ISE VALLEY VAGABONDS

Oxford Permanent Trail BWF App No PT46

START & FINISH: Bathing Place Car Park, Godstow Road, Wolvercote, Oxford OX2 8PJ

OS map 164 Grid Ref SP 487095 Distance 13km

Fee £1.00

Route last updated on 26 May 2010

This route description is valid until 31 December 2010

This walk has been established by members of the Ise Valley Vagabonds Walking Club (BWF Club No 70) and is a qualifying event in the IVV award scheme. It can be walked at any time. A good tourist map of the city centre will help identify the numerous colleges and other places of interest.

 

Leave the car park by the main entrance and turn right. Follow the road through the village to the railway bridge. Walk on the left hand side over the bridge, then turn left down the steps to the Oxford Canal. Turn right and follow the towpath with the canal

on the left for approximately 2.5km.

 

QUESTION 1. AFTER JUST OVER 1KM ALONG THE CANAL, THERE IS AN OPENING BRIDGE.

WHAT NUMBER IS ON IT?

 

At bridge number 242, go under and immediately leave the canal by turning right up the path to a road. Turn right over the canal keeping to the right hand side of the road, Waltonwell Road, to reach the crossroads at The Victoria pub.

 

QUESTION 2. IN WALTONWELL ROAD, AT THE JUNCTION WITH LONGWORTH ROAD, THERE IS A DRINKING FOUNTAIN. WHO ERECTED IT?

 

At the crossroads, turn right along Walton Street. As you cross the end of Observatory Street, look along the street to see the brightly painted houses. You are now in the Jericho district of Oxford. Keep ahead along Walton Street, soon passing

the Oxford University Press on the right. Ignore the left turn to the city centre and keep ahead still on Walton Street.

Turn left into Beaumont Street, crossing to the other side as soon as it is safe to do so. Turn right along Magdalen Street. After St Mary Magdalen Church, turn left into Broad Street. The Oxford Information Centre is situated on Broad Street opposite Balliol College. At the far end of Broad Street on the right, is the Sheldonian Theatre. Turn right into Catte Street. Pass through the bollards and keep ahead, past Radcliffe Camera (large round building) on the right.

Keep straight ahead along the alleyway between the buildings to emerge onto High Street. Turn left. Just before the traffic lights, turn right into Merton Street.

 

QUESTION 3. JUST BEFORE MAGPIE LANE, A PINK COLOURED BUILDING ADJOINS NO 4. THERE IS A PLAQUE ON THE SIDE OF THE PINK BUILDING. WHO WAS BORN IN THIS HOUSE?

 

At the end, with a church in front of you, bear right into Oriel Square, then bear left to turn left into Bear Lane. Keep ahead into Blue Boar Street, passing the pub on the right. At the end of Blue Boar Street, turn right and at the traffic lights turn left into

Queen Street. The tower on the right is Carfax Tower, which is the only remaining part of St Martin’s Church. Follow Queen Street as it bears round to the right and go ahead into New Road. At the traffic lights, turn right into Worcester Street and at the

next traffic lights, turn left along Hythe Bridge Street. After 100 meters you get to the  bridge over the canal. Turn right along the Oxford Canal. There is a pedestrian crossing at the far side of the bridge if you need help in crossing the road.

On reaching Isis Lock, cross the iron bridge and continue in the same direction, still with  the canal on the right.

After approximately 500 meters, leave the canal at bridge

number 242 by bearing left up the path to the road. Turn left, cross William Lucy Way and then go over the railway bridge and follow the road to double green gates.

Follow the bridleway sign straight across Port Meadow towards the river. Cross the wooden bridge and turn right heading towards a red iron bridge. Cross this bridge and turn right.

 

QUESTION 4. HALFWAY ACROSS THE BRIDGE, THERE ARE 2 PLAQUES. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE ENGINEER WHO RESTORED THE BRIDGE?

 

Go past Bossom’s Boatyard and continue to follow the river along the Thames Path for nearly 2.5km to Godstow Lock.  

 

QUESTION 5. AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY ALONG THE THAMES PATH, YOU WILL SEE A SIGN INVITING YOU TO TURN AWAY FROM THE RIVER AND FOLLOW THE FOOTPATH TO AN INN. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE INN?

 

Port Meadow on the opposite side of the river has been used as a common for  grazing livestock since Medieval times. Horse racing also took place in the 17th century. It was also on this stretch of river that Lewis Carroll was inspired to write

‘Alice in Wonderland’. Go through the lock and pass the Nunnery ruins. It was here that Henry II’s mistress Fair Rosamund died after being poisoned by his wife.

Continue straight ahead over the grass to the gate and road. Turn right. Go over 2 narrow bridges and pass the picturesque Trout Inn (a favourite haunt of Inspector Morse).

Cross the road and continue ahead for a short distance to return to the car

park.

 

We hope you have enjoyed the walk!

 

 

The Ise Valley Vagabonds have established other Permanent Trails at

Bedford (2), Chester, Daventry, Kempston, Kettering, Kings Lynn, London (Hampstead), Marston Moretaine (2), Oxford, Rugby, Stamford, Stratford upon Avon, Warwick and Wellingborough.

They are all qualifying events towards the IVV award scheme.  

Further information about these walks, the IVV, the club and all its activities can be found

by visiting our Web Site www.vagabonds.org.uk

 

 

THE ORGANISERS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ACCIDENTS, THEFT, AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.  EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE BY THE ORGANISERS TO MAKE THIS A SAFE, ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE EVENT.