Section 5 of 6, Oxford Green Belt Way
Elsfield to Garden City
10.6 miles (17.1 km). About 3½ hours, moderate.
Start: SP 539 102. Finish: SP 491 128. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
Almost flat: about 38 m of climbing and 71 m of descent; highest point 94 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Elsfield.
No bus stop or station within a kilometre of the start. Nearest: the bus stop at St Nicholas Church, 1.9 km away (Directions); Oxford Parkway station, 4.2 km away (Directions).
Getting back
The section finishes at Garden City. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stops
- Gosford Hill, 540 m from the finish. Directions SP 496 130Fairfax Road, 550 m from the finish. Directions SP 497 128
Planning the Oxford Green Belt Way
- Planning the whole trail: cpreoxon.org.uk.
- The guidebook the trail recommends: Oxford Green Belt Way Guidebook (CPRE Oxfordshire).
What to expect
Underfoot: paved or flagged 21%, gravel and tracks 16%, earth, rock and mud 9%; the rest (55%) isn't recorded.
About 19% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 21 stiles, 9 kissing gates, 10 gates.
No steep climbs: no kilometre gains more than about 11 m.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pubs
- The Boat Inn, Thrupp: 8.5 miles in.The Jolly Boatman, Thrupp: 8.7 miles in.The Highwayman Hotel, Thrupp: 9 miles in. Seats outside.Six Bells, Kidlington: 5.3 miles in, about 300 m off the way. Real ale.
- Cafés
- Annie's Tea Room, Thrupp: 8.3 miles in.Willow Tree Cafe, Kidlington: 5.8 miles in, about 400 m off the way.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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