Oxford's city canal and Blenheim Palace

This canal and countryside cycle route follows the Oxford Canal from its terminus in Oxford to the peaceful village of Lower Heyford. You can then return by train, or continue through rural Oxfordshire to Blenheim Palace and the Thames at Eynsham.

The route starts at the Oxford Canal's terminus at Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford.

If you are arriving by car, park in Worcester Street Car Park. Hythe Bridge Street and the canal terminus are on the northern side of the car park. In fact, the car park was built on the site of the historic canal basin, and plans are afoot to return it to its original use.

If you are arriving by train, leave Oxford station, and push your bike along the main street into Oxford for a quarter-mile, past the Said Business School, Blackwell Publishing and the Backpackers Hostel. The canal entrance is on your left after the Antiquity Hall pub.

Stage 1: Oxford to Lower Heyford
15 miles along the canal towpath

Head north along the canal. Take care in Oxford itself, where the canal is often busy with walkers and residents of the thriving house-boat community. The waterway passes the artistic district of Jericho, the water meadows of Wolvercote, and the satellite town of Kidlington before reaching the countryside proper.

At Thrupp, seven miles from Oxford, the canal meets the River Cherwell, whose course it will closely follow all the way to Cropredy. The two actually merge at the unusual Shipton Weir Lock. Since only a shallow fall was required here, the canal engineers made it extra wide so that plenty of river water would be flushed into the canal section below.

The river leaves again by Bakers Lock, just before the Rock of Gibraltar canalside pub - a good place for a snack and a rest. Continue north to Lower Heyford. The railway station is beside the canal here, with regular trains back to Oxford or north to Banbury.

Stage 2: Lower Heyford to Hanborough
9.5 miles along country lanes and off-road cycle routes

The B4030 road crosses the railway and canal at Lower Heyford station. Go up onto the road, and head west out of the village. You will soon cross the River Cherwell on a narrow causeway, controlled by traffic lights.

Turn left immediately after the causeway, and follow this road for two miles until it meets the busy A4260 main road. Continue across this road by turning left then right immediately, but be careful - traffic travels fast here.

Back on the minor road, turn left after 300 yards on to the National Cycle Route 5, heading south towards Woodstock. This is an enjoyable traffic-free route through open countryside. Follow it into the historic town of Woodstock.

Woodstock's chief attraction is the glorious Blenheim Palace, where you could happily spend an entire day. But with an exquisite delicatessen, cultured inns and a second-hand bookshop, strolling around the town is enjoyable in itself.

Leaving Woodstock, the route follows busy A roads for two miles. Take the A44 towards Oxford, then turn right at the roundabout on the A4905 towards Witney. You will pass through Bladon: Winston Churchill is buried in the churchyard here. Continue past the turning to Cassington.

You now have two choices. To continue your ride, take the next left turn. To finish and return to Oxford, follow the main road for a final half-mile to Hanborough station. You can then catch the train back to Oxford station, which runs on average every hour.

Section 3: Hanborough to Oxford
8.5 miles along mostly B roads

From Hanborough, follow this minor road for 2.5 miles. The road runs along the valley of the River Evenlode, a tributary of the Thames with its source in the Cotswold hills near Moreton-in-Marsh.

Cross over the very busy A40 at the roundabout, onto the B4449 around the edge of Eynsham. Two roundabouts further on, turn left on the B4044 to Botley and Oxford.

The road soon passes over the historic Swinford Toll Bridge, by the Talbot Inn. This 230-year old bridge was built after King George III got wet while crossing the river here: since then, the owners have enjoyed the right to charge tolls free of all tax. Until the 1930s, the bridge carried the main A40 London-Cheltenham road. Even today, it is a popular route for rush-hour commuters, and has recently undergone major repairs.

Follow the B4044 through Farmoor and into Botley, the edge of the city of Oxford. The final mile of the journey is on the main A road into Oxford, but cyclists are allowed to use the bus lane. Eventually, you will arrive back at Oxford station: Worcester Street Car Park is a short distance further on.

Getting there

Parking: Worcester Street Pay & Display Car Park, in Oxford, is at the start of the route and offers ample parking.

Public transport: The route starts near Oxford railway station, and passes stations at Lower Heyford (Oxford-Banbury line) and Hanborough (Cotswold Line services between Oxford and Worcester).