Chilswell Valley

Chilswell Valley

Date of Adventure: 18 Oct, 2023

Simply beautiful! From the boardwalk amongst the fen that feels like a big adventure, to the gently trickling stream, natural playground within the forest and the thousands of wildflowers!

You may have heard of this place without knowing as it’s referred to locally as ‘Happy Valley’, it is something of a local treasure and we can see why. The circular walk is relatively short and there’s fallen trees to climb on, a shallow stream for supervised paddling and lots of wildlife to spot. My three love walking the boardwalk as much as me – it feels like you are floating amongst nature. Visit in spring when daffodils line the path down to the reserve like a welcoming committee, and in the summer for thousands of wildflowers.

As with a lot of these local spaces, volunteers will be active in the background cutting back and weaving fences, and generally making sure that the space is ship shape for the local wildlife and community. We are so grateful for all that you do.

 

AT A GLANCE

Free
Always open
No booking required
No cafe
Boardwalk then mixed terrain and gradients on path
12 minutes from Headington roundabout
X1 to Hinksey Hill Bottom then a 20 minute walk
We park by Chilswell Path in the lay-by and follow it all the way down, past all the houses to where it forks - take the right fork by the willow tree and walk up the path in the field until you get to the entrance of the nature reserve
The details

Website

Access via Chilswell Path, OX1 5AP

View on Google Maps

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Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in the UK, and home to over 5,000 different plant species.

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