Steeple Aston, Steeple Barton and Tackley
Route facts
Waterways:
Oxford Canal »
Distance: 11.25 miles / 18km
Difficulty: Moderate
Circular route from: Heyford Station
This is one of a series of walks devised by the Cherwell (Banbury) Group of the Ramblers’ Association. They cover the middle and lower reaches of the relatively narrow Cherwell Valley, through which canal and railway interweave their way between Oxford and Banbury.
The walks start and finish at the local stations on this line, and although most include a section of the Oxford Canal, they also explore the attractive villages in this part of north Oxfordshire and west Northamptonshire.
Getting there
Parking: Parking is available at Heyford Station
Waypoints
1. Past Lower Heyford Mill to The Dickredge
From Heyford Station take the path between the station and canal (signposted Coventry/Rugby/Banbury etc), so that the railway is on your left and the canal on your right. This takes you round the back of Lower Heyford village, with the church prominent on the right. At Bridge 205 turn left onto a path which crosses one river bridge, and then another, with Lower Heyford Mill and millpond on the right. Continue through a small poplar plantation to a stile, cross the meadow and bear half left uphill to the railway bridge, which has a gate at either end. Cross the bridge and head to the left-hand hedge and a stile into a narrow plantation of mixed trees. Through this to another stile, and then follow the path, still with the hedge and a wood on the left. From here you have a view of Rousham church in the distance downhill to the left, and the Rousham ‘eyecatcher’ on the brow of the hill on the right. Going slightly downhill and bearing right with the path, go through a gate in the hedge to your left and cross a small meadow/paddock with a stream in the middle. Head for a large galvanised steel gate onto a lane on the outskirts of Steeple Aston, the lane becoming the quaintly named ‘The Dickredge’.
2. Past two pubs to Whistlow Farm
Turn right opposite 'The White Lion' public house, and almost immediately turn right again (by the village shop) into Paines Hill (signposted Middle Aston, North Aston, Village hall). Continue along Paines Hill to the church, cross the road and follow Northside for a couple of hundred yards, passing the Old School. After the Victorian letterbox in the wall on the right, cross the road to the footpath between walls and follow downhill, noticing two small waterwheels made from empty tin cans in the garden on the right. Pass through the gate and continue up through two more gates to the road, eventually signed Southside. Turn right along Southside and follow the road, past the 'Red Lion' public house. After half a mile cross over the main A4260 to the footpath straight ahead through gate (signposted Steeple Barton 1m). Cross the field straight ahead, through the wood, crossing another field to hedgerow corner. Keeping the hedgerow to your right you come to a double-gate. Cross the stile to the left of the gate and head for a gate between two barns. This is Whistlow Farm, where you turn a sharp left down a concrete track, keeping the farm to your right.
3. Barton Abbey to Newbarn Farm
At the road turn left and cross over to go almost immediately right into a field. Cross the field, bearing uphill slightly left to the right-hand gate on to a lane. Turn left onto the lane, and within fifty yards turn right (sign saying Stable Cottage). Within a few yards you approach some wrought iron gates, but keep to the left of these. You will then follow a clear track and bridleway, soon overlooking Barton Abbey on your right. Continue straight along this grassy track, heading towards more woods, eventually passing Barton Lodge on your left. A short distance later the main track forks left, but take the right fork and continue along this for a good mile. Initially bounded both sides by hedgerows the path eventually gains open countryside, with a fine prospect westwards over the shallow valley of the little River Dorn. Having passed Newbarn Farm, in half a mile you will come to a minor road. Cross this on to a metalled track which is part of the National Cycle Network, signposted ‘5 Oxford/Woodstock’.
4. Into Tackley
After half a mile you will reach Upper Dornford Cottages, where there is a crossroads of paths. Turn left off the cycleway, along the field with the hedge on your left, then through the gap straight ahead to cross the field and so regain the A4260. Although a busy road, it is not unusual to spot muntjac deer in this area, known as Tackley Heath. Turn left on to the A4260 and immediately right down a side road. Following this for half a mile, you will approach a wood on your left, with mobile phone masts also prominent. Immediately opposite turn right on to a leafy footpath for a couple of hundred yards. There is another footpath intersection here, so turn left to keep the hedgerow and woodland on your left. Another half a mile brings you sharply downhill into the village of Tackley. Turn right on to Ball Lane then left at The Green, which as its name implies, is Tackley’s attractive village green, then left again at Medcroft Road, to “The Gardiner Arms”.
5. Northbrook Bridge
Turning right out of 'The Gardiner Arms', continue through the village along Medcroft Road, with the sports field and village hall on your right. At the right-hand T-junction continue straight ahead, with Medcroft Road becoming Rousham Road. Within fifty yards this turns sharp left, but you need to take the bridleway straight ahead. After 100 yards this too turns left (with the Crecy Hill local nature reserve ahead) and follow this track through a gate. This stretch is particularly attractive, looking over the River Cherwell with its oxbow bends. The passing of the occasional train belies the fact that the railway is just a few yards away, the landscape dictating that rail, river and canal are constricted to this narrow gap. The footpath gradually descends, to cross over the railway line by a sturdy footbridge and continues down to Northbrook Bridge straight ahead.
6. Back to Heyford
This bridge crosses over both Cherwell and the Oxford Canal, and once over bear half left across the field to go through a gate on to a track. Turn left and follow this track past a cottage and small wood on the left. At the gate leave the bridleway to head half left diagonally across the field to the left hand corner. Dashwood Lock is ahead through the gate. The last leg home is now straightforward: for two miles you proceed with the canal on your right, and river and railway on your left.
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