The new Community Path links Long Hanborough and Bladon with a wonderful traffic free route, ideal for a family walk. I’m not sure exactly how long the path is but I’m guessing around 1.5 miles. I started in Long Hanborough so if you decide to go from Bladon then it’s just a reverse of my review below.
Not far from Hanborough Railway Station and on the other side of the road is the entrance to the Community Path. If you’re heading from Woodstock direction it’s just after the white entrance gates. You’ll see a big sign for Blenheim and a little purple sign on the gatepost saying Community Path.
The walk is really easy to follow and any little side routes have signs saying private property so you basically just keep following the path. The majority of the Community Path from Long Hanborough to Bladon is fine stones, easy to walk, for a pushchair or bike but would be a little tricky with a scooter.
Following the path you pass through a mix of woodland and open spaces and really do feel like you’ve escaped from the hustle bustle of daily life. The path leads you along the River Evenlode and on to the River Glyme. It’s a haven for wildlife and wildflowers. We loved that there were so many butterflies along the way and even found a huge snail shell.
It’s gorgeous down by the river. About half way along our walk we could hear the rushing of water and spotted a waterfall through the trees. The path is permissive but the surrounding land is not so it’s important to keep the path and not wander off.
After the waterfall, the walk opens up, passing over a lovely bridge of Cotswold stone and on down by the riverside.
About 3/4 of the way through our walk we passed through a gateway and into the wide parkland of the Blenheim Palace estate. This area is free to visit without needing a pass. The path then becomes paved and leads all the way past the palace in the distance and you can just see the tops of wooden flowers peaking up from over the walls at the Blenheim Palace adventure playground. Carry on along this road and you’ll reach Bladon.
We didn’t make it quite as far as Bladon as had to turn around to make it back in time for school pick up. If you do carry on, the path finishes at the White Horse pub. This walk was recommended to me by Drew who runs First For Safety Oxfordshire and she says “pub is great, has loads of board games for kids, high chairs, baby changing, dog friendly too.”
If you want to extend your trip out, there’s a Bladon playpark is free to visit and a hidden gem.
Getting There
There’s no car park for the walk, we managed to find a space on a little layby which had restrictions mid week between 12-1pm. The Hanborough Railway Station car park is close by and £3.50 for the day, £2.50 after 10am and free on Sundays. The S7 bus that links Witney to Oxford and passes through Kidlington stops in Long Hanborough just a couple of minutes walk from the entrance to the Community Path.
Dog Walking
There were no signs at the Long Hanborough start of the walk saying dogs had to be on leads but once you reach the Blenheim Palace parkland (or if you’re starting from Bladon) then it does say dogs should be on leads and to be mindful of livestock
