This is a relaxing hike through the Oxfordshire countryside that can be completed in about 4.5 hours. It’s 22.4 km long and doesn’t involve any exhausting climbs or tricky terrain. The best way to get there is by train from London Paddington that takes approximately 1h 15m (just get a return ticket to Hanborough).
After you leave the Hanborough station it’s going to take you slightly over 3 km to arrive to Blenheim Park – the home of Blenheim Palace and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. A few minutes after you say goodbye to the palace you’ll find yourself by the stunning 41 m (134 ft) high Column of Victory.
The route then soon takes you to the old Roman road from Alchester to Cirencester that is now part of the Oxfordshire Way. You’re now on your way to Stonesfield that is well-known for its old Cotswold stone houses with typical locally-mined slate roofs. The rest of the hike is going to take you mostly through an open farmland very typical for Oxfordshire. However, just before reaching Charlbury you’ll be able to enjoy Cornbury Park that used to be a royal hunting estate.
If you’re thirsty or hungry once you arrive to Charlbury we can recommend The Bull, which is a rather cosy pub right in the centre of the village. Moreover, they had the best Sunday roast I had ever tasted. The GPX track finishes here (as I forgot to resume the course after leaving The Bull) but the train station is only about 10 minutes away. Just ask the staff for the directions and enjoy the train ride back to London.
Please let us know if you enjoyed the hike in the comment section below. You can download the course in the GPX format by clicking on the ‘Download’ button under the map.
