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Burford to Swinbrook and back along the River Windrush, Oxon

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 3 hours 42 minutes

Length 12.0km / 7.5mi

Route developer: Michael Bailey

Route checker: Jenny Baker

Start location Car park at the end of Church Lane
Route Summary This walk from the attractive town of Burford takes in several villages, a medieval church and the River Windrush.
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Getting there

The car parking in Burford is free of charge for those travelling with their own transport, but buses from Oxford and Cheltenham run regularly for those wishing to use public transport. The nearest railway station is at Charlbury which is approximately 8 miles form Burford with trains running from London Paddington through to Great Malvern.

Description

      

[1]  Start from the car park and take Church Lane to the High Street (A361).  Turn right go over the bridge over the River Windrush and turn right at the roundabout (A361) towards Fulbrook.

[2]  At Fulbrook go past Meadow End and turn right along a footpath between Cotland House and Yew Tree Cottage.  The path goes along the back of various gardens and across two fields to the far left hand corner.  Turn left over a stile then along a path to the lane.  Take the lane back to the main road (A361) and cross the road into Church Lane.  Continue up the lane to the church and at the back of the churchyard exit over the stone stile and cross two fields diagonally right until you reach another stone stile onto a lane.  Turn right back to the A361, cross the road and turn left.  Keep on the grass verge until you reach a footpath on your right. 

[3]  Take the footpath initially keeping to the edge of the field then keep on a straight line route across the field to its far corner.  Go through a gap and then diagonally across the next field until you reach the track at Widley Copse.  Turn Right and take the track past Paynes Farm keeping to the main track/lane past a pond on your left. 

[4]  At the T junction turn right then after a short way turn left onto a smaller lane.  Continue up the lane until you reach metal gates on either side of the road.  Turn right onto the bridleway/track.  Continue on the track until you reach the lane, go straight over and down the lane until just before a bridge take the footpath on the right. 

[5]  Follow the footpath across the field with the River Windrush on your left and go over a stile.  In the next field walk to the corner at the far right hand side.  Then head towards a stile on the left hand side of the next field, which brings you onto a lane by the Swan Inn at Swinbrook.  Turn right and take the lane through Swinbrook to the church on the left hand side.  

(A) In Swinbrook the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary dates from about 1200.  Its unusual open-sided bell-tower was added in 1822.  The church is noted for its 17th century Fettiplace monuments.  David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale had Swinbrook House built 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the village.  Four of his six daughters are buried in the village graveyard: the novelist Nancy Mitford and her sisters Unity, Diana and Pamela.

[6]  Walk through the churchyard and leave from the back taking the footpath to St Oswald’s Church.  Continue on the footpath to a lane and turn left down the lane to Widford.  Go over the bridge and turn right at the T junction

[7]  After a short distance on the road take the footpath on the right and follow it alongside the River Windrush over several stiles and footbridges until you reach the road again.  Turn right and take the road into Burford turn right at Guildenford to back to the car park in Church Lane. 

(B) St Oswald’s Church, Widford, built in the 12th and 13th centuries.  The original village has long since disappeared leaving the church in beautiful location by the river Windrush.  Inside you can still see the wall paintings, thought to date from the mid-14th century.

 

 

  

POI information

 

 

 

 

In Swinbrook the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary dates from about 1200.  Its unusual open-sided bell-tower was added in 1822.  The church is noted for its 17th century Fettiplace monuments.  David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale had Swinbrook House built 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the village.  Four of his six daughters are buried in the village graveyard: the novelist Nancy Mitford and her sisters Unity, Diana and Pamela.St Oswald’s Church, Widford, built in the 12th and 13th centuries.  The original village has long since disappeared leaving the church in beautiful location by the river Windrush.  Inside you can still see the wall paintings, thought to date from the mid-14th century.

St Oswald’s Church, Widford, built in the 12th and 13th centuries.  The original village has long since disappeared leaving the church in beautiful location by the river Windrush.  Inside you can still see the wall paintings, thought to date from the mid-14th century.

 

 

 

 

  

Notes

Toilets:  Burford

Refreshments:  Pubs & Restuarants in Burford

Map reference: SP 511063  Lat: 51.75387  Long: -1.26096

Burford Tourist Office: www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • 17th century Fettiplace monuments
    17th century Fettiplace monuments
    By - Rosemary Bailey
  • St Oswald’s Church, Widford
    St Oswald’s Church, Widford
    By - Rosemary Bailey
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