Both Walks start from Factory Outlet Car Park at 10.00am except for Tuesday 19th June which is tbc.
Both Walks – if you have offered to drive please bring cars.
Long Walks you will need a change of shoes – fuel donation and lunch with a drink
Short Walk – you will need a change of shoes and fuel donation.
On the long walk we only stop for a coffee if there is a café at the end of walk or near lunch stop
Short walk we do try to have a coffee during/end of walk.
Walk Venues may have to be changed if weather is bad - Pam 01993 844631

The walking group have a monthly walks programme, distances normally between 5 and 6 miles, details from Pam  844631
Walks to start at 10.00am from Somerfield Car Park unless otherwise stated.
Please contact Pam on 01993 844631 if you intend to walk or if the weather is bad.
Walks may change subject to weather conditions. All walks approx 5 – 6 miles.

12 walkers left Carterton and headed towards Little Faringdon where our walk was starting from. We followed the dis-used railway line for part of the way and then crossed several fields some of which was Rape Seed.  Approaching Langford we came to a field which was full of cows and a bull.  Most of them were sitting down so we hastily walked through this field. We stopped for lunch at Langford and sat in the church porch to eat it. A few metres away was the next footpath sign pointing into a field and as we approached the gate we literally came face to face with more cows and right behind them was another bull.  For safety’s sake Ian consulted his map and very efficiently found an alternative route firstly with a small stretch of road walking and then over several fields and back onto the route we had taken earlier. The terrain was very flat and just a little muddy in places.  It was a cold damp start to the walk but brightened up later.  It was new territory for most of us and enjoyed by all.

Thank you Ian for leading the walk.  Pam

It was a wet and cold Saturday morning; I had not received any telephone calls enquiring if the walk would go ahead so I went to the meeting place, just in case ….  well there were 10 of us willing to brave the elements.

We drove to Shipton u Wychwood and donned our wellies and boots and set off on the walk.  Within a few meters we got an idea of what the terrain was going to be like; very muddy, slippery and very wet.

It was a challenge trying to stay upright but we worked together well as a team; one walker enjoyed the mud so much she dived in 3 times!!

The walking group have now been named “The Mud Larks”.

We slowly made our way to Foxholes Wood Nature Reserve which is a woodland haven famed for its spectacular spring bluebells and abundant bird life, as well as fabulous fungi later in the year. Unfortunately we were about 2 weeks to early to see the bluebells.  I had already visited a bluebell wood the previous week where there was a carpet of colour.   

Once part of the ancient Wychwood Forest, this tranquil woodland nature reserve sloping down to the River Evenlode has wildlife interest and colour all year round.  Together with its centuries old oak and beech, as well as ash coppice, plantation and woodland rides, there is a wet meadow, ponds and more open areas that used to be heathland. 

It was a real country walk where we saw deer, 2 brown hares; horses, cows, lambs; buzzards and kites.  Even though the bluebells were only just peeping through we saw violets, primroses and wood anemone’s  in full bloom.

Thank you all for a fun walk.  Pam

This was a delightful walk of 6.5 miles across gently undulating countryside from the market town of Chipping Norton to the Cotswold villages of Salford and Cornwell and back to Chipping Norton. 9 members joined in the walk on a cool dull day with a promise of rain. 

It was a very peaceful walk with some wildlife, no stiles and lots of chatter and laughter.  We made it all the way back into Chipping Norton in the dry when just outside a café it decided to hail and rain so there was nothing for it but to go inside!! We all had a welcome beverage and two indulged in cakes.

Thank you all for your company and will look forward to seeing you on 15th May for the next long walk.  Pam

On a lovely sunny morning 9 walkers set off for Appleton which was a little further than we normally travel.  The walk took us down a muddy lane towards the River Thames.  Just before the river we turned left and made our way towards a small wood; from here we walked up a short incline on a solid path. In the field adjacent to the path was a herd of black and white cows who all came to the hedge to say hello.  Crossing a road and down another path we came to a paddock where we had to encounter a couple of stiles.  Over two more fields then crossing another road and down a lane with some grand houses on either side. Another stile led to a footpath through two more fields and then crossing a bridge we came to a paddock where a donkey and Shetland pony were grazing.  We left the fields via the churchyard; we were now back on a road which led to a pathway taking us to our cars.  The biggest decision we had to make was where we were going to have coffee!!  Eventually we agreed that we would take a scenic route home stopping at Bampton; we all had drinks but only one walker had a cake! most unusual.  Thank you all for your company; our next short walk will be on Sunday 29th April starting from the usual car park at 2pm and going to Chimney.  This will be led by Hazel and  afterwards we have been invited back to Jane and Hazel’s for refreshments.

Charlbury Circular Walk – 6 March 2012

 14 members made their way to Charlbury for this 5 mile walk.  It was a gorgeous day and some of us were down to shirt sleeves. The terrain was a mixture of roads and fields, not as muddy as was first thought.

We saw several trains, boats and planes on the walk.  There were livestock in the fields.  Everyone was fascinated by the many badger Setts in one field.  it was jokingly said about seeing a badger with a light strapped to his head and the next thing we knew was one of the members took this literally and almost found herself head first going down the hole!  I will say no more.  We hadn’t planned to have a proper lunch break but as it was so warm we did sit for a short while and soaked up the sunshine.  The next long walk is on 3rd April starting from Chipping Norton.

Thank you for your company and hope to see you next month.  Pam

 We had an amazing 20 members turn out for this walk.  We welcomed Ken, Eveline, Janet and Ian to the group.

 We drove to Dog Leg Lane at Shipton u Wychwood and walked the short distance along the foot path to the Shipton Wild Garden which is a beautiful woodland and garden. Its 12.5 acres of avenues, woods and ponds much of which was laid out in the 1860′s, is home to wild life and many breeds of ducks and birds. It was also alive with many areas of snowdrops. It is owned and managed by the local community and offered as a place of peace and tranquillity to local residents, guests and visitors to the area.

 Next we made our way to Digger Wood which is a 2.53 ha site which was acquired in 1999 through the Woodland Trust’s Woods on Your Doorstep project. The site is situated within the ancient Wychwood hunting forest area. The wood is planted with a mix of native trees and shrubs including oak, ash, field maple, wild cherry and wild service tree; There are also some paths and open glades with wildflowers.

 After the walk most of the group went to The Burford Garden Centre for refreshments where coffee and scones were the most popular.

 Thank you all for coming, I hope you enjoyed the walk and look forward to seeing you on the next one on Tuesday 20th March.

 Pam

Long Walk Tuesday 7th February 2012

 We met as usual in the centre of Carterton and walked to Alvescot via Willow Meadow.  From Alvescot we walked a 4 mile circular walk arriving back at Alvescot for lunch and then back to Carterton via the Crescent, Corbett and Mayfield Roads.

The walk was quite muddy and wet underfoot and the weather dull and cold.  However the 11 walkers didn’t notice this as there was plenty of bubbly chatter and laughter keeping them warm.

Thank you all for coming.  Pam