I originally wrote this post during the covid lockdown when the only thing we could do was get outside and enjoy some walks in Oxfordshire. Exercise isn’t only great for you physically but it works wonders for you mental health too. After a tough year looking after your mental wellbeing is so incredibly important. I can’t emphasise enough how much better you can feel by taking a walk every day. Getting out in the fresh air and having a change of scenery really does make the world of difference.
It may be winter but there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. Wrap up warm, put your welly boots on and get out there!
Mowbray Fields Nature Reserve
A small nature reserve with a wooden raised platform in the centre to observe the nature ponds. Pathway leading to Millennium Woods and the Railway Embankment (see below).
Address: Mowbray Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8ST
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet No
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly Yes (concrete paths and grass)
- Bike Friendly Yes
- Scooter Friendly Yes
- Dog Friendly Yes
- Refreshments available No
- Car Park No. Park responsibly on Mowbray Road
Millennium Woods
A woodland planted by local children to commemorate the Millennium. Circle of large stones in the centre and various pathways leading in a circuit through the woods. Ideal for den building.
Address: East Hagbourne, Didcot, Oxfordshire
- Terrain Flat dirt paths
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet No
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly Yes (can get muddy in wet weather)
- Bike Friendly Yes
- Scooter Friendly No
- Dog Friendly Yes
- Refreshments available No
- Car Park No. Park responsibly on public roads and walk to entrance gates
The Railway Embankment
Former Didcot to Southampton railway line. Now concrete pathway with lovely views. Some benches to rest along the route. Ideal for kids riding scooters or bikes.
Address: Accessible from Mowbray Fields (see above)
- Terrain Concrete paths from East Hagbourne to Upton
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet No
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly Yes
- Bike Friendly Yes
- Scooter Friendly Yes
- Dog Friendly Yes
- Refreshments available No
- Car Park No
Wittenham Clumps
Two hills sat alongside each other with wildlife meadows leading down to the River Thames. Managed by Earth Trust with cattle often grazing on the hills. Fenced off wooded areas on both hills ideal for den building. Kite flying good on a windy day.
Address: Little Wittenham, Wallingford, OX14 4QZ
- Terrain Hilly with a flat meadow on one side
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet No
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly No
- Bike Friendly No
- Scooter Friendly No
- Dog Friendly Yes (on a lead when cattle grazing)
- Refreshments available No
- Car Park Yes
Castle Gardens and Meadows
Castle ruins dating back to 1067. Perfect for hide and seek and a lovely photography backdrop. Grass pathway leading round the perimeter of the castle meadow and interesting information boards with the history of the ruins. Full review here: Castle Gardens and Meadows
Address: Castle Street, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8DL
- Terrain Castle ruins on top of mound accessible via steps or steep slope. Meadows bumpy terrain
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet None. Town centre nearby
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly Yes (all grass terrain)
- Bike Friendly No
- Scooter Friendly No
- Disabled Access Blue badge parking bays near entrance
- Dog Friendly Meadows yes / Gardens no
- Refreshments available None. Town centre nearby
- Car Park Yes a number of parking bays on Castle Street. £1.90 for up to 8 hours. Some free parking further along Castle Street down the track leading to the meadows (it is literally a dirt track).
The Ridgeway
The Ridgeway is 85 miles long in total. You can access it at various points across the county including Ilsley and Goring.
- Terrain Fairly flat grass paths. Hilly in places
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet No
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly Pushchair possible in some areas
- Bike Friendly Yes
- Scooter Friendly No
- Dog Friendly Yes
- Refreshments available No
- Car Park Yes various parking areas
White Horse Hill
Home of the large Uffington White Horse chalk drawing which can be seen on the side of the hill from miles around. Managed by the National Trust but open and free for the public to visit. Sheep grazing so dogs needed to be kept on leads.
Address: Uffington, Oxfordshire, SN7 7UK
- Terrain Steep hills
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet No
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly No
- Bike Friendly No
- Scooter Friendly No
- Dog Friendly Yes on a lead
- Refreshments available No
- Car Park Yes National Trust pay and display car park
Steventon Copse
Small woodland with a little stream and lovely forest school area. Ideal for den building. Also visit the waterfall further along the street.
Address: Mill Street, Steventon, Abingdon, OX13 6SP
- Terrain Rough natural terrain with some slopes
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet No
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly No
- Bike Friendly No
- Scooter Friendly No
- Dog Friendly Yes
- Refreshments available No
- Car Park No
Dry Sandford Pit
A Nature Reserve of national geological importance owing to its fossilised cliffs. Great for butterfly and insect watching. Stream, wildlife trail through the woods and trees to climb. Full review here: Dry Sandford Pit
Address: Cothill Road, Dry Sandford, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6JW
- Terrain Rough natural terrain
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet No
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly No
- Bike Friendly No
- Scooter Friendly No
- Dog Friendly Yes on a lead. Take poo bags home with you as no bins
- Refreshments available No
- Car Park Yes free parking on site for up to 8 cars
Harcourt Arboretum
Large collection of rare trees as well as ponds, wildlife meadows and woodlands. Peacocks roaming freely, pigs and sculptures to see along the way. Book in advance to visit via their website here: https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/visit-Arboretum Full review here: Harcourt Arboretum
Address: Oxford Lodge Peacock Gate, Nuneham Courtenay, Oxfordshire, OX44 9PX
- Terrain Main arboretum flat gravel paths. Meadows grass with some slopes.
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet Yes
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly Yes although the meadow areas are longer grass with slopes so a bit trickier and paths are uneven surfaces as most are wood chip or packed earth.
- Bike Friendly No
- Scooter Friendly No
- Disabled Access Blue badge parking.
- Dog Friendly No dogs except assistance dogs
- Refreshments available Hot drinks stall there during our visit but not guaranteed.
- Car Park Yes free parking on site
- Baby facilities Baby changing in toilets
C S Lewis Nature Reserve
This area was once owned by the author CS Lewis while he was writing his well known Narnia tales. Some steep pathways and a large pond. Ideal for pond dipping so take nets and a bucket.
Address: Lewis Close, Risinghurst, Oxford, OX3 8JD
- Terrain Rough natural terrain with some steep slopes
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet None
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly No
- Bike Friendly No
- Scooter Friendly No
- Dog Friendly Yes
- Refreshments available No
- Car Park No. Park responsibly
Wychwood Wild Garden
Cared for by volunteers, open and free for all to visit. Stunning gardens within woodland with 2 large ponds and a canal system through the woods. Lots of ducks around so please keep dogs on a lead. Good den building areas.
Address: Dog Kennel Lane, Shipton-Under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire
- Terrain Rough natural paths but quite flat
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet No
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly Yes mostly
- Bike Friendly No
- Scooter Friendly No
- Disabled Access The paths in some areas are a little tricky but on the whole its fine for wheelchairs and pushchairs in dry weather.
- Dog Friendly Yes on a lead
- Refreshments available No. Burford or Shipton shops/eateries a few minutes away.
- Car Park No. Park along Dog Kennel Lane.
Kilkenny Lane Country Park
Amazing adventure play area within this relatively small country park. Willow maze, sand pit and wooden play apparatus. Trail paths to follow around the country park and horse sculptures. Perfect for families of all ages. Full review here: Kilkenny Lane Country Park
Address: Elmhurst Way, Carterton, OX18 1EY
- Terrain Flat grass and gravel paths
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet Yes in car park (cost 20p). Not sure if they are disabled toilets.
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly Yes. Paths are grass or packed earth but were no problem with the pushchair.
- Bike Friendly Yes
- Scooter Friendly No
- Dog Friendly Yes. Dog poo bins around the park.
- Refreshments available No but there is a shop nearby
- Car Park Yes free parking on site
I’ll keep adding to this list as and when I find more great walks in Oxfordshire. Enjoy!
Hi Katie thanks for compiling this list it’s great! We also love visiting Snelsmore Common and Nettlebed (and Warburg Nature reserve) although they aren’t South Oxfordshire they aren’t far from Didcot. Also Thames path although haven’t found a good circular route yet.
You’re welcome! Snelsmore is on my list to visit as we’ve never been but I have heard of it. I haven’t heard of Warburg Nature Reserve though so will add that to the list, thanks!
Thanks for this. It’s so helpful for people like me who aren’t brought up in the area
You’re welcome!x
Brilliant ideas and beautiful places to visit. Thank you so much 💓
You’re welcome!
This is brilliant and so informative. Well
Done for taking the time to pull this together. I know Snelsmore Common isn’t in Oxfordshire as it’s just over the border into Berkshire but it’s a great place for a walk and the different trails make it pushchair friendly as well as dog and wheelchair friendly too.
Thanks, I’m glad you’ve found it useful. I’ve got Snelsmore Common on our list of places to visit hopefully this year x
This is amazing list of places to walk. Thank you.
One I found myself, but not visited as been too wet is Windrush Mosiac Trail in Standlake. Do add it to your list.
That sounds great Helen thank you! I’ll definitely add it to our list of places to visit x