Charlbury and Wychwood Forest

Route description

A medium distance ride on quiet lanes passing through the ancient Wychwood Forest area and past a restored Cotswold sheepwash. Catch the train back or return via Chadlington.

Highlights

Kingham was voted ‘England’s Favourite Village’ in 2004 by Country Life magazine.

Churchill has a church tower visible for miles, a two-thirds copy of Magdalen College tower in Oxford.

In 1086 the Royal Forest of Wychwood covered much of what is now West Oxfordshire. At Domesday, the Forest included meadows, cultivated open fields, heaths and downland with woodlands. The estates at Blenheim, Cornbury, Ditchley and Eynsham were once part of Wychwood Forest but only a small area south of Charlbury remains.

Charlbury

With a tradition for glove-making until recent years and strong Quaker associations, Charlbury has a distinctive history. Today it is a very pleasant base from which to enjoy the nearby Wychwood Forest. The small town centre has a rural charm and there is a small museum. The station is a rare survival of a Brunel-designed railway station, now restored and an important link with Oxford, Worcester and London. The Youth Hostel is a converted stone built 19th century glove factory.

Milton-under-Wychwood Sheepwash

Sheepwashes were used from medieval times up until the 1920s and are found throughout the Cotswolds, many of which have been mapped and restored by the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens. The sheep were washed to remove dirt, grit and some of the natural oils from the fleece, raising their price at market. Sheepwashing was a busy and noisy time for local villages as hundreds and even thousands of sheep were washed over a few days.