#1 Southern Cycle Route
A route pioneered by two Cultivate members on the first Cultivate open farm day. It’s generally quiet with a lot of back paths off the road, but it does have a few slightly busier sections, so cycle safe!
14 miles / 22.5 km
View Oxford to Earth Trust, Southern Route Cycle in a larger map
Route Guide
(all distances from Donnington Bridge)
1. Starting on the summit of Donnington Bridge, head south on Thames Path out of Oxford, past the Isis Farm House (a pleasant stop at the end of the return journey). After going under the Eastern Bypass Road and then under a railway bridge, follow the path round a tight right turn. [1.1 miles]
2. Follow the bike path parallel to the railway until it dead-ends in Sandford Lane [@2.2 miles]
3. Take a right on Sandford Lane, then a left onto Kennington Road [@2.4 miles]
4. Follow Kennington Road south through Radley to the junction with Foxborough Road. Take a right onto Foxborough and then immediate left onto Thrupp Lane [@4.1 miles]
5. Follow Thrupp Lane 0.7 miles, then take a left at the bike path marker (sign-posed Abingdon and Didcot). [@4.8 miles]
6. Follow the bike path until you cross a bridge into Abbey Meadows. Take a right, still on the bike path. [@6.2 miles]
7. Follow the bike path round to a car park, then take a left through the car park towards the old Abbey buildings. [@6.5 miles]
8. After coming through an arch with Abingdon County Hall opposite, take a left onto Bridge St [@6.6 miles]
9. Follow Bridge St across the river, then take a right onto The Burycroft [@8 miles]
10. Follow The Burycroft through Culham village until the T-junction with Tollgate Road (this is the only slightly busy section, but there is a raised cycle path on the left side). Take a right [@8.4 miles]
11. Follow the road south across the river until the T-junction with Appleford Road/B4016. Take a left [@8.9 miles]
12. Follow Appleford road through the fields past Appleford Rail Station (a useful short-cut for returning to Oxford) and into Appleford, bearing round to the right right at the intersection with Church St [@10.1 miles]
13. Appleford Road becomes Main road. Follow for just under a mile until the intersection with a bike path (appears on both sides of the road). Take a left [@11 miles]
14. Follow the bike path; it eventually becomes High St in Long Wittenham. At the end of the village where the road intersects with Little Wittenham Road, take a right (n.b. not the Didcot Road). [@12.6 miles]
15. At the next intersection, take a right [@13.7 miles]
16. Climb up the hill and take a right into the Earth Trust [@14 miles].