Off road walks for kids in Oxfordshire

Nothing gives me the mum sweats quite as much as my kids by cars. Or fast flowing rivers.

And nothing gives me more joy than letting the kids run free in a pedestrianised space.

Especially when it has a mixture of floorings suitable for scooting, biking, running, jumping in puddles, stick collecting, snail spotting. Pooh stick playing.

Is there anywhere that ticks all these boxes in Oxfordshire?

Yep.

And I have found them.

I’ll take you on a quick tour of off road walks for kids in Oxfordshire so you can save yourself a deodorant application. And let your kids be free without saying, “CAREFUL.” “WATCH THE ROAD!” “NO WE’RE NOT GETTING ON THE BUS TODAY!” (Anyone else’s kid just make a B line for a bus no matter if it’s across a busy main road, moving, or going in the opposite direction?

Anyway, enough about the mum sweats.

Here are my favourite off-road walks for kids in Oxfordshire, specifically south Oxfordshire

Firstly. How did I choose my off road walks in Oxfordshire?

Well, I have a checklist of what makes a successful location when you have kids. All of the listed off road walks fit the bill. Or at least cover most of the requirements.

• Close to a coffee shop, or on the way to one. Always good to have a direction, particularly if it gets the kids moving with the promise of ice cream
• Car parking or an easy bus route back to the car
• A loop or a clear out and back
• Options for shorter loops and trails
• Scooter/bike friendly (not all of them, but some)

Walks with kids in Oxfordshire

Neptune Woods

No scooters here unfortunately but I think you could take a mountain bike. There are trails and wooded areas to explore. A bridge to play pooh sticks. And the winner here was the little house woven out of trees. The girls played in it for ages.

Address: Long Wittenham, OX14 4QT

Scooters: No

Toilets: No. Wild wees only

Chinnor Hill woodlands

Chinnor Hill is one of my favourite places. The views up the top are really something.

The hill is very likely too challenging for very small kids. So if you don’t have backpack carriers it might be best to stick to the woodland area at the base of the hill.

If it’s been raining there are lots of puddles. It’s a great place to get really really muddy. Park near the village centre in the free parking bays. Then take a trip to the bakery for cake. You’ll thank yourself later!

Address: High Street, Chinnor

Scooter: No

Toilets: None, but plenty of wild wee opportunities

Phoenix Trail

Pick up the Phoenix Trail at Thame Leisure Centre. Park here and follow the path down the hill. You’ll see runners heading that way, follow them.

This is a paved track perfect for running, biking, scooting, walking. It goes all the way to Princes Risbrough, which pre kids me and my husband would do on Sundays. Now we walk 2 km on it, go to Rumseys for ice cream and an oat flat white and then get the 280 bus up the hill back to the car. Because walking up that hill carrying two scooters and two kids in helmets is too much.

Tip here, if your kids are younger and can’t walk up the hill, get a bus from outside Costa up the hill towards Thame Leisure Centre. Save your back.

If you’re feeling adventurous shoot off down one of the hills or steps into the Cuttlebrook. There’s lots of nature and little streams here to explore. Great in the summer!

Address: Oxford Rd, Thame OX9 2BB

Scooter: Yes

Toilets: Wild wees only. Thame Leisure Centre might let you in. Or public toilets in town

Cuttlebrook, Thame

I mentioned this one above, but really it could do with its own section. It’s an activity for an entire morning, as I found out today.

We parked at the Scout Hut in Thame, then had a quick go in the park. Just past the swings you can find an entrance to the woodland and Cuttlebrook.

It was muddy. Wet. But doesn’t that make it better? If it’s been wet, make sure you pack waterproofs. I was absolutely caked in mud. So were the girls.

Enjoy a short loop, or make it longer. I think we did about 3k steps, maybe over a mile? There’s lots of nature, bridges, a river, worms. Mud.

Chinnor Quarry nature reserve

The Chinnor Quarry is quite a sight. On a clear day some of the views look like you’re seeing a blue lagoon. It’s not safe to swim in here or anything, but it’s a really pretty place to walk around. Lots of birds, bugs, and a sort of clay-like mud.

There’s a longer route ideal for confident bike riders (it’s hilly) or for bikes with kids seats on. With this route you can loop around and go to the play park on the way back. Often you’ll find horses near the church car park.

You can also park at Chinnor Railway if you are looking for a shorter walk. The stretch from Crowell to the nature reserve is quite long for little legs.

Stadhampton – The Wild Pig

The Wild Pig is a farm shop with animals. And there’s coffee! This isn’t a huge walk, but it’s in nature and off road.

Head into the wooded area at the end and you can do an off road walk. This isn’t pushchair friendly when you get to the woods, or scooter friendly. But the muddy path before where the animals are will be fine for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Address: Oxford OX44 7XJ

Scooter: No

Toilets: Yep. At The Wild Pig

Spiceball Country Park

Spiceball is right in the town so plenty of parking. Back in the day I used to enjoy a Baguette 81 and a sit on the grass here (if you know, you know.) There are some paved walks that are perfect for scooters. There’s a canal, some woodland, and even if you go a little further up some cows.

You can follow the canal back into town and grab a coffee and something to eat at Lock 24.

Address: Spiceball Banbury

Anymore to add to the list? Let me know!