Fitness level: Beginner
Distance: 8Km
Elevation gain: 65m
Lowest to highest elevation: 23m
What is a doorstep walk?
I think everyone should have a doorstep walk.
A doorstep walk, is a walk that you can do, from your doorstep. Or at least something close to your house.
This could be the route you take walking your dog, or just a nearby park.
Maybe you live close to the beach, and can drive and park in the public car park, and do a little loop.
It shouldnt matter if you live in the country, or in a city. There must be a nice little route you can take.
Sometimes, you can incorporate a quick stop at the shop in with your walk.
Now, I'm lucky enough to live in oxfordshire, on the edge of the cotswolds.
Witney is a lovely little town first made famous for its woolen blanket factories. With the river Windrush as the power source for all the mills, it was a hive of industry in the area.
The factories have all now gone, and some of the old industrial buildings are now up market apartments The river still remains, and is the focal point of the town, and of my walk.
THE WALK
We start our walk at the old 'Bathing Place'. (This can be found just off the A4195 - at the end of Loom lane)
A Video of the walk can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXmm-G78vbg
Map of walk
( http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/9868762.New_lease_of_life_for_bathing_place/ )This is on the edge of where the 'Jacobs mill' used to be, and where the mill workers used to swim in the river. This dates back to the early 1900s, and has since been restored.
A great place to have a peacefull picnic, and there are a few benches.
Following the river, on your right, you walk along the flood plain, that can be wet in the rainy season.
You will pass the Audley travel agents just over the river. this used to be a mill , and you can still see where the water wheel used to be.
River Windrush floodplain
Just after the travel agents, you can make your way left, away from the river, towards a gate, and turnstile. stay straight, going up the hill, where you will cross a road. go over, and into a small field.
cross this to another turnstile, into a wooded area. Be careful going down through the woods, as it is steep, and can be wet and slippery, with exposed tree roots.
At the bottom of the hill, go left into a turnstile, and follow the path. to your right, you will see a restricted wildlife area, which is great to look out for birds.
follow the path through a few fields, with a farm house on the hill to your left. (Hill Grove Farm).
Just past the farm, through a turnstile , you will meet up with the river, to you right. Walk along the hedgerow to your left, over another turnstile.
The next open meadow, is a great place to have a picnic, especially in the summer. you can keep an eye out into the woods on the opposite bank, for some water voles, and birds.
on the oppositeend of the meadow, is another turnstile, taking you into another wooded area. This area can be quite muddy too, if its been rainy. the woods open up to the river , and a small foot bridge. Cross the river here. This is also a popular place for a hot summers day swim.
A turnstile just after the bridge, will give you a view of the Minster Lovell ruins. (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/minster-lovell-hall-and-dovecote/ ) Its here that you can go straight, to the ruins. this is also a populate picnic place, and swimming area.
The house was built in the early 1400s, and subsequently abandoned and demolished in the mid 1700s.
(http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/minster-lovell-hall-and-dovecote/history/)
St Kenelm's church is also on the grounds, ans well as the iconic dovecote.
After a walk around the ruins, head back out through the iron turnstile, and this time head left, to the opposite end of the field, towards the middle of a hedgerow. (if you're at the road, you have gone too far left) there is another turnstile, here, and you will follow a narrow path, with a wire fence to the right, and an old stone wall to your left.
the narrow path ends at a a turnstile, and joins a farm track. follow this track up hill, between the trees.
CRAWLEY VILLAGE
As you get to the top of the hill, you will see the valley view open up to your right. and a few houses on your left. This is the village of Crawley. Follwo the road right, and past some beautiful cotswold cottages overlooking the valley. follow the road down into the center of the village.
At the crossroads, you will need to turn right, but not before you pop into the pub, for a well deserved drink. (https://brakspear.co.uk/pub-finder/lamb-inn/)
After a stop at the pub, continue down the road, turning right, from where you came. keep to the right, on the straight road, towards the bridge, and traffic lights ahead.
Cross the bridge, and pass the small industrial units to your right. Just past this you will see a small gate to your left, with a 'foot path' sign. turn into the woods here. follow the wooded path unto you get to another turnstile. This is , you will notice, where your path from earlier, will cross. you can now either turn left, and follow the path back from where you came, or go straight, and follow the path along the hedgerow.
This will lead you back to the bathing place, and your starting point. This hedgerow, is also a great place to find blackberries, and sloes (in the autumn).
Some sloes we picked in autumn 2017 for Sloe-Gin
And that brings us back to where we started.
This is a very easy leisurely walk for all ages, with a fairly flat profile.
This shouldn't take more than 3 hours, even with a quick stop at the pub :)