Oxford
The group territory covers a fascinating and diverse area within and around Oxford and the many fine historic
local towns and villages. A magnificent mixture of country and city, fields, moorland and village and city
backstreets, woods and classical parks. The area is steeped in history, from prehistoric times, the Roman
period, the Civil War, when Oxford was once the seat of Parliament in 1644, to the current era - indeed Sir
Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace, just outside the city boundaries.
Within the City, many people are unaware of the vast amount of open spaces and parks to be walked, from ancient
farmland and the historic grazing areas of Port Meadow to the more formal University Parks, Christchurch Meadows
, and Magdalen College Deer Park, all within the Oxford Ring Road. An aerial view of Oxford shows a quite
outstanding amount of green open spaces. Indeed, the group’s Footpath Secretary's work may vary from shared
footpath and cycle ways in the city centre on one day, to rights of way across the historic Port Meadow, or the
Cherwell Paths on the next, perhaps taking in the Oxford canal and the Thames Path as he goes!
The largest part of the group's walks are put in by the Wednesday walkers. These walks started from two or
three friends meeting every Wednesday and has grown to today's numbers - a great ongoing success, both within
our own group and for the many others from other Ramblers groups who join us for these walks. Our walks, and
those run on other days, will range from the Chilterns in the east to the Cotswolds in the west, with others
exploring the colleges, parks and alleyways of Oxford itself. In addition we sometimes arrange an Xmas lunch. However this year's is fully booked.
Recently we have been increasing the number of non-Wednesday walks. Please check the current programme
of walks where you will find, for example, a walk on Saturday, 13 November led by Dorothy Woodhouse and
then one on Sunday, 28 November led by Robin Harrison.
The group's AGM was held on Nov 6th AGM in the Coach House, Quarry Road, Headington. The speaker was
Howard Dell from the Chiltern Society who talked about Clearing Footpaths. The title was "The work of
Footpath Maintenance Volunteers".
Our contact for new members is Elaine Steane, on 01865 552531 or at
e.fullardsteane@tiscali.co.uk
Useful link for this group:
The Seven Shires Way
