Oxford Kora (Martin's Trail)

Name: mart
Posted on: 23/05/2008
The walk is approximately 33 miles and took 13 hours with about two hours for breaks along the way. It follows part of the route of the CPRE's excellent recently published Oxford Green Belt Way (but reduces that to make for a single day's walk). Long and lovely circuit of the Dreaming Spires. We started at the public car park at the north end of Port Meadow, between Wolvercote and The Trout pub. Heading East, up Five Mile Drive then down toward Water Eaton Manor, on to Wood Eaton, then down Prattle Lane to Noke, and on to the Oxfordshire Way up to Noke Wood and Beckley. On through WoodPerry and Stanton St John to Forest Hill and then down across the A40 into Shotover Park. Up the wonderful lime avenue and then down to Horspath, up to Garsington, then Toot Baldon and across past Nineveh Farm and down to Sandford Lock. From Sandford Lock up to Bayworth and then on the lane to the Boars Hill road, straight across toward Chilswell Farm and then (Matthew Arnold country: "watch the warm green-muffled Cumner hills") following the bridlepath across to Cumnor village. Out through the village toward Upper Whitely Farm and on to Farmoor Reservoir. Round the western side of the reservoir and along the Thames Path to Swinford Lock and past Wytham Woods, then hugging the woods before turing left toward the University Farm and back on to the Thames Path before arriving at The Trout.