Section 2 of 3, The Vale Way
Ardington to Stanford in the Vale
9.6 miles (15.5 km). About 3 hours, moderate.
Start: SU 431 883. Finish: SU 341 933. 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
About 65 m of climbing and 83 m of descent; highest point 111 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Ardington.
- Bus stops
- Church Street, 200 m from the start. Directions SU 433 884Ardington Turn, 520 m from the start. Directions SU 433 888School Road, 640 m from the start. Directions SU 425 880
- Car parks
- Car park, 70 m from the start. Directions SU 431 884Car park, 80 m from the start. Directions SU 431 883Car park, 90 m from the start. Directions SU 431 884
Getting back
The section finishes at Stanford in the Vale. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stops
- High Street, 140 m from the finish. Directions SU 342 932Church Green, 200 m from the finish. Directions SU 343 934
Planning The Vale Way
- Planning the whole trail: ramblers-oxon.org.uk.
What to expect
Underfoot: paved or flagged 44%, gravel and tracks 14%; the rest (43%) isn't recorded.
About 36% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 1 stile, 4 gates.
No steep climbs: no kilometre gains more than about 15 m.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pubs
- Shoulder of Mutton, Wantage: 2.3 miles in.The Blue Boar, Wantage: 2.4 miles in.The Swan, Wantage: 2.4 miles in.The Bell Inn, Wantage: 2.5 miles in.King Alfred's Head, Wantage: 2.5 miles in. Seats outside.The Lamb, Wantage: 2.5 miles in.The Lord Nelson, Charlton: 1.4 miles in, about 150 m off the way.The Royal Oak Inn PH, Wantage: 2.2 miles in, about 150 m off the way.The Kings Arms, Wantage: 2.3 miles in, about 150 m off the way.The Abingdon Arms, Wantage: 2.5 miles in, about 350 m off the way.And 1 more within a quarter of a mile.
- Cafés
- Bay Tree Cafe, Wantage: 2.3 miles in.Costa, Wantage: 2.4 miles in.Chris's Sarneys, Wantage: 2.4 miles in.Colombia Coffee, Wantage: 2.4 miles in.The Panini Shop, Wantage: 2.4 miles in.The Cake Bar, Wantage: 2.4 miles in.Marmalade Cafe, Wantage: 2.5 miles in. Seats outside.rusty's cafe, Wantage: 2.5 miles in.Rusty's Cafe, Wantage: 2.5 miles in.Stanford Coffee Shop, Stanford in the Vale: at the finish.And 1 more within a quarter of a mile.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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