4.3 miles, 25-30 minutes. Intermediate, a fairly long route for the city, with a moderate climb on the ring road track, but mostly traffic-free cycle lanes.
Notes: Oxford Parkway is the Rail station and Park & Ride to the North of Oxford.
* Start in front of P&R. In the first part of this route there is the choice of the pavement (shared with occasional pedestrians) which is poorly surfaced and interrupted by side turns, or the Bus Lane.
* Before reaching A40, turn left on Harefields - look carefully and you will see the NCN51 signs on the posts of the 20mph signs.
* Follow NCN51 and cross the A40 on the excellent cycling bridge.
* Double-back on yourself and follow the ring road cycle track eastward for just over 2 miles. Take care at the crossings of Elsfield Road and the B4150 slip road - traffic can come from multiple directions. (These will be improved as part of the Bayswater development).
* At the Barton Fields junction turn right on the bus and cycle lane into Meaden Hill then Gouldland Gardens.
* Slightly to the left you will see the hospital entrance for buses and people cycling or walking.
* A JR site map showing cycle parking is available in JPG or PDF here (although parking by the heart centre is not currently in use). Cyclists are asked to dismount in some places, which may be difficult for disabled cyclists.
Comments
Would strongly recommend considering the route that goes via the Ring Road (a lovely segregated cycle route all along) and leaves it opposite Barton Fields, to join Foxwell Drive and approach the back entrance of the JR that way. Definitely shorter, the hills aren't quite so challenging, and it avoids the busily-trafficked Headley Way.
I concur with that. Stay on the ring road, exiting at the Barton Park junction through Northway via Meaden Hill and Gouldland Gardens and into the hospital campus off Saxon Way. It is shorter than the MFR Headley Way route and much safer.
Thank you both. I've edited the route to use the ring road track.