Stonesfield (AONB Step 3)
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STEP INTO THE COTSWOLDS WALK three Stonesfield the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding ‘Step into the Cotswolds’ Points of interest Natural Beauty (AONB) & the Cotswolds Conservation Board The Cotswolds is considered by many people This walk, and others in the series, has been Stonesfield ‘Capability’ Brown, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful areas of funded through money raised by the ‘Step Stonesfield’s name derives from the Old as a “naturalistic Versailles”. England – the quintessential English into the Cotswolds’ Visitor Payback Scheme, English, ‘stunt’s field’, meaning stunted, landscape. It is also a very special area: where visitors make voluntary donations or possibly fool’s, field. Cotswold stone tiles, Akeman Street/Wychwood one of only 40 Areas of Outstanding Natural to local access and conservation projects. know in Oxfordshire as Stonesfield slates, Way/Oxfordshire Way Beauty (AONBs) in England and Wales, it is were quarried and mined here from the Akeman Street was a major Roman road protected by Government as being of great The scheme is run by the Cotswolds 16th century until the beginning of the that linked London to the Fosse Way at value to the nation. This ensures the very Conservation Board in partnership with West 20th century. Cirencester. This section of Akeman Street Summary features that attract people are there for Oxfordshire District Council and supported also forms part of the Wychwood Way A walk of 6.5 miles from Stonesfield to Combe and Blenheim Great Park future generations to enjoy. by Oxfordshire County Council’s Countryside (a circular 60km/37 mile walk which goes and back to Stonesfield. There are two extensions of 2.5 miles and 2.8 miles. North Leigh roman Villa, east end Service. The scheme has also been part- around the heart of the ancient forest North Leigh Roman Villa is a part-exposed The natural qualities of the AONB are unique. financed by supported financially by the of Wychwood) and the Oxfordshire Way This walk is part of a visitor payback scheme called ‘Step Into the Cotswolds’ floor plan of a large Roman Villa first Limestone gives the Cotswolds its distinctive, European Community West Oxfordshire (a 108km/67 mile route which traverses and has these waymarkers along the route. unearthed in 1813 and consists of over unified appearance, visible everywhere in Network Leader+ 2000-2006 programme Oxfordshire from the Cotswolds to the 60 rooms, including some well preserved buildings, walls, towns and villages, which and the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment Chilterns and links the Heart of England mosaics that are now under shelter. subtly blend with their surroundings. and the Waste Recycling Group through the Way to the Thames Path National Trail). Walk information The villa is in the care of English Heritage. Landfill Communities Fund. For more Start/End Point: Centre of Stonesfield The Cotswolds is a place of immense information about the Visitor Payback Wychwood Forest Combe diversity: rolling landscapes with Scheme, the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Grid Reference: SP394171 Combe’s name derives from the Celtic word At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, breathtaking views and open skies contrast Natural Beauty and the work of the Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5km); two optional extensions of 2.5 miles the Royal Forest of Wychwood covered Photographs © Nick Turner. Design: ‘cumb’, meaning ‘at the valley’. St Laurence with intimate valleys, villages and pastures. Cotswolds Conservation Board contact: much of what is now West Oxfordshire. (3.9km) and 2.8 miles (4.5km) Church was rebuilt by Eynsham Abbey Ancient beech woodlands, rare flora and In 1854 an Act of Parliament was passed Terrain: Gently undulating with a couple of short, steep sections in 1395 and has been little altered. limestone grasslands alternate with broad Cotswolds Conservation Board to clear the Forest for agricultural land. swathes of arable fields. Pre-historic hill forts Fosse Way Parking: On-street parking In a period of only 18 months, thousands Blenheim Palace and Great Park are found close to the fine craftsmanship Northleach of trees were cut down and areas of Public Transport: Details of bus services can be found in the ‘Explore the Cotswolds by Blenheim Palace was presented by the of manor houses and stone cottages. Gloucestershire GL54 3JH woodland and heath were cleared, leaving Public Transport’ leaflets available from the Cotswolds Conservation English nation to John Churchill, first Duke Tel: 01451 862000, Fax: 01451 862001 only the present rump of woodland round Board (Tel: 01451 862000). You can download the leaflets from: of Marlborough, in recognition of his victory Website: www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk. They are also available at most Tourist in 1704 over French and Bavarian troops. Cornbury Park to the north east of Leafield. www.touchmedia.uk.net Information Centres and libraries. It is also closely associated with Sir Winston In 1997 the Wychwood Project was Churchill. Blenheim Palace was inscribed established to raise awareness of the history Public toilets: None and identity of the area, and to work with as a World Heritage Site in 1987 for its Refreshments: Stonesfield - White Horse and Black Head public houses and General Store; local communities to restore its rich architectural importance and for its Combe - The Cock Inn landscaped Park designed by Lancelot patchwork of landscapes and habitats within the Forest boundaries. 7 1 4 Keep right into West End and continue 8 With the river on your left, look for route for extension 2 straight on ignoring other turnings until the footpaths ahead of you. Take the – Approx 4.5km/2.8 miles 8 you reach Coombe Green (Cock Inn). Keep right hand path which will take you through Take the footpath through Combe 2 to the right hand side of the village square a wooded area known as Stockey Bottom. C Churchyard following the well marked onto Park Road. You will pass a footpath Go through the double gate, turn left, footpath until you reach a narrow road called A leading to the church then right. Continue along the road into Bolton’s Lane. 5 Stonesfield, turning right into Well Lane 6 route for extension 2, turn right (signed ‘Oxfordshire Way/Bridleway’). E Turn left and walk up the lane. When 4 C here – see C right. At the top of the lane you will come to a cross you come to a road junction turn right E roads. Go straight across into the High Street. and continue along the lane to the entrance 5 Pass the Post Office on your right. into Blenheim Park on your left. B 3 D Continue walking past the houses route for extension 1 on your left and the cricket field/park area - Approx 3.9 km/2.5mile Once through the gates, go straight on your right. After crossing the river, continue D forward, following the public footpath A straight ahead to the far side of the signs, along the Blenheim Estate road. Take the next footpath on your left. 6 field. Go right through a gate. The footpath At a square grass junction take the left hand Continue until you reach the Blenheim soon follows the bank of the River Evenlode, estate road to Park Farm. At the entrance take Palace’s Great Park - enter the park via a step under a railway bridge and through Whitehill the public footpath on your right. Go through Main route: ladder. Once over the wall, turn left walking Wood until you reach a road junction at the gates towards the clump of beech trees extension route: along the estate track for approximately 100 Ashford Bridge. in front of you. Just after the trees, take the metres. Turn right following the footpath sign left hand footpath. When you reach an estate (easy to miss). The path will take you through Turn left and walk along the road for track turn right. Almost immediately turn 1 Kilometre B © Crown copyright - All rights reserved (100040971) 2009. the Blenheim Estate and is clearly signed. a few metres. Turn left onto bridleway left off the estate track, to rejoin the main 1 Mile to Holly Court Farm. Turn left and go uphill, route at point 7. 7 After 1km/0.6 miles take the public and then follow the footpath across the fields footpath on your left, following the to East End until you reach the road. Turn left path until you reach the track next to the away from East End and then right at the sign Continue straight ahead. The path route Description 2 3 Take the gate on your left, turn right estate wall. Turn right onto the track and, marked Roman Villa to rejoin the main walk will become a track, passing the Starting in Stonesfield village centre and follow the footpath towards the after approximately 200m, turn left and at point 3. 1 (near the church/Post Office), walk entrance for Lower Riding Farm. Keep straight river. Go under the railway bridge and cross climb the wooden steps over the estate This walk is part of a down Church Street. Where the road bears ahead, crossing Whitehill Bridge and take the river via the accommodation bridge. wall. Continue straight ahead, following visitor payback scheme right, continue straight ahead onto Brook the footpath on your left to North Leigh Turn right up a slight incline to a kissing gate. the field edge to the road. Cross the road called ‘Step into the Lane until you reach the river. Cross the river. Roman Villa. Continue straight on along a track until you following the signposts for the Oxfordshire Cotswolds’ and has reach Combe.