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This long-distance footpath follows the escape route King Charles II took after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, making it a walk that literally connects you to a dramatic moment in English history.
Walking a section near Bampton gives you the chance to experience the same rolling countryside that once provided shelter to a fleeing monarch, and it's a remarkable way to feel genuinely connected to the past.
The landscape here is classic Cotswolds, with dry stone walls dividing fields and a real sense of peace as you move through the countryside. The route brings you into Bampton itself, a village with Saxon origins that has managed to retain much of its character over the centuries. You'll recognise the market square and St Mary's Church from the period drama series that was filmed here, and the stone cottages lining the streets are worth exploring at a gentle pace. There are local cafes and pubs where you can rest and refuel.
Bampton sits in West Oxfordshire, with the market town of Witney just a short drive away, and Burford not much further. It's an ideal place to base yourself if you're spending time exploring the Cotswolds more broadly, and the Monarch's Way offers a particularly rewarding way to understand both the natural landscape and the region's deeper historical significance.
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