Watlington to Aston Rowant Nature Reserve circular: full route

Leave the car park and turn left to follow the footpath along the B4009 Watlington Road (you can also cut across the recreation ground to meet the road at the far corner). After 300m you will see Station Road on your right.

Cross over the Watlington Road with care to join Station Road (also the route of the Oxfordshire Way). Follow this quiet track enjoying the lovely views of the hills ahead. Continue past the Ridgeway National Trail and 450m later you will see a footpath on your left through a wooden gate

Follow this path which skirts fields and woods until you come out through a gate on to the open chalk grassland at the foot of Shirburn Hill. Follow the path which climbs steeply uphill offering panoramic views from the top. Continue through a wooded section to a stile which takes you into a field. Continue ahead crossing the field to another stile which leads you on the Christmas Common Road.

Turn left, after 40m take the footpath on the left, through a wooden field gate into Aston Rowant Nature Reserve. Follow this path straight ahead and gently downhill to a metal gate. Continue ahead steeply downhill for another 100m to another gate. Go through the gate and turn sharp right following the footpath (do not continue straight ahead on the wide grassy track). Follow the path which runs alongside the nature reserve fenceline, down the hill until you reach a gate near the woodland. Go through the gate and continue downhill for another 150m, then turn right through a wooden gate to follow the footpath through the wood and then across a field to meet up with the Ridgeway National Trail (also Swan’s Way and the Icknield Way along this stretch).

Turn left on to the Ridgeway and follow it back to Station Road. Turn right along Station Road to retrace your steps back to the car park.