A Circular Walk – Abingdon via Sutton Courtenay

A Circular Walk
The walk starts from Abingdon Bridge and is along the Thames Path, passing St Helen’s Church on the right.
A Circular Walk
Near where a board walk has been  placed over some boggy ground, Abingdon Marina comes into view on the other bank.
A Circular Walk
Just before the red DANGER sign, in the middle of the river – where the navigation channel to Culham Lock divides from the main flow, there is a cutting, in the opposite bank, that will one day become the Wilts and Berks Canal.
A Circular Walk
Follow the Thames Path until you come to a steep up and over footbridge. Turn right over the bridge and follow the path by the hydroelectric power generator, round Sutton Pools towards Sutton Courtenay. On reaching a road turn right. All Saints church is sometimes open and worth a look round. There is information about Eric Blair (pen name George Orwell) in the church. His gravestone is in the churchyard with other celebrities including Herbert Asquith, Primeminister 1908 to 1916; David Astor, newspaper publisher; and less well known, but very pretty with the snow drops rounds the gravestone, is the painter, Joyce Haddon.
A Circular Walk
Continue along the road over Ginge Brook until you come to a turning for Peep-o-Day Lane / Sustrans Route 5. Peep-o-Day starts as a causeway, and then becomes a road for a while – quite wet and muddy with lorries going from and to the quarry. Then after some concrete blocks the way  turns back to a cycle / footpath.
A Circular Walk
Beyond the quarry there are some private fishing lakes to your right. One is called Phil’s Lake. The water treatment works to your left can smell a little. Then comes Abingdon Marina.
A Circular Walk
Follow the road until you come back into Abingdon and the view of St Helen’s Church.

The circular walk is probably about 5-6 miles and very pleasant on a sunny day.

7 thoughts on “A Circular Walk – Abingdon via Sutton Courtenay

  1. ppjs

    Not so good at this time of year as the mud is heavy on boots and makes walking more difficult. This is my weekly walk and while it is still good at this time of year, it is more of an effort.

    Reply
  2. Hester

    There are still some copies around of beautifully illustrated leaflets which Choose Abingdon produced about this walk and I think another one. Ask at the Information Centre.

    Reply
  3. ThreeM

    I used to do a longer version of this walk which started at the other end of town, the footpath passed through Sutton Wick into Drayton and then Sutton Courtenay . The second half followed this route back into Abingdon along the river. I used to leave the car at Tesco’s but then the spoil sports introduced the parking time restriction.

    Reply
  4. Janet

    If you do not feel like walking and would like to see a film I recommend the new Abbey Cinema in Abingdon. It is nice to be able to see a current film and not have to drive to Oxford or Didcot. The seats are comfortable and there is a bar so drinks including tea and coffee are available.

    Reply
  5. ppjs

    I still walk; it is important for me – especially as I spend a lot of time mentoring people in advanced driving.

    That said, the Abbey Cinema is undoubtedly a very good thing!

    Reply
  6. Horsesmouth

    peep-o-day Lane once extended al the way to Caldecott road (now called Wilsham rd) it was so called because from its length looking eastward toward the high ground the other side of Swift Ditch was where you could/can see the sun rise – the peep of the day.

    Reply

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