Circular walk from Christmas Common
A short Oxfordshire walk that explores the woodlands and countryside to the east of Christmas Common. The route is generally easy to follow and includes sections of the Oxfordshire Way and Chiltern Way.
Technical sheet No. 293175
Calculated time: 2h40[?] 
Distance : 7.72 km
Vertical gain : 165 m
Vertical drop : 157 m
Highest point : 247 m
Lowest point : 142 m 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area :
Chiltern Hills
Location : Watlington
Starting point : N 51.636422° / W 0.974996° 
Today's forecast :
Description
(D/A)The start is the parking area on the western slopes of Watlington Hill just to the west of the centre of Christmas Common on Hill Road at grid ref. SU710935. Exit the car park and turn right towards the centre of Christmas Common. At the first road junction turn right and continue for under 200 metres to join a footpath on your left (grid ref. SU714932).
(1)Follow this path as it turns right and then left to enter woodland and meet a track (grid ref. SU716934). Turn right following the signs for PY3 and follow the path into woodland. Previous walkers have made a short cut which bears right off the official right of way to meet a cross path on the southern edge of Shotridge Wood (grid ref. SU718935). Turn right and almost immediately bear left onto a descending path (signed SH4) through Shotridge Wood. Follow this path for just over a mile through woods to reach a junction with the Chiltern Way (grid ref. SU735934).
(2)Turn sharp right and follow the Chiltern Way as it enters further woodland to reach a road at Northend (grid ref. SU730927). Cross the road and continue following the waymarked Chiltern Way across fields before entering Fire Wood. Approximately 300 metres after entering the wood the Chiltern Way meets the Oxfordshire Way (grid ref. SU727918). Turn right here and follow the Oxfordshire Way as it passes through Fire Wood to reach a quiet tarmac road (grid ref. SU717928).
(3)Bear right along the road and almost immediately take the continuation of the Oxfordshire Way on your left. This leads through the northern part of Queen Wood to a road (grid ref. SU714930). Turn right along this road and continue past the first junction. At the next junction, turn left and the start of the walk is a short distance along Hill Road on your left.
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 237 m - Start: Watlington Hill car park
1 : km 0.68 - alt. 241 m - Turn left along path into woodland
2 : km 2.88 - alt. 144 m - Turn right and follow Chiltern Way
3 : km 6.44 - alt. 235 m - Bear right along road, then immediate left
D/A : km 7.72 - alt. 237 m - Finish: Watlington Hill car park
Useful Information
This is a pleasant walk in the Chilterns exploring typical scenery of the area. The route includes woodland, open farmland and pretty villages using sections of two long distance footpaths - the Oxfordshire Way and the Chiltern Way. The walk follows well-trodden paths although care is needed with navigation and an OS 1:25000 map will prove useful.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Opinions and comments
Average
Global average : 4.67/5
Number of opinions : 2
Clarity of route description : 4.5/5
Clarity of route map : 4.5/5
Walk interest : 5/5
Walker
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 02/04/21
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
We chose a beautiful day for this walk and it takes you through some lovely woodland.
We walked through Shotridge Wood to the junction with the Chiltern Way then turned sharp right as instructed. Nowhere does it warn you however that this is a really steep path up to Northend!!! One person in our group found the slope really difficult but managed- taking it slowly.
At the top we were greeted with a herd of deer running across the path-a real unexpected surprise-a nice one nevertheless!! Make sure your dog is on a lead!
The rest of the walk was uneventful but would thoroughly recommend it!
Walker
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 08/11/20
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Enjoyed this walk to blow out the cobwebs! Parking is alongside a cow field where upon arrival the tractor was serving up hay bails for feeding time. Several calves present so an enjoyable watching spot. The walk passed a little field with lamb and sheep in too, they were friendly and came over for a pet. The woodland walk was longer than anticipated, but thats because we stopped on several points - lots of mushrooms this time of year. A beautiful walk to blow out the cobwebs - it took us about 3 hours in total to complete. Will recommend. 
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
