Peter Schrammel - Mountains

30. 3. 2019

Peter Schrammel

Weather

sunny

Interest

***: quite enjoyable ride through historical villages and towns in Windrush and Thames valleys

Route

Oxford, 62m - Eynsham, 73m - Witney, 86m - Minster Lovell, 98m - Burford, 112m - Shilton, 100m - Bampton, 72m - Cumnor, 123m - Oxford

Elevation gain

288m

Distance

77km

Timing

4 3/4h (3/4 + 3/4 + 1/3 + 2/3 + 1/2 + 1/2 + 1 + 1/4)

Stamina

Difficulty

Danger

Visitor frequency

c: fairly quiet on the side roads

Report

There was a nice early spring weekend again. I wanted to take the train to Moreton-in-Marsh and cycle via Burton-on-the-Water to Oxford. Unfortunately, there was no cycle space in the train, so I decided to ride to Burford. I followed the B4044 to Eynsham and then via South Leigh to Witney. After having crossed the beautiful town square I turned into the wrong road, so that I had to take a detour back to Burford Road. From there a roadside cycle path led me to Minster Lovell, a lovely little village on river Windrush. I continued uphill to Asthall Leigh and down again to Asthall crossing again the beautiful Windrush valley. Via a country road going up and down a long the river I reached Burford. There were many walkers along the river. Burford is a beautiful little town with an impressive church and a steep high street. I stopped at a tearoom for icecream and hot chocolate before I climbed up hill, crossed the A40 and continued on the B4020 towards Carterton. Before getting there I turned right down to Shipton with a still used ford in the middle of the village. I continued on the road down to Bampton, another sleepy market town, and then flat to Brighthampton. Using the busier A415 road I crossed the Thames bridge, a pittoresque spot with a restaurant. After climbing a small hill I turned left onto a calmer country road via Netherton to Cumnor. From there I climbed Cumnor Hill and rolled down to Botley and Oxford.