Recreational Route: Southern/Southwest England
Bourton-on-the-Water to Henley-on-Thames
104km/65 miles EASY
A lowland path to the north of Oxford linking the Cotswolds with the Thames via the Chilterns. It was originally devised in the early 1970s by the local branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) and is now maintained by the council. The first 41km form part of European Path E2.
Connects with
Highway Authorities
Parks and countryside
Tourist Information
Accommodation
Click here to find bed & breakfast accommodation on this path
Transport
Bourton has buses to Kemble (trains for London, Reading, Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Birmingham) or Moreton-in-Marsh, on the Thames Trains line between Oxford/Reading/London and Worcester. This line is roughly parallel to the Way between Shipton and Combe, with intermediate stations near the route at Charlbury and Finstock. Other Thames Trains services near the route serve Tackley (Oxford, Banbury and Birmingham), Islip (Oxford and Bicester Town) and Henley (Reading and Twyford with connections to London, Birmingham and southwest England). For details of connections and through ticketing on buses via Moreton, see Transport: Southwest England. Other bus services connect with the route though may be infrequent. For more on finding out about services and fares, see Transport: National information.
Maps
The route is marked on recent editions of these maps.
Publications
- The Oxfordshire Way: A Walker's Guide edited by Faith Cooke and Keith Wheal, ISBN 1 900478 01 3. Oxfordshire County Council, £5.99 + 50p p&p
Guidebook with maps, plus accommodation and public transport supplement.
