Thames Path - Abingdon to Oxford (★★★☆☆)

Today was my final of five days spent walking along the River Thames - I had set out from Weybridge four days prior, and today I would be walking the last section from Abingdon to Oxford. This followed on from a previous day walking from Goring to Abingdon.

The day started by heading through Abingdon to meet back up with the Thames - passing through the arrival of a fun fair on the way.

The initial walk out of Abingdon is a bit of a mud fest - and as you head past Abingdon Lock it may be worth diverting slightly off the main path of the Thames Path, to follow the parallel cycle route as far as a cut down (before a small pond on the map) if it is wet, to avoid the muddy struggle I faced today.

This muddy trip out of Abingdon continues on - not helped by the covering of the trees - but having passed under the railway line the going starts to get better, as the route heads more out across open fields on the left hand side.

This sees the going improve from this slightly heavy going start to something much more navigable.

Heading out towards Radley

As you start to close in on Radley, the general scenery also starts to improve, and then at Radley itself you get to acquaint yourself with that favored Oxford pastime of rowing.

The Thames while passing Radley

From here the path continues to be fairly muddy in places, but the overall route continues to improve further, as it continues to head northwards up towards Sandford Lock - which is the highlight of this stretch of river.

Crossing over to Sandford Lock

Looking back at Sandford Lock

He we find another diversion that instructs us to turn left rather than crossing over to Sandford Lock - but it is obvious that this is the pretty bit of this river, and so rather than immediately divert I instead continue on up the intended route of the Thames Path, until reaching the closed bridge - and then turn around and head back again to join the diversion.

The diversion is not too bad as it makes use of a nearby cycle route, but by the time I rejoin the path Sandford is a forgotten memory - and the path heads under a number of bridges, as everything starts to get busy around me - with cyclists, walkers, joggers and rowing boats all over the place.

By this point we are already on the outskirts of Oxford, although with a bit of a meandering run in through the city lying ahead. Passing New Hinksey on the left, we begin the final approach towards the core of the city.

On the approach to Oxford

Up ahead walkers along this path have a decision to make. You can continue on along the Thames Path that bends west before heading north along the edge of the city centre - else, as you pass Grandpont you can head over the bridge and go explore the historic parts of town. This second alternative leaves the route of the Thames Path, but does offer a chance to explore the historic parts of the city instead.

Had I not been on the fifth day of walking, I probably would have cut up on the northerly route and then spent some time exploring the old parts of the city - but as it was I faithfully continued along the Thames Path, noting that it took a fairly direct route to the station and my train home. By this point I was ready for that train.

And so it is that I head over the road at the bridge at Grandpont and continue on along the River Thames.

An old building at Grandpont

The more scenic route taken by the Thames keeps a very rural feel

The river feels a bit of an oddity for a water course running through a major city,  but it was the Oxford Canal which acted as the major transport route from Oxford onwards and not this route along the River Thames.

The core route for traffic used to be to head down from the Midlands, along the Oxford Canal, and then along the Thames from Oxford to London - at least until the Grand Union Canal offered a faster alternative in 1805.

A consequence of all this is that this section of the River Thames is more of a backwater, and Oxford is often considered to mark the shift into the upper reach of the River Thames.

But this does at least make for a peaceful end to these five days of walking, continuing on along the quiet river side to Osney, where the bridge ahead marks the end of my trip along the Thames.

The river at Osney

Enjoyment Rating : ⭐⭐⭐ ★ ★ / 5

The River Thames does of course continue onwards, and the Thames Path runs for a further 54 miles up to its source near Cirencester - on the edge of the Cotswolds.

I hadn't planned to do any further walking along the Thames, but I've maybe been tempted by the chance to explore it more, as it changes in character heading further up. So maybe I will one day return to complete more of this walk, but at the same time, maybe I won't.

Disclaimer: This writeup provides a narrative of what to expect rather than a route guide to follow. The route is covered by the 164 OS Landranger map - while there is also a Thames Path guidebook which includes OS mapping (links redirect to Amazon). The route is in general well way-marked.