Section 1 of 4, St Frideswide's Way
Christ Church Cathedral to Culham
9.8 miles (15.7 km). About 3 hours, moderate.
Start: SP 515 059. Finish: SU 500 957. 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 5 m of climbing and 15 m of descent; highest point 62 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Christ Church Cathedral.
- Bus stops
- St Aldates, 120 m from the start. Directions SP 513 059Police Station, 240 m from the start. Directions SP 514 057
- Car parks
- Disabled, 110 m from the start. Directions SP 514 059Disabled, 270 m from the start. Directions SP 515 062
Getting back
The section finishes at Culham. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stops
- The Green, 710 m from the finish. Directions SU 503 950Wilsham Road, 750 m from the finish. Directions SU 496 963Lely Court, 770 m from the finish. Directions SU 494 962
Planning St Frideswide's Way
- Planning the whole trail: csj.org.uk.
- The guidebook the trail recommends: A Pilgrim's Companion to Saint Frideswide's Way (The Confraternity of Saint James).
What to expect
Underfoot: gravel and tracks 27%, paved or flagged 26%, grass 25%, earth, rock and mud 13%.
Almost all off road.
On the way: 1 kissing gate, 11 gates, 1 flight of steps.
No steep climbs: no kilometre gains more than about 1 m.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pubs
- Sandy's Piano Bar, City Centre: at the start.Formosan Tea Bar, City Centre: at the start.The Bear, City Centre: at the start. Food, seats outside.The Chequers, City Centre: at the start. Food.The Wheatsheaf, City Centre: at the start.St Aldate's Tavern, City Centre: at the start.The Head of the River, City Centre: 0.3 miles in. Food, real ale, seats outside.Isis Farmhouse, Iffley: 1.7 miles in. Seats outside.The Kings Arms, Sandford-on-Thames: 3.5 miles in. Seats outside.Nag's Head, Abingdon: 8.9 miles in.And 25 more within a quarter of a mile.
- Cafés
- Vaults & Garden, City Centre: at the start. Seats outside.Longhorn Café, City Centre: at the start.Endorphins Dessert Cafe, City Centre: at the start. Seats outside.Love Coffee Co., City Centre: at the start.Oxford Illusion Museum, City Centre: at the start.Artisan Cafe, City Centre: at the start.George And Danver, City Centre: at the start. Food.Il Botanico, City Centre: at the start.The Coffee Hole, City Centre: at the start. Step-free.The Story Museum Cafe, City Centre: at the start.And 57 more within a quarter of a mile.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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