Oxford has many family-friendly routes, but we have picked one that combines the riverside with the newly improved Willow Walk as an illustration. Parts of this route are possible, or link it north on the canal, or go further south on the river for a longer route.
Route (3.6 miles each way)
We’ll assume you start at Redbridge Park and Ride. From the ticket machines, turn right and follow the cycle track across the car entrance (care) and down a slope under a roundabout.
Turn left and climb up the other side.
Turn right and follow the cycle track alongside the Southern Bypass, crossing the smaller Hinksey Stream.
Just before the much larger River Thames, turn left down a tarmac slope to the riverside path. There’s a fence to stop you falling in the river.
Turn left towards Oxford on the shared path. As the sign says, Share Respect Enjoy.
You’ll pass Iffley Lock, the Isis Farmhouse pub, several college boathouses and go under Donnington Bridge before arriving at Folly Bridge.
Here you cross at the signals, and continue on the shared path.
You’ll go past Grandpont Bridge, made of steel, and the more elegant ‘Gasworks bridge’ made of brick, which has an interesting curved ramp on the other side. But keep going, under the railway bridge (mind you head) and over a narrow bridge across a stream.
Soon after this, on the left, take a tarmac track with a wooden bollard to Osney Mead.
Turn right, staying to the nearside pavement where there is a shared cycle path. Keep going past the Fishmarket to the end of this road.
Now keep the same direction by crossing the road on a ‘Parallel crossing’ (a Zebra crossing with an extra bit for cycling) and onto Willow Walk. This is newly surfaced in 2023 with a new bridge across the Bulstake Stream.
Keep following Willow Walk to the bridge over Seacourt Stream, which is an older bridge. Admire the stream and turn round here.
If you miss this, Willow Walk ends at North Hinksey Lane shortly afterwards.
From there, return the way you came.
Things to do
You could divert into Oxford, where there is lots to do. Unfortunately bike theft is a thing, so lock your bikes securely in a visible location.
The park that Willow Walk passes through has Oatlands Road playground, found by taking a diversion to the right of the main track, and then turning right again on a path with no tarmac that crosses another bridge.
Or, divert your route out or back to follow National Cycle Route 5, and visit Hinksey Playground.
Access
By Rail: From Oxford station, use the pedestrian bridge to cross the road, then go through the walking/cycling tunnel under the tracks (you’ll have to push until a new bridge in 2024 makes this much better). Then cycle in the cycle lane for about 300 metres to Bridge Street – not marked, but there’s a bridge, and you might see the Holly Bush pub (see pic). Turn immediate left and follow the road round to The Punter pub, then take to the riverside path, push past the lock and you will soon reach the bollarded path to Osney Mead on your right.
By Car: Park and the Park and Ride, and cycle from there.
