Witney

Walks longer 1

Witney U3A Longer Walking Group 1

Group Leader Contact Form: Longer Walks 1 Group Leader

August 2023: The group can accept 4 new members and has a waiting list for prospective new members.

LATEST NEWS

U3A Longer Walks Group: Walk around Ditchley Park, 24 October 2023

We were fortunate to have a beautiful Autumn day for our walk around Ditchley Park and House. Unusually, we split into 2 groups, as some members were uncomfortable with the 7.75 mile distance and were taken on a 6 mile 'shortcut'. Both walks, led by Liz and John Waterfall, started from Banbury Hill Farm carpark and followed the Hundley Way and Saltway into Ditchley Park. We circumvented Ditchley House anticlockwise taking in fine views of this lovely Georgian mansion.
The second Earl of Lichfield built the present house which was designed by the well-known architect James Gibbs in 1772. In 1933 the estate was bought by MP Ronald Tree and his wife Nancy who spent much time redecorating the building to a high standard. Churchill used Ditchley as his country retreat during WW2 as both Chequers and Chartwell were considered vulnerable to attack. In 1953 the estate was sold to Sir David Wills, president of Imperial Tobacco Company. He set up the Ditchley Foundation for the promotion of International Relations and also the Wills Charitable Trust. He donated the house to the Trust where it remains today. The estate comprises 300 acres of parkland within a further 3550 acres of farmland, all managed sustainably by the Trust.
The longer walk continued on a loop via Asterleigh Wood and Asterleigh Farm, returning to Ditchley House via Shakespeare's Way. Here the group reconnected with the shorter walk route to complete the anticlockwise circuit around the house. We retraced our steps to Banbury Farm where some of us availed ourselves of the excellent culinary treats provided by the Old Shed Cafe.

Group Walk from Bourton-on-the-Water 26 September 2023

Many of our group must have had the same thoughts as we drove towards Bourton-on-the-Water for the start of our walk - it was raining stair-rods and the temptation to turn around and go home was overwhelming. However, the Witney Group is a hardy bunch and sixteen of us were rewarded with an excellent walk mostly in bright sunshine.

The walk, led by Pauline and Andrew, started from the Rissington Road Car Park We walked west through Bourton, crossing the A429 onto the Windrush Way and then followed the Gloucestershire Way and Macmillan Way into Lower Slaughter where we had our coffee break by the church. The return leg saw us going east along a minor road and then on to a series of footpaths until we joined the Oxfordshire Way. As we approached Bourton we passed through Greystones Farm Nature Reserve whose wildflower meadows are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Rivers Dikler and Eye both pass through the farm and their banks support a variety of species including otter and water vole. Old farm buildings are used by migratory birds such as swallows and house martins, along with owls and bats.

It is also the site of Salmonsbury Camp, an important meeting place during Neolithic and Iron Age periods. On site there is a replica Iron Age Roundhouse. We were pleased to welcome Claire and Mike for their first walk with the group. As Mike is the editor of this newsletter I hope our report passes muster!
.

.
Circular Walk around the North and West of Witney - Tuesday 8 August 2023

You might expect the second Tuesday in the balmy month of August to provide the ideal conditions for a U3A summer walk. Afraid not! Linda and David organised an interesting 6 mile walk around the outskirts of Witney, joined by 15 gallant souls who braved the persistent rain. The start was outside Cafe Rouge and we headed out of town to follow the Windrush as far as New Mill, home of Audley Travel. From there we walked into Crawley and along Foxborough Lane to Highcroft Farm. Our route then took us to Poffley End encountering 5 styles and a bull en route. Happily the bull was peaceful as the prospect of walkers of a certain age hurdling the styles was too much to contemplate.

We observed Giant Puffball fungi, some as big as 15 inches in diameter. According to Wikipedia Puffballs are edible when fresh but they rot quickly and become poisonous - nobody was brave enough to take one home for tea. The return journey to Witney routed us via Hailey, and the Foxborough Nature reserve. Eight sodden walkers descended upon Cafe Rouge for 'déjeuner'. Many thanks to Linda and David for organising us.

Circular walk from Eynsham - 25 July 2023

Eighteen walkers gathered outside St Leonards Church, Eynsham on a surprisingly pleasant day, given some of the cold wet weather we have endured in July. The 6 mile walk led by Sue and George took us on a circular route from Eynsham, crossing the Old Fairford Branch railway line. We observed two unusual wooden statues, a memorial to railway workers who worked here. Joining the Thames path at Eynsham lock we followed it to Pinkhill Lock before returning to Eynsham via the site of Eynsham Abbey and Fish Ponds. Eynsham Abbey was a Benedictine monastery between 1005 and 1538. The Fishponds were constructed around 1217 and necessitated a significant expansion of the abbey grounds. This was a level and easy walk which we all enjoyed.

Circular walk from Bruern Farm - 11 July 2023

Sixteen U3A walkers set off from Bruern Farm Shop & Cafe on a circular walk organised by Angela and Mark Benians. We walked past the farm accommodation carefully designed to blend into the countryside, a good example of the farm operating in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. We observed ponds created as part of a flood management scheme before we entered Milton-under Wychwood where we saw a new flood warning system on Littlestock Brook.

Rambling on through fields of wheat we stopped for coffee on the picturesque village green at Fifield and, suitably sustained, we continued on to Idbury. The 12th Century Church of St Nicholas, which still has original Norman structures including a door with pie crust decoration, houses a most elaborate and unusual grave. It is the resting place of Sir Benjamin Baker, the engineer behind the design of the Forth Road Bridge and the Aswan Dam. He was born in Frome and died in Pangbourne, but particularly liked Idbury and it was his wish to be buried here. From Idbury we returned to Bruern Farm Cafe where many of us enjoyed a good lunch having completed 6.1 miles of enjoyable exercise.

Walk on Tuesday 27th June

Nineteen walkers gathered at Kirtlington Village Hall and completed a 6.1 mile circular walk to the neighbouring village of Bletchingdon and back. The route took us via the edge of Kirtlington quarry, now a nature reserve, to Pigeon's Lock on the Oxford Canal. We backtracked along a narrow uphill path by the side of Kirtlington Golf Club observing many orchids, butterflies and bees, until we came to the A4095. Having crossed the road we walked across Duchy of Cornwall land passing through a new housing development. The houses are being built along the lines of Poundbury using traditional materials and methods and the royal influence was much in evidence. Unfortunately King Charles was not there to greet us. We had a much needed drinks stop on Bletchingdon Village Green before we returned to Kirtlington through beautiful parkland along the Oxford Way. We passed by Kirtlington House, a Palladian mansion built by Sir James Dashwood in 1743 with gardens designed by Capability Brown. To cap it all we were treated to a military 'cabaret' as trainee paratroopers descended from planes, having taken off from the airstrip at nearby Weston on the Green. At the end of the walk a hardy few picnicked in the grounds of Kirtlington Village Hall.

May walks among the antiquities

May 9 - Minster Lovell in the mud
After heavy rain earlier in the month, conditions for this walk would best be described as ' ideal for mudlarks.' Around 20 of us set off from the Windrush Inn car park on Burford Road, led by David Bettle. The walk took us through Crawley and on to Minster Lovell where we had our coffee break in the ruins of the ancient Hall. The return route roughly followed the course of the Windrush river on a very slippery footpath. Happily, no-one had an early bath! We returned to the Windrush Inn where some of the group enjoyed a well deserved lunch with good food and excellent service. Despite the conditions it was an excellent walk.

May 23 - Blenheim in the sun
On a beautiful spring day, Hillary Hogg led a group of 15 walkers on a 8km circular walk through the Blenheim Estate starting out at the Combe Gate. We followed estate roads and grassy tracks counterclockwise around the Palace. The estate is undertaking a major project dredging The Lake and Queens Pool of years of accumulated silt. The information board indicated that the amount of silt they plan to remove would fill Wembley Stadium 10 times over - some of us hope they don't do it before the end of the football season! The dredgers were certainly hard at work as we crossed Grand Bridge after which we turned left to view the tree used in the Harry Potter film 'The Order of the Phoenix.' The film makers must have taken poetic license as the Blenheim tree is a cedar and the tree described in the book was a beach! We continued uphill along a track to meet another estate road where we further ascended to head back to Combe Gate. Some members of the group took the opportunity to get their breath back on a seat made from a 500 year old oak tree. This was another very enjoyable walk.

- - -
Cassington Circular Walk

Twenty members of the group set out from the Chequers Inn at Cassington on a beautiful sunny Tuesday in late April to revisit a circular walk that we have done on previous occasions. The walk took us North East to Rectory Farm and then on to Little Blenheim. Leaving Little Blenheim we followed the unusually named Frogwelldown Lane to Begbroke Wood. The bluebells were just beginning to open, encouraged by the dappled shade of the wood, and provided a lovely photo opportunity for members during our coffee break. We circumvented the wood returning to Cassington via Worten where some of us enjoyed a hearty lunch at the Chequers. The length of the walk was approximately 6.3 miles.

A Christmas walk in the snow

Twenty three hardy souls turned out for our Christmas Walk - the last scheduled walk of 2022 and also the final walk being led by David Bettle. David has led the Longer Walking Group for 15 years. He and wife Allison have built it up from humble beginnings (4 walkers at the outset, I am told) to a thriving membership of close to 40. They have devoted much of their time both to the organisation and safety of our walks and also the general administration associated with such a big group. Happily, David and Allison are not hanging up their boots and will continue to walk with us.

We set off from the Lamb at Great Rissington with the temperature showing a frosty 1 deg C and followed a 6.5 mile circular route to Great Barrington and back. Conditions were 'festive' with about 2 inches of snow on the ground and a good deal of hazardous packed ice to negotiate. We passed a large herd of deer huddled together in Barrington Park. At the half-way point we were rewarded with hot mulled wine and mince pies provided by our leader, before returning fortified to the Lamb for an excellent Christmas Lunch. In recognition of David's service a presentation was made of a John Lewis gift voucher, a tin of Belgian chocolate biscuits and an arrangement of cyclamen. It was fitting that some members who no longer walk regularly came along to acknowledge David's contribution and to join in the fun.

-----

Walk from The Greyhound Pub, Bessels Leigh

Fifteen walkers set out from the Greyhound Inn in Bessels Leigh, the pub graciously allowing us to use their car park, even though only a small number had booked in for lunch. The weather was bright and sunny, despite heavy rain the previous day with more forecast. We are inclined to believe our leader, David, has magical meteorological powers as it seldom rains on walk days!

A placard on the pub wall is dedicated to Alfred White, Innkeeper of the Greyhound in the mid-1800s. He lived there with his wife and 2 sons, Henry and Frederick. Alfred, a blacksmith by trade also ran a forge, a bakery and the village shop, but is best known as the founder of Whites of Appleton, the oldest church bell hanging company in the UK still trading. Many of the early oak bell frames were constructed in the yard of the Inn.

Our route took us through the pretty village of Bessels Leigh, into the ancient oak, ash, hazel woodland of Bessels Leigh Wood and on to Appleton where we paused in the graveyard of St Lawrence church to observe the unusual grave of Alfred White. It has a distinctive wrought iron ring of 10 bells, in recognition of the fact that over the years Alfred had increased the number of bells in St Lawrence from 6 to 10. The ring was cast by son Frederick who succeeded Alfred as head of the family business. From the village we turned west across farmland to Appleton Lower Common returning via Cheers Farm and Tubney Manor Farm back into Appleton, Bessels Leigh and the Greyhound. The distance of 5.5 miles seemed more due to the muddy conditions and a small matter of 10 stiles to negotiate - a good workout for aging knees!

Report from 8th November

On 8th November 32 members of our u3a group set out from the Plough Inn, Finstock for an enjoyable circular walk taking in Wilcote and North Leigh, a total of 5.5 miles. Despite predictions to the contrary, the weather held fair until the final half hour when the heavens opened. The route took us north east from Finstock along a muddy track, eventually arriving at Topples Wood from where we veered south east passing Wilcote Grange and Wilcote Manor. In the 14th Century the manor was owned by two nobles, Sir William and Lady Wilcote, who apparently were despised by the local villagers. Legend has it that their tombs are to be found at St Mary's Church, North Leigh and are associated with restless spirits which haunt Wilcote village and the Manor. The Wilcote ghosts are said to be seen riding a coach and 4 horses up and down the avenue in front of their old home. Happily, no extrasensory events were experienced during our walk. At Bridewell Farm we turned south west to meet North Leigh Lane and after a few yards turned north to walk through Holly Grove back to the Plough. Twenty four soggy walkers received a warm welcome from landlord Guy and ate a hearty lunch.

-Report for 25th October

On a beautiful Autumn day 20+ Witney U3A walkers set off along the road above the Roman villa at North Leigh with the surrounding fields shrouded in morning haze. At East End we turned right along the Wychwood Way and then north past Field Farm and Bridewell Farm. We then bore east to Holly Court Farm and on to Ashford Bridge where we followed the Evenlode river to Baggs Bottom before doubling back via Lower Riding Farm and Whitehill Bridge to the Roman villa, a total of 5.5 miles. Our half-way coffee break was greatly enhanced by a partial eclipse of the sun, clearly visible to all.

The historians among us took advantage of the English Heritage open day to participate in a guided tour of the villa, one of the largest in the UK. Our volunteer guide walked us round the impressive remains, as if we were 4th century visitors. We saw the site of the original entrance where tired travellers would enter before being diverted to the building housing visitors' baths. Here they would bathe and thank the gods for safe travels before meeting their hosts. Those of us who boast underfloor heating were humbled by the knowledge that the Romans not only had the same luxury, but heated their walls as well via vertical flues! We ended with a visit to the building that houses some of the original mosaic floor. As this is not normally accessible, it was certainly the icing on the cake. A truly fabulous morning enjoyed by all.

----

The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month starting at 10.00am from a location in Oxfordshire or Gloucestershire. Walks usually are between 6 and 7.5 miles lasting approx 3hrs with a 15 minute drinks stop, normally starting and finishing at a Pub with the option to stay on for a Pub Lunch. We use public footpaths and tracks and the walks can sometimes be challenging. Good walking boots and clothing are needed and sorry but no dogs (sometimes our walks go through fields of livestock).

We are already a large group but can welcome a few new members. If interested please contact the Longer Walks 1 Group Leader via the message form.

An email reminder with up to date information will be sent out a few days before each walk. SO THAT I KNOW WHETHER OR NOT TO WAIT FOR YOU, IT HELPS TO BE INFORMED IN ADVANCE IF YOU PLAN TO COME ON THE WALK.

28th June 2022

On June 28th a group of 15 Witney U3A, walkers armed with reference material and survey sheets undertook a seven mile walk in the Charlbury area looking for butterflies. The walk, led by Roger N, started off in the Wigwell Nature Reserve where we spent an hour spotting as many different butterflies as time would allow. Roger proved to be a worthy leader and teacher - under his supervision we identified 9 different varieties of butterfly plus a Scarlet Tiger Moth for good measure. Ticks in the box for Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Green Veined White, Small White, Marbled White (shown), Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma (shown). Unfortunately the pesky creatures rarely stayed still for long enough to be photographed (camera shy?) so our photographer was sorely tested and the results were not of David Attenborough standard. From Wigwell we returned to our meeting point in the centre of Charlbury for coffee before proceeding via Hundley Way to the Ditchley Estate where we circumvented the house, walking through picturesque parkland and meadows. More butterflies were spotted within the Ditchley Estate but were mostly repeats of what had already been seen. We returned to Charlbury via the Town Quarry.

Members of the walk are encouraged to record which butterfly species visit their garden and to conduct a 15 minute survey for the Big Butterfly Count 2022. Anyone can take part; the Big Butterfly Count website gives details of how to contact the different butterfly species. If you have any queries please contact Roger N

This was a very different walk from our usual fare, conducted at a much slower pace to accommodate butterfly spotting, but most enjoyable and informative.. Well done Roger!!

24th May 2022 Bledington and Oddington Ashes

We set off from the Kings Head Hotel located on the Green in the pretty village of Bledington. We walked along the Oxfordshire Way through wheat fields with glorious Cotswold views before turning North along tracks and minor roads to Oddington Ashes. All the way we were surrounded by fields of buttercups. The route then headed South through pretty woodland back to Bledington. We had 2 animal encounters. The first was at our halfway coffee break, which was interrupted by a friendly stand off with a herd of sheep being driven reluctantly towards us by the farmer. They were clearly frightened by such a large crowd of people but once one brave animal took the risk to go past, the rest followed like ......... no prizes for filling in the blank! Many thanks to Mark for providing the photograph. The second encounter was rather less welcome. While walking through a field of cows we spotted an untethered, fully fledged bull complete with nose ring. We moved purposefully forward as a group at record velocity!

Your reporter was unavailable for the walk on 10th May but was told that it was an enjoyable 6 mile circular stroll from Eynsham, taking in a stretch of the Thames Path.

26th April 2022 In and Out the Dusty Bluebells

On 26th April our walk took us 'In and Out the Dusty Bluebells' as the song goes. The George and Dragon in Long Hanborough was the starting point and we headed South East along a track to Pinsley Wood where the bluebells were at their peak and what a magnificent sight they were. The pretty village of Church Hanborough was our next destination from where we headed South West to Vincent's Wood for yet more beautiful bluebells before returning via the same track to Church Hanborough and on to the pub where, thanks to COVID-19, we had a lengthy wait for lunch. Only one of their three chefs was fit to work, and with around 15 hungry walkers to feed, in addition to the rest of the clientele, he was run off his feet!
Your reporter was unavailable for the walk on 10th May but was told that it was an enjoyable 6 mile circular stroll from Eynsham, taking in a stretch of the Thames Path.

14th December 2021 The Ho Ho Ho Walk
Our last event of the year was planned as a circular walk from Great Rissington to Little Rissington and back. Why Great Rissington? Well it could be something to do with the excellent Christmas Fare that the Lamb provides!

A nightmare start, caused by resurfacing and road closures on the narrow lanes of Great Rissington with our meeting point blocked by a veritable army of lorries and machinery, was finally overcome. Coupled with that our valiant reconnaissance group (Alison and David ) had determined that part of the route was just too muddy to be fun, so we contented ourselves with a linear walk to Little Rissington and back. At the halfway point, David and Allison kindly provided mulled wine and mince pies in Little Rissington churchyard and we returned to an excellent Christmas Lunch at the Lamb. Fancy dress was mandatory and there were 4 lucky winners of this year's competition as shown. David was presented with a thank you gift from grateful members of the group who acknowledged the splendid work of the Bettles in running this group. We look forward to more of the same in the New Year.

November 23rd 2021 Walk from Cassington
For our latest walk we were fortunate to have a beautiful mild autumn day with the sun shining and blue skies. We set off from the Chequers Inn at Cassington, crossing farmland and then the Yarnton Road, (ignoring the sewage works!) until we reached Begbroke Wood. The wood is substantial and we followed a route around the perimeter, stopping for our coffee break part way. The return leg took us along the curiously named Frogwelldown Path to the edge of Little Blenheim and then back via Worten Kitchen Garden to Cassington - 6.5 miles in total. The 7 acre market garden at Worton is well worth a look and from what we saw augurs well for the produce on sale in the cafe and market shop. Those who stopped for lunch back at the Chequers reported that the menu had an Indian theme and the food was good. Another well spent morning with the group.

October 26th 2021 Walk Report (click on a thumbnail for a larger image)

An excellent turnout of walkers assembled outside The Plough at Finstock for a 6+ mile walk. Although early rain was forecast, happily it did not materialise. The route took us across rolling fields on to the Wychwood Way which we followed along the edge of woodland to North Leigh Lane. Leaving the lane we took a more or less diagonal track towards Bridewell Farm and Lady Well Spring and then promenaded along a beautiful avenue of ancient trees to Wilcote Grange and Wilcote Manor. At that point our leader offered us the alternatives of a direct return by road to the pub for an early tipple, or continuation onwards, looping through Topples (not tipples) Wood and then back to Finstock. The good news was that the 'early tipplers' had vacated the bar area by the time the later arrivals reached the Plough and we were all given a warm welcome with log fire and a lovely lunch. Another excellent walk!