Roughing It Alongside The Cotswolds Set

Location

Charlbury, North Oxfordshire

OutdoorLads shares the exact meeting point with people who have signed up, closer to the date. See the OutdoorLads listing for details.

About this event

Overview: When I alighted at Charlbury station for the recce, I was greeted by a mêlée of people dressed head-to-toe in Barbour, animatedly discussing whether they were having crab or lobster for lunch, washed down with their Prosecco. It turned out that a local horse trials was taking place, and a convoy of fancy, branded 4x4s soon whisked them off towards Cornbury House. That left me free to enjoy a quieter corner of the Cotswolds fringes — just far enough from Diddly Squat and the assorted ‘celebrities’ - David Cameron, Elisabeth Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks, Jeremy Clarkson and Ellen DeGeneres - to name a few of the 'charming' glitterati who have made the Chipping Norton area their home, and rather than exploring the countryside and local pubs are more likely to frequent the Soho Farmhouse to keep themselves amused.Starting from Charlbury Station, this circular adventure heads out into quiet Cotswolds fringes Oxfordshire countryside, with rolling fields, country lanes and plenty of four-legged locals along the way – expect sheep, horses and cows. Halfway around, we’ll reach Church Enstone, where we'll stop for lunch and have the option to have a drink at The Crown pub. The return leg takes us through the grounds and surroundings of Ditchley Park, adding a touch of grandeur to proceedings. A proper countryside walk with plenty of fresh air, great scenery, good company and, naturally, a healthy dose of OutdoorLads banter. 🍻🌳🐑Route: From Charlbury Station, we’ll take a short stroll into the town centre, with its honey-stone buildings and impressive church, before heading north-west across open fields dotted with sheep. We’ll pass Coldron Mill before approaching the small village of Spelsbury, where its distinctive squat church tower comes into view as we arrive.From Spelsbury, the route continues through woodland and across more open countryside, passing the hamlet of Lidstone before joining the Shakespeare’s Way. After crossing the A44, we’ll reach our half way lunch stop in the small village of Church Enstone, home to a village pub and another impressive church.After lunch, we’ll head south, following sections of the Shakespeare’s Way before skirting woodland and eventually reaching the grounds of Ditchley Park. Here, we’ll enjoy some parkland walking and get a glimpse of the impressive façade of Ditchley House.Once we leave the estate, there are just a couple of miles to go before we return to Charlbury, entering the town from the north. Depending on train times, there may be an opportunity for a well-earned post-walk drink in one of the town’s pubs. From the town centre, it’s only a 10-minute stroll back to Charlbury Station — making this a walk with countryside, history, a decent lunch and, potentially, a final drink before heading home.The route can be found here:The Sites:Charlbury is a historic Cotswold town on the River Evenlode, surrounded by attractive countryside and woodland. Its compact centre features traditional honey-coloured stone buildings, the impressive 15th-century Church of St Mary the Virgin and the historic Market Street. The town also has a long connection with the local wool and glove-making industries.Spelsbury is a small Cotswold village centred around its distinctive St Mary the Virgin Church, whose squat stone tower is a prominent landmark. Its name is thought to derive from Old English, meaning “Spelle’s fortified place”.Church Enstone is a small Cotswold village situated in the valley of the River Glyme. It is centred around St Kenelm’s Church, a historic parish church with origins dating back to the medieval period. The name Enstone is thought to derive from the Old English Enna’s tūn, meaning “Enna’s settlement”.Ditchley Park is a historic country estate set within around 3,000 acres of parkland, woodland and farmland. The present Ditchley House was built in the early 18th century for George Lee, 2nd Earl of Lichfield, and is noted for its grand Baroque architecture and landscaped grounds. The estate has an interesting political history: during the Second World War, Winston Churchill used Ditchley Park as an alternative country retreat when security concerns made Chequers less suitable. Today, the house is privately owned and used as a venue for conferences, retreats and private events.The Shakespeare’s Way is a long-distance walking trail of around 146 miles (235 km) linking Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon with Shakespeare’s Globe in London. In Oxfordshire, the trail passes through the Cotswolds and its fringes and this walk includes sections of it.Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are welcome, there will be a few areas where we are walking along or crossing roads but the majority of the walk is in open countryside where dogs can be let off the lead, however there will be some fields with horses, cows and sheep where dogs will need to be on leads. Please abide by the Countryside Code (https://tinyurl.com/rlqvp3h) and remember not everyone loves dogs as much as you do so be mindful of other members.Photos: All photos the leader's own (taken in Sept 2026 so not necessarily representative of conditions in mid November!), with permission given to OutdoorLads for use.