Banbury to Cropredy Canal Circular Walk

18.6 miles (30 km)

Explore the area surrounding the Oxfordshire town of Banbury on this long circular walk. The attractive market town is surrounded by some lovely countryside with miles of good footpaths to follow.... It's a very rural area so the town makes for a great base for walkers.
This walk makes use of waymarked long distance trails to visit some of the highlights of the area. This includes the Oxford Canal, Spiceball Country Park, the River Cherwell and a series of pretty villages.
The walk starts in the centre of town and follows the Oxford Canal towpath south, before turning north east along the Jurassic Way. You cross the River Cherwell before heading through the countryside to Middleton Cheney, Chacombe and Upper Wardington. The route then passes the Grade I listed Edgcote House before coming to Chipping Warden where you pick up the Macmillan Way. This takes you west to meet up with the canal at Claydon Locks. Following the canal south through Cropredy then takes you back to Banbury, with nice views of the Cherwell as you go. Just before finishing the walk you will pass Grimsbury Reservoir and the pretty Spiceball Country Park with wild flower meadows, community woodland and several areas of native trees and shrubs.
You can continue your canal walking around Banbury on the Banbury to Oxford Canal Walk.
Pubs and More Info
Ye Olde Reinedeer Inn is an historic pub of some note and well worth some investigation. Parts of the building date back as far as the medieval period and it has strong connections with the English Civil War. Of particular interest is the splendid Globe Room which was used regularly by Oliver Cromwell as his headquarters and more interestingly, as a court room to sit in judgement in one of the several Royalist trials that took place during the Civil War. It's well worth a visit with its fine paintings, engravings and furniture. The inn also does very good food and can be found at 47 Parson’s Street with a postcode of OX16 5NA for your sat navs.

Other Walks around Banbury

Broughton Castle - Enjoy a short stroll around Broughton Castle and Broughton park on this interesting walk in Oxfordshire. The moated manor house is very picturesque with nice footpaths running across the surrounding grounds with good views of the north Oxfordshire countryside. You can also enjoy a stroll around the pretty Ladies' Garden with its variety of plants and flowers. The castle is located just a couple of miles from Banbury.
Spiceball Country Park - Enjoy an easy stroll along the Oxford Canal and the River Cherwell in this country park in Banbury. In the park you will find wildlife, wild flower meadows, community woodland and several areas of native trees and shrubs.
Jurassic Way - This walk follows the Jurassic limestone ridge from Banbury to Stamford passing through Northamptonshire,Oxfordshire and Lincolnshire.
Macmillan Way - This long distance path links Boston in Lincolnshire to Abbotsbury in Dorset. It is promoted to raise money for the charity Macmillan Cancer Relief
Oxford Canal Walk - Follow the Oxford Canal from Oxford to Coventry on this splendid waterside walk. You follow the towpath of the canal for the duration of the route meaning this is a fairly easy walk (providing you don't do at all at once!)
Battlefields Trail - This interesting walking trail links three of England's most significant Battlefields. You can pick it up at Chipping Warden, just north of Banbury.

Head west of the town and you will soon come to the little village of Wroxton where you can visit the splendid Wroxton Abbey. This 17th century Jacobean mansion is surrounded by beautiful grounds and public footpaths. On the walk there's also a visit to Drayton where there's a fine village pub.
Just to the south of the town you can pick up the Bodicote Circular Walk. This visits some of the local highlights including Bodicote Lake, the restored 19th century windmill, the 13th century church and the Georgian Bodicote House. There's also an 18th century pub to visit in the pretty village afterwards.
If you follow the canal south you could visit the settelements of Kings Sutton and Adderbury where you can visit the pretty Adderbury Lakes.
To the north there's more nice waterside walking around Boddington Reservoir and Clattercote Reservoir.
To the south east there's more pleasant local trails around the ancient Tusmore Park Estate. The estate dates back to the 14th century and includes woodland, streams, ponds and pleasant tree lined avenues. It can be found just to the north of the peaceful woodland trails in Stoke Wood.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Oxfordshire Walks page.