Chilswell Valley Circular

 This required a short walk to South Hinksey, a small village on the other side of the railway tracks. The main street goes by the moniker manor so that should give you an idea of the kinds of houses situated there. Mostly old, large and constructed of stone with yards that open out onto farm fields and only 15 minutes from downtown Oxford. It's location would be ideal if the A34 wasn't metres from their door. This is the same highway we had to cross to get to the Chilswell Vally Circular. 

The Chilswell Valley Circular is a limestone gorge that acts as an oasis of virgin forest with farmers' fields on either side, also known as a fen. A fen is supposed to be a wetland fed by mineral rich ground or surface water, usually found in marshes. This wasn't a marsh but it did have a stream flowing through it and a calcium rich soil. 

The circular is about a half hour walk but we extended it by walking into the fields beyond. Following trail up a narrow strip of trees, we passed a number of hike, one group number seven or eight. Of course, we got lost and what should have taken about hour took two and a half. 


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