To Witney Lake and Country Park offer wer Hill a gateway to the Lower Windrush Welch Way Foot/Cycle Town path only Valley, an area that has been WITNEY d Hall a o Leisure R Duck e Witan Centre Cogges transformed by mineral extraction dg Manor urbri Church C lington Lane Farm Green Wa Mill over many years. Managed by y Witney Town Council for people The Leys Sainsbury’s e and for wildlife, there are surfaced an Station L A40 paths round the lake and rougher A40 paths through fields providing a rich variety of walking experiences Grid ref: SP 360 085 A415 on the doorstep of the historic market town of Witney. On foot: • to Witney Lake, from town centre via Avenue Two off Station Lane through the underpass under the A40; from Witney is world famous for the footpaths from Ducklington or from the Country Park manufacture of woollen blankets • to Country Park by Farm Mill off Witan Way. and owes its prosperity over the By bus: Call Traveline South East on 0871 200 2233 or visit last 400 years to the wool trade. the website www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk for bus timetables. The magnificent spire of St Mary’s By car: Please note there is no parking at Witney Lake or Church overlooks Church Green and Country Park. Town centre car parks are a 5-10 minute walk. the town and is visible from miles Access for all: the path around the north around. The town today is a vibrant side of Witney Lake is wheelchair shopping centre with a market twice accessible but the paths on the rest of a week, all set amongst attractive the site may not be suitable for people historic buildings. with restricted mobility.

Welcome Contact Witney Lake & Country Park

The Lower Windrush Valley Project Witney Town Council was set up to work in the valley Town Hall, Market Square, Witney, OXON OX28 6AG Tel: 01993 704379 with mineral operators, landowners Email: [email protected] and local communities as mineral The Lower Windrush Valley Project extraction is set to continue for Signal Court, Old Station Way, Eynsham, OXON OX29 4TL. many years into the future. The Tel: 01865 815426 project aims to deliver a range Email: lwvp@oxfordshire.gov.uk of environmental initiatives that This leaflet was funded by: protect and enhance the landscape and wildlife habitats, and improve public access opportunities in the valley. Witney Town Council

Witney Town Council Witney Lake, once an active gravel pit, is now an The Country Park runs from Farm Mill down to the eastern edge attractive public space with stunning views across of Witney Lake. The field to the north of the A40 is managed as open water. The footpath round the north shore of traditional hay meadow. The meadow to the south is much wetter and the lake is wheelchair accessible. The southern half a network of shallow ponds has been created here to attract snipe and of the lake is managed as a nature reserve. Many lapwing in the winter and masses species of birds have been recorded here, together of damselflies and

to with some unusual invertebrates and wetland plants. Cogges dragonflies in the to Kingfishers dart along Emma’s Dyke and the Town summer. There may Centre F Church ar m M ill River Windrush. Great crested grebe Green La be cattle in these ne can be seen on the lake all year fields and it may round and summer visitors be very muddy Farm include swifts that nest Mill with rough

nearby in the town. W itan Way ground Windrush in places. Path starts here

The Leys Sainsbury’s Recreation Ground Hay Meadow

DucklingtonLane

Station Lane

R

i

Avenue Two Avenue v

e r

W

onry a k Par y Countr i n d r D i s m a n t l e d R a i l w a y u s h

River Windrush

To Oxford

To Cheltenham

Witney

to Ducklington Lake

A415 To Standlake To A415 To Ducklington

Emma’s Dyke Wet Meadow

Nature Reserve No Fishing No

KEY Entrances

Toilets The Windrush Path follows, or runs near to, the Public Footpath River Windrush from Witney Lakeside Footpath 1.5km to Hardwick. Start from the Underpass entrance to the Country Park Riverside Path 0.5km or from Witney Lake for a walk Picnic Benches through meadow land with classic riverside Benches views. The path joins public footpaths to Gill Information Mill, Rushy Common Nature Reserve and South Leigh. In winter, some sections of the 0 50 100 200m path may be flooded or very muddy.

For the benefit of all visitors Camping, swimming, cycling For more information For further information about the route of the and wildlife please keep your and horse riding, lighting about fishing contact Windrush Path look at the project leaflet Walk the dog under close control and fires and barbeques are not the Town Hall on Windrush Path-Witney to Hardwick or contact the clean up after it. permitted. 01993 704379. Lower Windrush Valley Project on 01865 815426.