Bladon circular from Begbroke

An Oxfordshire walk that captures typical landscapes of the county. The church at Bladon is also the burial place of Sir Winston Churchill. The route uses established paths.

Technical sheet

n°293173

A Begbroke walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 27/06/18

Activity: Walking
Distance: 7.92 km
Calculated time: 2h 25
Difficulty: Easy
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 48 m
Vertical drop: - 41 m
Highest point: 104 m
Lowest point: 72 m

District: Begbroke
Start/End: N 51.821448° / W 1.32096°
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Description

(S/E) After parking, walk west away from the main road along Spring Hill Road. Follow the road as it turns left, right and then left again to reach a track (grid ref. SP465136) on your right.

(1) Take this and continue past Hall Farm (on your left). You are now on Shakespeare's Way. Follow this clear path as it crosses fields before entering woodland of Bladon Heath. The path continues through the woods and emerges into open heathland before reaching houses.

(2) Do not take the tarmac road ahead instead turn right down the signed footpath (grid ref. SP452144). This path passes a small wood on your left (Withy Clump) to reach a cross path at grid ref. SP454148. Turn left here and continue into Bladon passing Winston Churchill's grave in churchyard of St Martin's on your left.

(3) Walk through the churchyard and take the southern exit (grid ref. SP448148). Continue straight ahead along Church Street to reach a crossroads with Lamb Lane. Go straight across into Manor Road. Follow this road as it bears right and then turns left.

(4) Continue to where Manor Road bears on the right and take the footpath on your left (grid ref. SP446145). Follow this path across a field with the field boundary to your right. Go into the next field and after 200 metres follow the path as it turns sharp right to cross a further field to reach a road (grid ref. SP445138).

(5) Turn left along the road to Burleigh Lodge. The onward path initially skirts woodland to your left before going half left across the second field. Continue across more fields reaching a path junction in just over a mile from Burleigh Lodge at Spring Hill (grid ref. SP463127).

(6) Turn left here onto Shakespeare's Way and continue onto a well-made track. Follow this track as it heads towards Begbroke. The track bears left and soon joins Spring Hill Road and the point where your initially joined Shakespeare's Way (grid ref. SP465136)(1). Continue ahead along Spring Hill Way and you will soon be back at the start(S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 74 m - Spring Hill Road, walk west
1 : km 0.36 - alt. 79 m - Turn right
2 : km 1.95 - alt. 93 m - Turn right, do not take tarmac road
3 : km 3.01 - alt. 75 m - Churchyard
4 : km 3.48 - alt. 80 m - Manor Road
5 : km 4.33 - alt. 88 m - Turn left along the road
6 : km 6.47 - alt. 95 m - Spring Hill, turn left
S/E : km 7.92 - alt. 74 m

Useful Information

Starting from the village of Begbroke lying a few miles to the north of Oxford on the A44 this walk captures many of the features typical of the county's scenery. The start is close to the parish church on the west side of the main road and accessed from the roundabout in the village centre (grid ref. SP468138) where limited on street parking is available. Please make sure you park considerately.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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Reviews and comments

4 / 5

Based on 6 reviews

Clarity of route description
4.3 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.2 / 5

Walk interest
3.5 / 5

Radway67

03 Aug 2021 at 11:54 EDT

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : 02/08/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

Apart from the section through Bladon, this was our most boring walk to date. It was nothing more than a route march through fields and a very muddy section in a wood.
Pubs in both villages now closed.

Heatherkaren

07 Apr 2021 at 10:37 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : 06/04/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely walk in the Oxfordshire countryside. Easy to follow instructions and a great easy stroll, taking in the pretty villages of Begbroke and Bladon. Great to visit the churches and see Churchill's final resting place en route.

Waldren

23 Sep 2019 at 04:24 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 22/09/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

For walkers with a big dog, like ours, this is a good one, but only did half the walk, arriving at the pleasant little village of Bladon. Sculptor's shop on corner, if you like that sort of thing. Old water hand pump still there and tiny spring coming out the foot of the wall further down the lane. Church of St Martin's, and the Churchills' family graves in the churchyard. A teashop marked on some maps on main road long gone, but White House pub further along, where we dropped in for a refreshing pint. Only one real ale on offer at the time though. Food looked a bit pricey for a Green King. Dogs welcome in garden, not inside. Although castle and reservoir are marked in Bladon Heath woods, there's nothing to see. All fenced off, covered reservoir, and dense tree planting where any sign of the castle lies beneath.

abiorwerth

12 Aug 2019 at 04:46 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 06/08/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Really good circular walk that was exactly as described. I found it poorly signposted but that's not the fault of hikideas, I imagine that's a nationwide issue. Walking past Winston Churchill's grave was a very welcome surprise! Also the Royal Sun pub at the start of the walk was good for a cheeky end of walk pint

pwletswalk

23 Jul 2018 at 13:16 EDT

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : 20/07/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Walk interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

An ok walk.

Interesting to see the burial place of Sir Winston Churchill.

zzapper

25 Jun 2018 at 03:16 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 23/06/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We easily parked in the little close leading to the Church, but remember this is not the start of the walk. The walk is very easy to follow the only time we were confused was when we reached 'The well made track' this is not the turning point just go straight you will recognise Spring Hill by the climb. You will then see the House turn left to pass in front of it.

Bladon is worth a little walk around and has a pub. We saw no other walkers or runners etc.

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Walking Britain
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Website: http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk

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