Witney to Long Hanborough Cycle Path

The journey mostly stays off roads, taking you through open countryside with fields and patches of woodland. The terrain is flat and easy to manage, making it suitable for most fitness levels and families wanting a relaxed day out.

What makes this route special is its history. The path follows the bed of a former railway line that once ran between Witney and Oxford through Long Hanborough. Trains stopped using this route during the 1960s, but the old railway foundation remains, giving you a level, direct path with hints of its past still visible if you look carefully.

Witney itself is worth exploring before you set off. It's an active market town with shops, cafes, and pubs where you can pick up supplies or grab refreshments. Long Hanborough sits on the main rail network, which makes it convenient if you're travelling by train. From there, Bladon is a short detour away—it's where Sir Winston Churchill is buried. Along the way, you'll pass through Freeland village, giving you a feel for local village character. It's an effective way to connect two quite different communities while taking in some genuine West Oxfordshire countryside.