I have a few routes I like to regularly cycle that are between 10 and 25 miles for a round trip.
Wolvercote/Marston
For shorter rides I’ll often go to the top of Port Meadow in Wolvercote – there are some picnic benches next to the Thames there and it often isn’t bad for birds. I’ve often seen heron, little egrets and goosander there and I’ve also occasionally seen a kingfisher. I’ll usually ride there via Wytham (taking the cycle path from Botley over the A34 interchange). Coming back from Wolvercote I usually come down along the canal towards the city centre. For a longer ride I can leave the canal early and head east by Marston Ferry Road and then pick up the Marston Cycle Path with the potential for a stop off at “Parsons’ Pleasure Bathing Place” as I return to the city centre. I usually briefly come through the city centre down St Aldate’s to pick up the Thames Path to Osney Mead.
Iffley Lock
Another shorter ride is down to Iffley Lock. I’ll usually go via Willow Walk to Osney Mead and then take the Thames Path down to Iffley Lock. I can then sit for a bit by the lock before walking the bike across and then cycling to Meadows Lane which is a nice quiet car-free ride until coming out on Iffley Road, over The Plain roundabout, acorss Magdalen Bridge and then up The High to St Aldate’s and then down to the Thames Path back to Osney Mead.
Abingdon
There are a few routes I take down towards Abingdon. I usually take Cumnor Hill through Chawley to join the B4017 down through Wootton and Whitecross. If I want to go into Abingdon (to e.g. visit the Ock River Bakery for a pastry or sandwich) I’ll continue down the B4017, otherwise I’ll cut across to Sunningwell and then along Sugworth Lane over the A34 to the bottom end of Kennington where I’ll then potentially visit the Proof Social Bakehouse for a pastry and/or go sit by Sandford Lock for a bit before taking the shared path parallel to the rail tracks back north to pick up the Thames Path. Sometimes I’ll turn off slightly earlier in Whitecross and make the slog up towards Boars Hill before coming down through Bayworth to wend my way to Sugworth Lane.
Another spot near Abingdon I’ll visit sometimes is Radley Lakes which is good for a nice walk around with opportunities for bird photography.
Witney
Woodstock/Kiddlington
Breweries