Oxfordshire Cycle Routes
Oxfordshire is a wonderful place to explore on your bike with the lovely countryside and pretty villages of the Cotswolds coupled with the striking scenery of the Chiltern Hills proving major draws.
The famous university town of Oxford is also a great option with its wonderful architecture and cycle friendly streets.
It is also an area where the river Thames is at it's most appealing and there are plenty of other water based rides to enjoy in this lovely county.
Use the links to view full route information including elevation profiles, interactive maps and GPS downloads.
You can also view an overview map of all the routes in the using the Oxfordshire Cycle Map>>
There are several National Cycle Networksigned routes in the county many of which have been mapped and can be viewed and downloaded below.
For more information on cycle routes in Oxfordshire including tips, advice and free cycle maps please click here
| Route Name | Photo | Distance | Description |
| Abingdon to Oxford | 8 miles (12.8 km) | This easy ride follows National Cycle Route 5 from Abingdon to Oxford. It runs for about 8 miles using a mixture of quiet roads and traffic free paths. Along the way there's nice views of the River Thames and the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside to enjoy. You start off in Abingdon on the Thames and head east along a dismantled railway to Thrupp House. The route then turns north to Radley, Kennington and New Hinksey before coming into Oxford. View Full Details>> | |
| Badbury Clump | 2.2 miles (3.5 km) | This walk explores Badbury Hill and the lovely wooded area of Badbury Clump near Faringdon. There is a car park next to the site just off the B4019 between Faringdon and Coleshill. You can then pick up the trails through the bluebell woodland to the summit of the hill where there is an Iron Age hill fort known as Badbury Camp. There are also nice views over the Vale of White Horse to the south and the Thames Valley. You can continue your walk in the surrounding Coxwell Wood. The route below is designed for walkers but the area is also popular with mountain bikers. There is a downhill course on the side of the hill with jumps, rollers, tabletops, drops and loamy corners. If you would like to continue your walking in the area then you could visit the nearby Buscot Park. There's 100 acres to explore with woodland, lakes and formal gardens. You could also try our Faringdon Circular Walk and enjoy a climb to the splendid Faringdon Folly where there are more great views to enjoy. View Full Details>> | |
| Banbury to Stratford-Upon-Avon | 36 miles (58 km) | Follow National Cycle Route 5 from Oxfordshire to Warwickshire on this lovely rural route. The route starts near the Oxford Canal in Banbury heading north west along a series of quiet country roads and off road tracks towards Shipston on Stour. View Full Details>> | |
| Buckingham to Banbury | 26.1 miles (42 km) | This route follows The Great Central Cycle Ride and the Oxfordshire cycleway from Buckingham to Banbury. The route follows a series of quiet roads through the countryside of Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire and takes you through some pretty villages and lovely scenery. Highlights on the route include the lovely Stow Avenue at the start of the ride and the attractive Biddlesden park (below) View Full Details>> | |
| Chilterns Cycleway | 169.9 miles (273.5 km) | This wonderful 170 mile route explores the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on a circular signed trail. View Full Details>> | |
| Claude Duval Bridleroute | 63.4 miles (102 km) | This shared walking and cycle path runs from Quainton, near Aylesbury in Oxfordshire to Great Barrington in the Cotswolds. This route is named after the well-known local highwayman, Claude Duval. It starts at Quainton and passes Stratton Audley, Bicester and Bucknell before crossing the Oxford Canal near Woodstock. The route then heads towards Chipping Norton and then Spelsbury where you join the River Evenlode for a short waterside stretch to Ascott d'Oyley. You then head onto Great Barrington via Fifield. View Full Details>> | |
| Cotswold Line | 67.7 miles (109 km) | This cycle route runs from Worcester to Long Hanborough, just outside Oxford. View Full Details>> | |
| Cotswold Water Park | 10.3 miles (16.5 km) | This fabulous attraction has numerous waterside cycling and walking paths taking you around the park's 150 lakes. There are 40 square miles to explore within the water park but with the Thames Path National Trail and National Cycle Route 45 running through the park there is great scope for continuing your exercise along these trails (bike hire is available in the park). There is a wide variety of wildlife to see too - look out for otters, water voles and beavers. The western section of the park shown in the map is located between Swindon and Cirencester. There is also an eastern section located near Fairford and Lechlade. Our Fairford Walk starts from the town and explores that section of the park before heading to Lechlade for a stroll along the Thames. View Full Details>> | |
| Didcot to Wantage | 11.2 miles (18 km) | This is a very leisurely ride taking place on off road tracks/paths and quiet country lanes from Didcot to Wantage. The ride follows National Cycle route 44 and benefits from links to the Berkshire downs. Highlights on the route are the pretty villages of Hagbourne and Lockinge and some lovely Oxfordshire scenery. View Full Details>> | |
| Hanson Way | 15.5 miles (25 km) | Follow the Hanson Way (part of National Cycle Route 5) from Oxford to Didcot via Abingdon. View Full Details>> | |
| National Cycle Route 57 | 87 miles (140 km) | This signed Sustrans route runs from Gloucestershire based Farmington to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. View Full Details>> | |
| Oxford to Banbury | 34.2 miles (55 km) | Travel through pretty Oxfordshire along National Cycle Route 5 from Oxford to Banbury. The route starts with a lovely stretch along the Oxford canal and a series of off road paths taking you to Woodstock. Here you will find the splendid Blenheim Palace. This wonderful country house is the birthplace of Winston Churchill and has beautiful gardens to enjoy. The ride continues on country roads passing through the pretty villages of Barford St Michael and Bloxham before finishing in Banbury near the Oxford Canal. View Full Details>> | |
| Oxford to Bicester | 16.8 miles (27 km) | Starting in the historic University town of Oxford follow National Cycle Route 51 from Oxford to Bicester. The ride takes you past the Oxford University parks and Colleges before heading to the village of Kidlington. The rides continues onto Bicester, mainly on quiet roads, but with some short traffic free sections. The ride also has views of the River Cherwell and some lovely Oxfordshire countryside. View Full Details>> | |
| Oxford to Milton Keynes | 41.6 miles (67 km) | Starting in the historic University town of Oxford follow National Cycle Route 51 from Oxford to Milton Keynes via Bicester. This ride takes you through the lovely scenery of the Cotswolds along quiet country roads and some traffic free paths. The run into Milton Keynes is particularly attractive, passing Furzton Lake and Teardrop lakes on a leisurely off road stretch before finishing near the train station. View Full Details>> | |
| Oxford to Princes Risborough | 23.6 miles (38 km) | Follow National Cycle Route 57 on this lovely route through the Oxfordshire countryside. The route starts near the tourist information centre in Oxford and heads east to Thame on minor roads. You then join the Phoenix Trail - a lovely off road path on a dismantled railway line which takes you to the finish point at Princes Risborough rail. View Full Details>> | |
| Phoenix Trail | 6.8 miles (11 km) | This is a lovely short flat ride running from Thame to Princes Risborough. The route is largely off road and takes you along a safe tranquil path with splendid views of the Chilterns in the distance. As such it's a good one for anyone looking for a family cycle ride or an easy walk. View Full Details>> | |
| Reading to Oxford | 34.8 miles (56 km) | Travel along National Cycle Route 5 from Reading in Berkshire and on through Oxfordshire to the famous university town. View Full Details>> | |
| Shotover Country Park | 3.1 miles (5 km) | Shotover country park is a 289 acre site located on the outskirts of Oxford. It encompasses ancient woodland, flowery meadows, marshes, ponds, bracken-covered slopes and Shotover Hill where you will find splendid views across South Oxfordshire. The Oxford Green Belt Way runs through the park providing an opportunity to explore the area further. View Full Details>> | |
| Thames Valley - London to Oxford | 96.3 miles (155 km) | Follow the Thames Valley cycle route from the city of London to Oxford on this fantastic long distance bike ride. The route follows National Cycle Network Routes 4 and 5 along minor roads, country lanes and traffic free paths. There's much to enjoy with beautiful parks, riverside paths, lovely countryside and a series of pretty towns and villages. The route starts on Putney Bridge in London, following the Thames Path west to Barnes. Here you turn south and head through Richmond Park and Ham Common before picking up the riverside path at Ham. A long traffic free section along the river takes you past Kingston-upon-Thames, Hampton Court Park, Sunbury and Staines. Here you leave the river and follow the route past Runnymede and into Windsor Great Park. You follow some nice trails through the expansive park before passing through Windsor and Eton where there's a delightful traffic free section across Dorney Common and past the pretty Dorney Lake. The route then heads through Maidenhead, Wargrave and Twyford. View Full Details>> | |
| The Ridgeway | 42.9 miles (69 km) | This is the cycle friendly opening 43 miles of The Ridgeway - one of the UK's National Trails. This section runs from Overton Hill, near Avebury in Wiltshire, to Streatley, in Berkshire, on the River Thames. The path passes through some lovely scenery including rolling downland and the woods and valleys of the Chilterns. Highlights on the route includes Wayland's Smithy - a Neolithic long barrow and chamber tomb, and the Uffington White Horse in the Berkshire Downs. View Full Details>> | |
| Three Downs Link | 101.9 miles (164 km) | This is a walking and cycling path following bridleways through Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire. The trail runs from Exton, in Hampshire, to Dean Hill, near Hungerford. You will pass through open chalk downland, along rivers and canals and through some pretty villages.
The route passes through or near Basingstoke, New Arlesford, Malborough, Winchester, Newbury and Hungerford. It uses the South Downs Way National Trail for part of the route and also links with the Ridgeway National Trail. View Full Details>> | |
| Westbury Circular Ride | 11.8 miles (19 km) | This is a circular walk or cycle ride around Westbury in Buckinghamshire. View Full Details>> |
Your Submitted Routes
| Route Name | Distance | Difficulty |
| The Swan's Way | 65 miles (105 km) | *** |