Oxfordshire
Disabled Access, Wheelchair walks, Easy Access, Access for All, Mobility, Walks on Wheels, Miles without Stiles - whatever the term the following is all about accessibility to the countryside and green spaces of Oxfordshire.
Walks Greenspaces and Countryside
Abbey Gardens - Access within the gardens is available to all via a network of gravel paths.
Abbey Meadows - DISTANCE: 0.3 miles (0.5km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:13 CROSS SLOPE: All level WIDTH: At least 2m
Abingdon - DISTANCE: 0.75 miles (1.2km) of riverside path SLOPE: None CROSS SLOPE: Mostly level but 1:9 towards lock WIDTH: All wider than 1m with regular passing places
Accessible Countryside in South Oxfordshire Map - Interactive map - find accessible countryside in South Oxfordshire
Badbury Hill - DISTANCE: 0.75 miles (1.2km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:11 on route, 1:8 on ramparts CROSS SLOPE: Max 1:12 WIDTH: Mostly wider than 3m but one stretch 850 mm. Regular passing places
Brasenose Woods - DISTANCE: 1.5 miles (2.3km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:12 CROSS SLOPE: Maximum 1:25 WIDTH: Paths mostly more than 3m but F to G 700mm. Minimum gate width 850mm
Chinnor Hill and Whiteleaf Hill - At both sites there are short (400m) firm paths through woodland which lead to firm grassy areas with viewpoints.
Christ Church - Not all parts of Christ Church are presently accessible to wheelchair users, but we have introduced a number of measures to support visitors with disabilities, and further improvements are being actively planned and programmed.
Christmas Common (stile free) - This is one of the more challenging walks as the route goes downhill from 2 to 3 on the map (about a mile), and from there uphill as far as 6 (about ¾ of a mile). However the slopes are long and gentle, with the exception of one short but steep section (around 50m) from 3 to 4 on the map.
Circular Walk: Shotover No.1 - Route 1 is stile free
Cuttle Brook - DISTANCE: 0.5 miles (800m) SLOPE: Maximum 1:5 (for 3m) CROSS SLOPE: Mostly level but 2m of 1:13 near end WIDTH: Path mostly wider than 1200mm with regular passing aces. Gaps of 800mm and 850mm
Daeda's Wood - DISTANCE: 0.6 miles (0.9km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:25 STEPS: One of 150mm combined with width restriction of 500mm CROSS SLOPE: All level WIDTH: All wider than 1200mm with regular passing places
Farmoor Reservoir - We have recently built a trail suitable for wheelchairs, which links our accessible bird hide at Pinkhill Meadow with the hide at nearby Shrike Meadow.
Goring-on-Thames - DISTANCE: 1/4 mile (400m) of riverside path SLOPE: Any steeper than 1:12 are marked WIDTH: Minimum 1m. Regular passing places
Henley-on-Thames - DISTANCE: 0.8 miles (1.3km) of riverside path SLOPE: Any steeper than 1:12 are marked WIDTH: Mostly wider than 2m but minimum of 1m. Regular passing places
Henley on Thames to Lower Shiplake (stile free) - 2½ miles each way. Level walk throughout. The Thames Path from Henley to Marsh Lock is a wide tarmac path suitable for wheelchairs. From the end of the Marsh Lock footbridge the Thames Path passes through meadows and can get muddy. There is a footbridge with a short slope to it near Bolney Court.
Ipsden and Hailey (stile free) - 2½ miles. Mainly level apart from a couple of short uphill sections and one downhill section (Warren Hill) near the start of the walk. Part of the walk is along bridleways and 'Quiet Lanes' which may be suitable for all terrain pushchairs.
Miles without Stiles in the Chilterns (20 walks) - 20 easy access walks 1½ to 4½ miles
Nettlebed (stile free) - 2½ miles. There are a few hilly sections on this walk, though over half the walk is level. There is one moderate downhill along Bushes Lane and a long steady downhill along Mill Road (surfaced). There is a moderate climb up Windmill Hill (from 7 to 8 ) towards the end of the walk.
Pangbourne Meadow - DISTANCE: 0.5 miles (750m) of paths SLOPE: Any steeper than 1:12 are marked CROSS SLOPE: All level WIDTH: Gap of 0.94m from car park 1. All paths at least 1m wide with regular passing places
Short easy walks - Oxfordshire - The Countryside Service has produced a range of downloadable information leaflets of these short, easy-to-use and attractive routes in Oxfordshire.
Spiceball Park and Oxford Canal - DISTANCE: 1.5 miles (2.4km) network of paths providing choice of route length
St Mary's Field, Kidlington - DISTANCE: 0.7 miles (1.1km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:18 CROSS SLOPE: All level WIDTH: All wider than 1200mm with regular passing places.
Stoke Wood - DISTANCE: 0.7 miles (1.1km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:15 CROSS SLOPE: All level WIDTH: All wider than 1m with regular informal passing places.
Thames & Chilterns Walk - From Henley to point on the Thames Path is flat with a hard path and no steps or stiles. For the first ½ mile the path is wide and tarmac.
Thames Path Walks - Goring-on-Thames - The flat 2 mile linear route to Hartlock Woods is not recommended for users of manual wheelchairs due to stony surfacing, however there is a short length of path along the River in Goring which has a smooth surface
Wallingford pushchair and wheelchair walks - Download the leaflet with details of three walks.
Wallingford Castle Meadows - Green Flag Award - Wallingford Castle Meadows offers a range of walks that can be enjoyed by people with reduced mobility, users of mobility vehicles and people with pushchairs and young families.
Waterperry Gardens - DISTANCE: 1.4 miles (2.25km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:10 for 2m CROSS SLOPE: Maximum 1:14 for 2m WIDTH: Minimum of 1m. Regular passing places
Watlington Hill - There is a firm path from the car park taking you through the woodland to the edge of the chalk grassland.There is a wheelchair accessible kissing gate taking you from the end of the access path on to the chalk downland.
Witney Lakes - DISTANCE: Up to 1.2 miles (2km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:10 for 3m CROSS SLOPE: Maximum 1:12 for 12m WIDTH: Minimum of 1m
Witney Meadows - DISTANCE: 0.75 miles (1.2km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:9 CROSS SLOPE: Maximum 1:15 for 10m near end WIDTH: Minimum of 950mm
Country Parks
Kilkenny Lane Country Park - There are 2.5km of footpaths (suitable for wheelchair and pushchair access) and bridleways as well as an adventure play area.
Shotover Country Park - disabled access and paths (from Brasenose Farm entrance)
Witney Lake and Country Park - "a number of gates being altered to allow access to people travelling in mobility vehicles and wheelchairs" - Disabled picnic benches and fishing platforms have also been installed and designed with space suitable for wheelchair users.
Nature Reserves
Aston Rowant Walk - Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve is an area of woodland and downland on top of the Chilterns escarpment. There are fantastic views and a good chance to see Red Kites. There is car parking There are two routes with a wide firm surface
Aston Rowant NNR - Linky Down Walk - The 400 metre path to the picnic area is virtually level and hard surfaced for its entire length. It will provide easy access to a sheltered picnic area offering outstanding views north towards Oxford.
Chimney Meadows Nature Reserve - Disabled access is now available to two hides via 350m of recycled plastic boardwalk. Please contact the Chimney office to pre-arrange disabled parking nearer to the board walk at the Barn.
Chinnor Hill Nature Reserve - There is a short (400m) firm path through woodland which leads to a firm grassy area with viewpoints. The woodland path can get very muddy in winter.
Grandpont Nature Park - DISTANCE: 0.5 miles (0.8km) SLOPE: Maximum 1:14 CROSS SLOPE: All level WIDTH: Mostly wider than 1m but one stretch 700mm. Regular passing places
Other Useful Links
babyroutes.co.uk - a website for walks with babies / buggies based in Henley On Thames
Music Alive - To improve access to music for disabled people in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire & Gloucestershire.
OXSRAD - The aim of our unique sport and recreation centre is to provide a facility that is accessible to all, and one that offers a variety of sports and recreational activities which cater for a variety of interests and needs.
Stile Free Walks - Oxfordshire - stilefree.co.uk is trying to bring together a list of walks that are known to be stile free. Many of the people who are interested in stile free walks are specifically looking for walks that are pushchair, buggy or wheelchair friendly, so some walks that are more suitable are tagged as such.