Outdoor Activities

Fun & fresh air in South Oxfordshire

Lovers of the countryside will find much to do in South Oxfordshire with its natural beauty and abundance of wildlife.

Whether you fancy a gentle stroll along the river or a more vigorous hike, there are many routes to suit your tastes, from rolling chalk hills, natural woodland and meandering river paths.

In the region are two of the most famous walking routes in the country - the national trails of the Thames Path and the Ridgeway. The Thames path touches the district's town of Wallingford before ducking down towards Goring and Reading and returns to Henley. The Ridgeway follows the line of probably the oldest road in Britain for 85 miles.

If walking is too gentle for you and you want to fill your lungs with clean, fresh air then nothing beats a cycle along the length of the designated Oxfordshire Cycleway or the disused railway line of the Phoenix Trail.

A more easygoing way to spend time outdoors is to follow the 200-odd Red Kites circling and gliding in the skies. Kestrels, sparrow hawks and owls also call South Oxfordshire their home, as do the larks, nightingales and herons which can be spotted along the river.

The Royal River Thames majestically makes its way through the area and many a visitor has been tempted to while away the hours upon its gleaming surface. Rowboats, motorboats and canoes are available for hire in Henley and Wallingford.

South Oxfordshire also offers plenty of opportunities for horse riding, golf, paintball, hot air balloon rides, swimming and angling for those who enjoy their time outdoors.