The best walks near Oxford, UK

6. Buckland to Pusey walk

I was lucky to do this walk when the fields were full of bright red poppies in early June, which instantly made it one of my favourite walks for the spring.

The walk starts at Buckland Memorial Hall, and you can follow the walk directions for a 3.5 mile walk, taking through a range of scenery from open fields to enclosed woodland. You also get to see Pusey House and Buckland House, two impressive old manor houses.

7. The Ridgeway at Chinnor

The Ridgeway is Britain’s oldest road, where people have walked or ridden for over 5000 years, from traders to the military. The village of Chinnor is right next to the Ridgeway so gives great access for a walk through history. There are plenty of places to park in the village, and then once you get to the Ridgeway you can just pick a direction to walk and walk as far as you like before turning back. The path is fairly flat and well maintained so it’s perfect for an easy afternoon stroll, or a longer walk if you’re feeling more energetic. I visited in June and it was lovely in the sun with flowers everywhere.

Alternatively, Chinnor Hill Nature reserve is at the top of Hill Top road and has great views over the Chilterns. There’s a car park at the top so you don’t need to walk up the steep hill and can focus all your energy on enjoying the views and exploring the nearby woodland. I visited in winter and it was freezing cold with a strong wind, but in the summer it must be an amazing spot for a picnic.

8. Coombe Hill

One of my favourite places in the Chilterns is Coombe Hill near Aylesbury. The views at just breathtaking, with Red Kites all around and the Boer War memorial giving a great backdrop to photos.

You can also see Chequers, the Prime Minister’s house, from the top of Coombe Hill. There are plenty of walks in the area through woodland or open countryside. But my favourite thing to do here is bring a picnic on a summer’s evening and watch the sunset. It really doesn’t get better than this.

9. Wallingford

For another section of the Thames Path, Wallingford is lovely. It’s a really pretty town and the walk along the river is stunning. You also get to walk past some really impressive large houses that have their gardens backing onto the Thames with their own boats…well I can dream I might be able to live in one of them at some point!

10. Thrupp Lake and Abingdon

Thrupp Lake on the edge of Abingdon and the surrounding lakes are lovely for an afternoon walk watching ducks, swans and other wildlife. I parked on the edge of Abingdon to walk here which was a reasonably long walk, but I couldn’t see a car park that was obviously closer – I’ll keep looking though! The benefit of there being no big car park nearby is that the walk was much quieter and more peaceful.

In the spring the lakes were full of wildlife, with baby geese and a young moorhen.

When you’re in Abingdon, you can also walk along the Thames Path that goes right through the centre of the town. It doesn’t take long to leave the town behind and enjoy more lovely riverside scenery and wildlife.