Shakespeare's Way Section 5: Oxford to Stadhampton

Length: 12.5 miles / 20km

Difficulty: Moderate

Walk leader: Beth (07956242703)

______

***Key Info for Sunday***

We'll be setting off from Oxford rail station by 10:45 - if you miss us I'm afraid you'll have to catch us up, as we have a specific bus to catch at the end (16:13). We should have plenty of time, but if we miss that bus there's not another one for 2 hours, so keen not to wait until gone 6pm for the next one.

If you're driving in, cheapest option is to get one of Oxford's Park and Ride buses - Thornhill from the East, Pear Tree from the North, Seacourt from the West and Redhill from the South. I recommend you plan at least an hour for parking and getting the bus, and some buses don't take you all the way to the station, so are 5-10 mins walk. Please check and plan accordingly. Parking is usually £5 including a return journey into the city centre.

An easier, but more expensive option, is to park at Westgate Oxford but we're talking £24 for 6-12 hours and parking can get full so P&R is definitely the cheaper option.

That's it really - don't forget water and a packed lunch!

_____

Following the success of walking The Ridgeway in 2023, the Chiltern Young Walkers have set themselves a new challenge of walking Shakespeare's Way in 2024!

A 146 mile route that winds its way through the Cotswolds, the Chiltern hills and along the Thames between Shakespeare's Historic Birthplace and The Globe Theatre in London. Its a beautiful fully signposted route that goes through towns such as Chipping Norton, Woodstock and Marlow as well as the beautiful city of Oxford and of course a long section along the River Thames in London.

The second of an optional double-bill/mini weekend away, we'll pick up where we left off the day before at Oxford Train station.

This section goes directly through the historical centre of Oxford and along the River Thames. We'll share Shakespeare's Way with the Thames Path, before leaving it and striking East towards Sandford-on-Thames where, time allowing, we'll stop for a quick pub stop. Form there we skirt around Littlemore and make our way through open fields and through pretty fields such as Chiselhampton, before reaching Stadhampton.

Here we'll jump on the bus back to Oxford centre, though if you prefer you can leave the car there in the morning and jump on the bus to Oxford, so you can drive straight off at the end. Please check the bus times closer to the time.