Cycling type
Road
Distance
26 miles / 41.84 km
Duration
5 to 6 hours
Difficulty
Moderate
Shape
Circular
Route description
A classic Cotswolds tour across wold and along valley. Explore Widford Church and the histories of the Fettiplaces, the Mitford Sisters, and the Levellers! Some steady climbs, great views and well deserved descents.
Highlights
17th century Sherborne Estate, Lodge Park and water meadows owned by the National Trust including deer park, sculpture trail and restored water meadows.
For five centuries, Swinbrook was the home of the Fettiplaces, wealthy landowners whose fine manor houses disappeared without trace soon after the line died out in 1805. Fettiplace monuments still dominate the village church, in contrast to the modest gravestones in the churchyard of the famous ‘Mitford Sisters’. Widford Manor, however, still survives but the village has long since been deserted and is now merely humps and hollows to the north and east of the church. Katherine Brigg’s absorbing ghost story, ‘Hobberdy Dick’ was set in and around the manor.
Burford
The first sight of the steep main street leading down to the medieval bridge over the River Windrush sets the scene for Burford, commonly referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Cotswolds’. Full of lovely old stone houses, the town presents some of its best 17th and 18th century frontages to the High Street, although earlier buildings often lie hidden behind, glimpsed through narrow alleyways and courtyards. There are relics of the town’s great days as a major wool market in medieval England. The Church of St John the Baptist is a magnificent example of a ‘wool’ church set in a quiet almost hidden quarter of the town. Burford has a wide, steep main street and interesting side streets with many shops, galleries, pubs, hotels and teashops.
Start
Address
OS Grid Ref
SP2564422741
What3Words
Refreshments
Pubs and shops in Milton-under-Wychwood, Shipton-under-Wychwood, Swinbrook, Burford, Little Barrington, and Bledington
Navigation
1. Turn left from station, in 1 mile turn right, signed Lyneham, after 2 miles in Lyneham take the second right, signed Milton-under-Wychwood, then turn left at T-junction, signed Milton-under-Wychwood.
2. Turn left at T-junction, by sports field, signed Shipton-under-Wychwood. Proceed through Shipton-under-Wychwood and turn right at T-junction onto A361, signed Burford, then turn left, signed Ascot-under-Wychwood.
3. In 1/4 mile follow the road round to the right, signed Leafield, then bear right at junction signed Swinbrook. After climbing for 1 mile straight over X roads, signed Swinbrook, then descend for 3 miles through Swinbrook and turn right at X roads after crossing bridge over the River Windrush.
4. After 3/4 mile turn right to visit Widford church. Note the path across the field is a footpath. After retracing from the church continue to T-junction and turn right, signed Burford.
5. In Burford turn left, signed Lechlade, then immediately right into Sheep Street. After leaving Burford, in about 3/4 mile turn right, sign 7.5T weight restriction. Continue for 2 miles then turn right at T-junction in Little Barrington. (Continue ahead to visit National Trust Sherborne Estate watermeadows. Return to ride via Great Rissington. Pass the Fox public hose to the war memorial and follow road round to the left signed Little Rissington.
6. With a diversion (approx 5 miles extra) you can visit National Trust Sherborne Estate and water meadows, leaving Little Barrington, turn left signed Sherborne. Main house is at far end of village, turning for water meadows is on the right as you enter village. Passing water meadows, turn right after approx 1 1/4 mile, turn right at T-junction, passing through Great Rissington, turn right at T-junction to rejoin main route before Little Rissington airfield.
6. Main route – if not taking diversion, continue on road, over River Windrush, past Great Barrington, past Little Rissington Airfield in Upper Rissington. Turn left signed Little Rissington then immediately right sign Stow-on-the-Wold. After 1/2 mile cross A424, TAKE CARE, signed Icomb, follow signs to Bledington then continue through Bledington to Kingham Station