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Route: Oxford Green Belt Way (United Kingdom)

Submitted by Simon Ross on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 12:46pm
Location
United Kingdom
Distance
87.6 km
Vertical Gain
716 m
Description

A 50 mile circular route around the city providing excellent views of Oxford, Otmoor, Foxcombe Hill and Wytham Woods.  Some differing versions of the route are available elsewhere online but this version has been created to follow the official guidebook route and is as shown on current Ordnance Survey maps of the area.

The Oxford Green Belt Way, created by CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Oxfordshire in 2007, is a 50 mile circular route, created to mark CPRE's 75th birthday, and to highlight the importance of the Green Belt, which was created around Oxford 50 years ago.

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/environment-and-planning/countryside/walks-and-rides/oxfordshire-walk-guidebooks/green-belt-way

GPS Track
Oxford Green Belt Way.gpx185.47 KB

FKTs

Images

Comments

Simon Ross
Thu, 10/01/2020 - 12:56am

Off to start this now unsupported.  Weather looks good for an autumn day.  I'm sure the rain yesterday will have left a few sticky fields in places. Hopefully 10-11 hours with a successful report to follow!

Great run Simon! I ran this route (supported) last year so will submit that to make a pair!

Great run Jason. I thought somewhere 8-9 hours was probably doable. If I was being picky maybe that three years of planning should have found the right route! :)

For future greenbelters lots of online sources for this show your route through Woodeaton but this is incorrect and confirmed on signposts on the ground. It’s probably the worst part of the route as well made up of ploughed fields. Might need to call yours. the ‘Woodeaton variation’.
 

I’m sure those extra 3km would have taken you at least three hours leaving me with the fastest time!  Something to aim for. Well done

Thanks! On the 'Woodeaton variation', up until 2019 I was exploring the 'standard' book route, which is a bit of a nightmare in places along the Cherwell. Then that route became completely impassable just before Sescut Farm where a tree had fallen and damaged a bridge, and the online map swiftly changed to the Woodeaton route, so I switched. It's better in some ways but has a nasty stretch of road coming out of Woodeaton and you miss going through Elsfield and the view coming back down the hill. From what you say it sounds like the bridge is now fixed and we're back to the original route?

Note that the route Jason took seems to be about 1.5 miles shorter than the original (standard) route.

Paul Fernandez
Mon, 10/26/2020 - 02:24pm

Going to have a go at this tomorrow, unsupported. Hoping to get around before it gets too dark and muddy! 

It did get dark and muddy, but managed to get round in 8 hours 34 mins. Full report to follow.... 

Harry Geddes
Fri, 05/21/2021 - 07:13am

I'm going to have a go at this tomorrow, unsupported. Hoping it's not too muddy or windy after today's weather.

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mordov01
Fri, 05/27/2022 - 02:36pm

I have had May 28th on my calendar since mid-September.... tomorrow's the day!! The preparations have already been a great journey and hoping to celebrate by putting everything together. Will be receiving support at 'aid stations' from friends. Have a re-route planned due to National Grid project around Marsh Baldon but very similar terrain and distance to the posted route.