We are the Hike Oxfordshire Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Join Hike Oxfordshire and Chiltern Young Walkers for a varied and interesting historical walk through the villages of Long Hanborough and Combe, via the remains of a Roman Villa and through the public footpaths on the edge of the Blenheim Palace estate.
We'll start at Hanborough train station where we encounter our first piece of historical interest: Winston Churchill's funeral train came to a rest here, before the coffin was transported to nearby Bladon Church. We'll set out through the footpaths just north of the charming village of Long Hanborough, where you can admire the traditional Cotswolds stone and make our way through the woods and along the river to East End. Picking up a new route along the Evenlode river, we emerge by the remains of North Leigh Roman Villa, which you can freely wander around and dates back to the 4th Century. You can even sneak a peek through the windows into a barn which contains a largely intact and very beautiful mosaic floor.
From here we'll strike East towards the village of Combe and then north towards the top end of the Blenheim Palace estate. Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace and ancestral home of Winston Churchill, who needs no introduction. The Palace is also the site of numerous films and tv-shows, and is famous for the Cedar of Lebanon aka Harry Potter tree, featured in the 5th film, which we'll walk past. We'll pick up the public footpaths that run through the grounds and skirt our way around the grand Lake that borders the palace, enjoying views of the palace as we go.
Once we return back to the station there is the option to walk a further 10 mins up the road to visit the George and Dragon pub.
We'll start at Long Hanborough station, just behind the platform, where trains arrive hourly on the Oxford-Malvern line. You can also come from London or High Wycombe and change trains at Oxford, or catch the S7 bus towards Witney.
There is a train arriving at 10:54 from Oxford and 10:17 from Worcester direction - Winstons Café next to the station is a good spot to kill time while you wait for the walk to start if you're coming from Worcester direction!
Car parking is free on a Sunday at the station.
Please bring a packed lunch, plenty of water and dress appropriately for the weather: anorak, sunhat, sunscreen etc. No jeans please.
Well behaved dogs welcome, but you must take full responsibility for them throughout the walk and they must remain on a lead at all times.
Start Place: We'll be waiting just outside the gates to the platform. Note that there are two signposted car parks - if you're actually parking at the station, take the one *not* signposted as drop off (pin is in correct place). [Google directions] Time: 11am Grid Ref: SP434143 [OS Map] Latitude: 51.82593 , Longitude: -1.37152 What3Words: ///mealtime.torches.cuff Nearest Place: Woodstock, Oxfordshire Postcode: OX29 8LA
