The Seven Shires Way

Days One to Eleven - MORETON-IN-MARSH TO HENLEY-ON-THAMES

Day One - MORETON-IN-MARSH TO ASCOTT - Distance: 11.3 miles (18.1 km)

Our first day starts by walking within three shires — from Gloucestershire to Warwickshire and into Oxfordshire. We follow the Rollright ridge along a former saltway with wide views north, pass an ancient stone circle and discover carvings of Norman beakheads and Jonah being swallowed by a very thin whale!

Day Two - ASCOTT TO EDGEHILL - Distance: 10.7 miles (17.1 km)

A day walking, in part actually on the county boundary along Ditchedge Lane, with wide views west across Warwickshire. It is ironstone country and the houses and fields are a deep orangey-rust colour. The day ends with a high level walk along the scarp of Edgehill, above the site of the indecisive Royalist battle in 1642.

Day Three - EDGEHILL TO CLAYDON - Distance: 10.2 miles (16.3 km)

A day travelling east, then north to our destination, to be near to where three shires — Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire — meet at the northern tip of Oxfordshire. We see from the lynchets and ridge and furrow that medieval farmers ploughed this land, and there is an opportunity to date a hedge.

Day Four - CLAYDON TO MIDDLETON CHENEY - Distance: 7.9 miles (12.6 km)

We start our journey south along the eastern boundary of Oxfordshire. We cross into the fourth shire, Northamptonshire. In the church of Chacombe, someone in medieval times made fun of the Bishop, and at Middleton Cheney there are the beautiful colours and design of the William Morris and Burne–Jones windows.

Day Five - MIDDLETON CHENEY TO SOULDERN - Distance: 10 miles (16.0 km)

The journey continues south, with the River Cherwell forming much of the boundary. The canal-side walk gives an insight into the transport of goods before the railway and the motorway. We pass the fifty miles point in Souldern where the day ends, as it began, with a chamfered corner.

Day Six - SOULDERN TO FINMERE - Distance: 11.2 miles (17.9 km)

A day travelling eastwards to meet the fifth shire, Buckinghamshire. We pass through the tiny hamlet of Juniper Hill or ‘Larkrise’ of Flora Thompson fame and cross the infant River Great Ouse on its journey east to the Wash.

Day Seven - FINMERE TO LUDGERSHALL - Distance: 10.2 miles (16.3 km)

This day marks the gradual change of the landscape as we walk through Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The Aylesbury clay vale provides no stone, so many houses are built of brick. Much of the land has been reclaimed from marsh; village names give clues to the watery surroundings.

Day Eight - LUDGERSHALL TO WATERPERRY - Distance: 12.5 miles (20 km)

Boarstall Duck Decoy

We follow the boundary over Oxfordshire’s Muswell Hill, then, despite the intrusion of the motorway, find an opportunity to visit a rare duck decoy, shown left, and to enjoy the flowers of an ancient woodland in Hell Coppice. The day ends with a chance to visit the Waterperry Gardens.

Day Nine - WATERPERRY TO HENTON - Distance: 11.1 miles (17.8 km)

The route is across the low-lying land of the valley of the River Thame; we cross it by its ancient bridges. Thame is the lively market-town reached half-way through the day. From there we continue on flat land to Henton, with the scarp slope of the Chiltern Hills rising sharply in front of us.

Day Ten - HENTON TO NORTHEND - Distance: 12.6 miles (20.2 km)

This is a day spent in glorious beechwoods in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The trees, originally planted for the furniture industry, offer recreation amongst typical chalk downland and woodland fauna and flora. 100 miles of the route are achieved north of Sprigs Alley. This area is sparsely populated, so take plenty of food and water.

Day Eleven - NORTHEND TO HENLEY-ON-THAMES - Distance: 11 miles (17.6 km)

A day of mainly gradual descent through woodland and open fields, travelling through the graciousness of Stonor and Henley Parks to meet the boundary at the River Thames.

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DAYS 1-11

DAYS 12-21