Anyho, Souldern, Somerton and Heyford
Route facts
Waterways:
Oxford Canal »
Distance: 11 miles / 17.5km
Duration: 5.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Starts at: King's Sutton Station
Ends at: 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 King's Sutton Station.
Waypoints
1. Through the fields
Follow the road out of King’s Sutton station car park, and within a few yards take the path signposted to the right. Cross this field to a gate; do not take the sharp left turn which heads straight for the church, but proceed diagonally left. Pass through two gates on to a track and turn left. After a couple of hundred yards turn left on to minor road (Mill Lane) and very quickly turn sharp right on to a footpath (signposted Charlton & Aynho). Cross this field to a spinney (the sewage works is visible through the trees on the right), through the spinney and over the footbridge. Keep the hedge on your left, soon ignoring the footbridge which heads over the brow of the hill towards Charlton, to continue straight for a short distance before turning diagonally right across fields to farmworkers’ cottages.
2. Into Anyho
Turn left past the conifers and after a hundred yards or so head slightly downhill to a copse and footbridge, keeping Walton Grounds Farm on your right. The path heads straight uphill for almost a mile to Aynho. Cross the Charlton Road and follow The Portway, with the sports ground on the left and housing on the right. Then cross the B4100, descending between stone walls (and a very short tunnel) to open fields, passing woodland to your right, then slightly downhill over a short section of concrete track through more woodland.
3. From the wood into Souldern
Emerging from the wood follow the fence on your right, and then head to the left of the conifers, which provide camouflage for another sewage works. Follow the concrete track on to the road which provides access to the church on the left. At the village pond turn right on to the village street, very soon arriving at The Fox public house. On leaving The Fox turn left, continuing down the village street, and turn left down Bates Lane. At a confusing little junction take the concrete track which is signposted ‘Oxford Canal 1.5 miles’, and stay on this track which crosses beneath the M40 by an impressive underpass.
4. Along the canal to Heyford
Bear right through Souldern Grounds Farm, heading towards the left arch of the viaduct. The track turns sharp left and then bears gradually right to cross over a second railway line. The derelict Chisnell Farm is clearly visible ahead, but turn sharp right by a fence and down to the Swing Bridge (193) ahead. Having crossed the bridge, turn left and follow the towpath, successively passing bridges 194, 195, 196 (Somerton), 197, 198, 199 (Somerton Crossing), 200 (Heyford Common), 201 (Railway), 202 (near sheep wash), 203, 204 (Allen’s Lock), 205 – and so to Heyford Station.
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