views to the South West above the trees. At the far end of the field follow a path to your left marked by a way-post with a square green symbol. Make your way down the hill (keeping downwards and right if in doubt,) until you pass through a gate onto a small tarmac lane. (The Ridings)

(5) Turn right (North-West) along the lane, then left as you join the road (Old Road) coming down from the top of the hill -- be careful of traffic here. Cross over the ring road on the bridge and eventually turn right (North) onto York Road.

(6) The wild area below you on your left is Rock Edge SSSI, originally a shallow sea in Jurassic times. At the corner of the next left turn there's an information board. Descend on the left, and make sure to walk along the southernmost path (your left) to view the limestone coral rag boundary.

Leave the reserve in the Southwest corner, near the traffic lights. Cross over Old Road and continue South along The Slade main road (B4495). Cross this at the pelican by a small playground, continue South for about 30 metres then take the Lye Valley footpath signed to the right.

(7) After a few metres bear left (South-West) at the fork, and follow the path and then boardwalk beside a small stream. This area is calcareous limestone fen, a nationally rare habitat with some red-listed plants. Continue straight after the boardwalk ends until you cross a small wooden bridge and turn immediately left (South-East).

The path emerges on to the golf course. Watching out for golf balls, and being polite to golfers, cross the golf course along the public right of way, until you cross a gravel footpath and continue in to the scrub land beyond. Descend through the scrub land and you will eventually come out on Barracks lane again.

(8) Turn right (West) and then left into Cowley Marsh park again, where you will find the Cowley Marsh recreation ground car park beside the pavilion. (D/A)