This cycle route covers between 13 and 23 miles, depending on your choice to complete the full loop or return earlier. Starting in Witney at St. Mary’s, Cogges, and passing through a mix of easy terrain and a few hills, the ride takes you through historic churches in Witney, North Leigh, Long Hanborough, Freeland, and Eynsham. If you opt for the shorter route, you’ll cover 13 miles and visit 15 churches before heading back. For the full 23 miles, continue on to South Leigh, finishing with a total of 19 churches. Refreshments can be found in Eynsham, with a pleasant ride back to Witney.
Please note, this route has been submitted by a Ride + Stride Participant and has not been tested by Ride + Stride organisers.
Terrain – mostly easy but there are some hills. Start at St. Mary, Cogges then across the Langel into Witney.
1 We suggest you do the Witney Churches in the following order –
High St. Methodist Ch, Congregational Church Welch Way, Davenport Rd Methodist Ch, Our Lady and St. Hugh Tower Hill, St. Mary the Virgin Church Green.
2. Back across the Langel, Church Lane onto Newland Methodist Church.
3. Via Pens Close and Woodlands Rd to Holy Trinity, Woodgreen.
4. Via New Yatt Road to North Leigh, left down the hill to St Mary’s North Leigh.
5. Carry on through North Leigh and take the cycle path to Long Hanborough. At Long Hanborough there is the Methodist Church and Christchurch.
6. Next take the turning to Church Hanborough to SS Peter and Paul Church.
7. Just past the Church turn right down a narrow road that takes you to Freeland. At Freeland, turn right bit further up is St Mary Virgin.
If after completing this last Church you decide to return to Witney (via cycle path and N Leigh), you will have completed 13 miles and visited 15 Churches.
8. From Freeland take road down to Eynsham. Cross A40 into Eynsham at the centre of which is St Leonard’s Church.
9. From here left along a narrow street to the Baptist Church.
10. Turn right out of the Baptist Church, down Abbey St., you will then come to St Peter’s RC Church.
At this point you will have completed 16 ½ miles, it is 5 miles back to Witney via the A40 cycle path.
11. From there take the road towards Stanton Harcourt. At the junction on a sharp bend, turn right follow road to Southleigh and visit St James South Leigh before returning to Witney.
At the end of this route you will have visited 19 Churches and covered 23 miles
Churches visited on this route
