Exploring Shotover Country Park

Northern Bypass WOLVERCOTE

SUMMERTOWN North Way A d Banbury Road a o n R arsto Ferry M Rd r e Woodstock Road OLD 440 t Western Bypass A 0 a MARSTON w s BARTON y a

B MARSTON H e a SANDHILLS d HEADINGTON on Road le Lond d y a W o RISINGHURST R a 343 y

4 n W

S o

t t i SHOTOVER G s London Rdn i r d d JERICHO l

a R e n m s gto COUNTRY

M i in l ad l e ane R Old Ro PARK Botley Road gh S H d L d ad Hi t or P S nf T t ar h A e

l W d S

OSNEY a l t a e d ’ BOTLEY s Cowley Rd e Southern Bypass A TEMPLE Iffley Rd d COWLEY R Abingdon Road y a W O Ho Eastern Bypass x w rsp f lo at or l h Road 3434 d R o H d H e G nl a ey rs A COWLEY in IFFLEY v g e B t a on R r R o n s d s e R W

d ROSE HILL H at

i li

l n

l g to n R o LITTLEMORE a BLACKBIRD d LEYS

How to get to Shotover It is easy to get to Shotover which is located just to the east of Oxford By car follow the Old Road east from Headington over the bypass and up a steep hill to the top where the road ends in the main car park By bus the No
 Stagecoach service runs nearest to Shotover Get off at the Corner House pub at the end of Slade Road Walk down Horspath Driftway and cross the Eastern Bypass at the pelican crossing to enter the Country Park on the other side For timetable and route information contact Stagecoach Oxford T: 
   wwwstagecoachbuscom/oxfordshire

Key to Main Map Starting point for Nature trails and Orienteering Course Sandpit Walk  mins Northwood Trail mins Boundary Patrol  mins Bridleway and Cycle track Permitted bridleway and Cycle track Maintained paths not all paths are marked

Ancient Woodland Oaks Deciduous Woods

Evergreen Trees Spruce Pine
 m Acid grassland SAND Poplar Seats Heathland Scrubland Larch Picnic Bench Woodland Bracken Woodland Heath Acid grassland Scrubland Bracken Bushes View Point
 m Wetland Entry Points to BANDS OF Heather SAND AND Ponds Shotover CLAY Scrubland Grass 7 Orienteering Stations Woodland Bracken Woodland Wood and scrubland Wetland plants Wetland pond Metalled Roads  m CLAY Woodland Wetland Ponds Built up Areas LIMESTONE Ponds Fields Hedgerows Streams and Buildings Ditches

Woodland Hay meadow Field Pond

Discovering Shotover Country Park

d d r r o o f f x x O O f f o o y y t t i i C C

e e h h t t f f o o e e g g d d e e e e h h t t n n o o t t h h g g i i r r y y r r o o t t s s i i h h

d d n n a a y y t t u u a a e e b b f f o o e e c c a a l l p p a a r r e e v v o o c c s s i i D D

k k r r a a P P y y r r t t n n u u o o C C

r r e e v v o o t t o o h h S

S Common Toad

o o t t e e m m o o c c l l e e W W Fly Argaric

Chrysomela populi Green Woodpecker Heather Orange-tip butterfly Shotover Country Park offers everyone a chance In August the heath in Mary Sadler’s Field is suffused to enjoy a place of beauty and history right on the Bloody-nose beetle with pink by the flowers of Ling Heather Bare ground within the heaths and grasslands is where edge of Oxford Covering

 hectares ( acres) Noctule bat many species of solitary bees and wasps dig their

on the southern slopes of Shotover Hill there are burrows and where lizards bask Leisure & Cultural Services Cultural & Leisure

spectacular views from the top across south Common Lizard Golden saxafrage Because Shotover is a nationally important wildlife Oxfordshire The park is an intimate mosaic of site most of the Country Park is designated a Site of hidden valleys varied landscapes and diverse Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Leisure & Cultural Services Grass snake Heath Bedstraw habitats a haven for wildlife and an ideal setting for peaceful enjoyment of the countryside A Potted History of Ox-eye daisy Wildlife Nomada flava Shotover is open to everyone to enjoy Shotover throughout the year free of charge and is ideal Whether you are a serious naturalist or simply love being in the countryside there is so much to see at The landscape of Shotover has changed throughout Looking after for a summer picnic leisurely strolls a walk with Spotted Orchid Cerceris arenaria Sandpit Shotover Ancient woods flowery meadows marshes its history From Saxon times until the Civil War the dog jogging riding or orienteering Are you (
s) Shotover was part of a Royal Forest providing heaths ponds and bracken covered slopes support a Oxford’s Countryside For children the most popular haunt is a natural a hunting ground for noblemen fuel and grazing for making the most of the countryside on your wealth of wildlife A small team of rangers based at Brasenose Farm sandpit in which they may spend hours building local people and timber for many of Oxford’s historic doorstep? Discover how much Shotover Country manages
 acres of natural open space in and castles or damming the tiny stream Follow the red In spring and summer Shotover’s woods are carpeted buildings around Oxford including Shotover Country Park Park has to offer! trail to get to it with wild flowers Celandines and Wood Anemones In
 Shotover ceased to be a Royal Forest and We aim to provide a safe accessible and attractive are first then Bluebells As spring turns to summer Disabled paths and access became open farmland which was grazed or setting for enjoyment of the countryside and an Common Spotted Orchids and later Bettony and Saw There is a network of paths around the lower parts of cultivated environment rich in wildlife Wort bloom along woodland rides where White Things to Do and the Country Park accessible to wheelchair users Admiral butterflies soar Until the end of the
th Century the main road to You can help us to look after Shotover by: Access is from Brasenose Farm on Oxford’s Eastern London passed across Shotover Plain Travellers often Facilities Bypass You may need a key to gain entry Please In these woods you can also hear the natural b Taking your litter home fell victim to highwaymen here phone 
 
  for details symphony of birdsong provided by summer visitors: b Not lighting fires Trails From the late
 s Oxford City Council started to Other paths Black Cap Garden and Willow Warbler which join our b By only riding your horse or bicycle on the There are three way marked trails to guide you resident choristers; Blackbird Wren and Song Thrush manage Shotover as a park and two wardens were bridleway through the Park They all start in Mary Sadler’s Field There is an extensive network of paths on Shotover employed to look after it Those that are on the map are checked and In Summer the meadows at the bottom of Shotover b Not using motorbikes anywhere in the park near the car park Assuming a relaxed pace the red trail During the first half of the th Century farming maintained by the rangers There are also many other are rich with the Knapweed Oxyeye Daisy and other b will take half an hour the yellow minutes and the ceased at Shotover and woodland started to establish Respecting other park users by not playing wild flowers Visit them before they are cut in July green about  hours paths and desire lines some only seasonal that you amplified music can discover for yourself During World War II Slade Camp was part of Cowley In the valleys at the foot of the hill are springs which b Not using a metal detector Barracks and provided a temporary home for soldiers Bridle route Events feed marshes and pools fringed with aromatic Water b Leaving wildflowers and fungi for others to enjoy who took part in the D Day landings At the same For horse riders and cyclists there are km of paths to Shotover Country Park is a popular venue for a range Mint b By becoming a volunteer Contact us for details time Shotover Hill was used for military training and follow The route starts from Shotover Plain near the of different events including guided walks cross Further up the slopes in the dry grasslands the delicate tanks built at Cowley were tested there car park Please follow the blue arrows country races orienteering competitions sponsored white flowers of Heath Bedstraw mingle with the red From the late
s work started to clear woodland If you have any comments about the park or wish walks and treasure hunts etc of Sheep’s Sorrel These grasslands are also popular to report anything please contact us to restore heath grassland and marsh habitats Orienteering If you would like details of the events being run by with Green Woodpeckers which plunder the many Oxford City Council at Shotover or elsewhere please ant nests Oxford City Council Countryside Service There is a  station orienteering course around the Park Look out for the distinctive red and white marker phone 
 
  or visit wwwoxfordgovuk Much of the hill is cloaked in dense stands of Bracken Park Opening Times Brasenose Farm The Eastern Bypass posts Orienteering maps can be obtained from If you would like to book Shotover as a venue for your It gives a special character to Shotover and offers Open all day every day free of charge Organised Oxford OX FF Touchwood Sports  Abingdon Road Redbridge public event no matter how small please phone cover to large mammals like Foxes Muntjac and group activities need permission and a fee may be T: 
 
  Oxford   
 Roe Deer charged E: countryside@oxfordgovuk