Start: All Saints Church, Middleton Cheney OX17 2NR. Grid Ref: SP498 426
(S/E) Facing the front of All Saints Church the route takes Church Lane to the left of the church. Go past Rectory Lane and continue down to reach the T-junction opposite No. 24 - Stoneleigh. Turn right here into Glovers Lane.
(1) At the end of the lane the pathway crosses Chacombe Road and takes the unmade vehicle track to the right of the footpath sign, passing between the gardens of domestic properties and then along a narrow passage at the rear of houses, with tall wooden fence left.
After 300 yards the track becomes a footpath and ends at a gap with a damaged gate leading into a large field. Take the gap and go immediately left with the hedge left, following the path around the field edge under power lines to find stile. Take the stile and go ahead with the hedge left to exit by a stile to the road.
(2) Cross the road to the drive and after 10 paces take stile right signposted "Footpath to Thenford". Follow the field edge with fence and stream left, crossing double stiles/footbridge to continue ahead with the hedge left and fence right to cross a stile, to reach a further stile tucked in the field corner by a damaged stone wall.
(3) Take this stile then cross a stone bridge and go right with ditch right to the wide gap. Take a gap and go diagonally ½ left across the field under power lines aiming for the field corner by trees.
On reaching trees go right following Millennium Way waymarker on the hedge post with hedge left to the gap, then bear left along the side of the field keeping hedge and tree line left and on reaching waypost at end of hedge/tree line stay along the same line across a large field to pass through waymarked hedge gap.
(4) Bear right across field corner to take small timber bridge, over a stream and turn left with hedge left to a stile. Take a stile and go diagonally ½ right across the field to the road, aiming for a green footpath sign.
Cross the road and ditch/stream and go ahead diagonally right climbing gently up field passing under mid field power lines to the top corner gap to join a farm track. At the top be sure to look back at the glorious 180° view with the majestic spire of All Saints Church in the middle distance.
(5) Follow the track left to pass the bungalow right, along the farm driveway to the road. Cross the road and take the stile into the field, continuing with the hedge right to exit by the far right field gap. Go directly ahead over next field (or right to go left down drive) to pass under power lines at the corner of the field to arrive at far right corner gap where the drive meets the road.
(6) Cross the road and take the track marked bridleway continuing along with the hedge left, under power lines, to reach a lane at the crossroads. Here we leave the Millennium Way and turn left along the lane signposted Upper Wardington.
Continue along the lane to reach the T-junction with glorious views ahead. Turn right following the lane down to cross the large bridge over the dismantled Great Central branch railway line and ahead to pass Hanglands Farm and eventually reach the outskirts of Upper Wardington. This section is over 2 miles.
(7) Pass the 30mph restriction signs at the entry to the village and then take footpath left through the metal kissing gate (here we share the route with the Jurassic Way - which is well waymarked back to Middleton Cheney). Go diagonally across the field towards the far corner then go through the gate by a damaged stile and go ahead with hedge right to take the next corner stile.
Continue directly ahead through several fields and over stiles, following the Jurassic Way, keeping the village of Chacombe ahead and to the left, eventually to pass through a tunnel under the dismantled railway, emerging on to a farm track.
(8) Go straight across keeping the fence right to reach the bridge. Cross the wooden bridge over the stream then a second bridge rising slightly uphill, passing a row of houses left to enter the charming village of Chacombe.
When you reach the road turn right signposted the Jurassic Way and continue on to pass the George & Dragon village pub (17th Century). Go right at the pub then take the first road left, signposted Middleton Cheney then almost immediately take the gravelled drive on your right past houses and through the metal kissing gate into a small copse.
(9) Just before you reach another metal kissing gate take the footpath right, through a wooded area taking the kissing gate to follow mid field way markers steeply up the field to the corner kissing gate. Take the kissing gate and stay ahead with the wire fence left.
On reaching the field corner take a stile into a narrow passage exiting via a wooden kissing gate to the field. Stay ahead up the field towards the narrow pylon to reach a gate. Take the wooden gate to proceed along an attractive tree lined path. Exit by the stile then go ahead up the field with the hedge left then through a wide metal gate and continue up the track at the field edge keeping the hedge right.
(10) About halfway down this large field edge you should find a hidden way post in the hedge on your right (often obscured by overgrowth). At this point you must turn left across the field on a usually well-defined path, heading slightly left of the spire of Middleton Cheney church, to find and enter a hedge gap at the edge of the field.
Cross the track and continue across the next field heading directly for the church. Go through the gap and cross the track to continue through the gap opposite to cross the road then stay across the next field with wire fence right heading towards the church.
Halfway down the field take care not to miss the gap on your right. Take the gap and over a stile to then continue with the hedge left. The path gradually descends to a gated wooden bridge.
(11) Take the bridge to go uphill towards the church and then take the stile adjacent to a stone wall. Stay ahead through a narrow passage, then down the access track to the road. Turn left to arrive back at the Middleton Cheney church. (S/E)
