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Pigeon Lock – Lower Heyford Village loop from Upper Heyford

Routes

Running trails & routes

Pigeon Lock – Lower Heyford Village loop from Upper Heyford

Hard

runners

Pigeon Lock – Lower Heyford Village loop from Upper Heyford

02:20

20.5km

110m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 18, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

2.36 km

Pig Enclosure

Highlight • Structure

4.37 km

Wheats Covert

Forest

7.97 km

Pigeon Lock

Highlight • River

A fine lock and a great place to sit and watch the boats go by. The shared walking and biking path next to the lock is smooth hardpack gravel so suitable on any bike type.

Tip by

12.7 km

Oxford Canal Towpath Between Tackley and Lower Heyford

Highlight • Bridge

After Tackley and Kirtlington, there is a 3-mile (4.8 km) stretch of the Oxford Canal with no settlements until you reach the Heyfords. The walk along the towpath here is much loved by the folk of Oxford, who use train the stations at Tackley and Lower Heyford and walk between the two.

Aside from the occasional train rattling along the nearby tracks and the chugging of passing canal barges, this section is characterised by peace, serenity and birdsong. The canal and River Cherwell both provide a habitat for a number of bird species.

Tip by

16.1 km

Heyford Train Station

Highlight • Parking

Free parking is provided at Heyford Train Station for rail users only. However there are several, marked parking bays outside the boundary fence on what I took to be a public road. These too are free of charge. I got there at about 5.30pm and was able to find a space.

Tip by

16.2 km

Lower Heyford Village

Highlight • Cafe

Nestled in the Cherwell Valley with both the river, the Oxford Canal and the railway passing by, Lower Heyford is an easily accessible yet delightful little village. Expect lush pastures and pleasant walking in the surrounding countryside, whilst the village itself has a shop, a cafe and a superb gastropub pub, the Bell Inn.

Tip by

16.6 km

Butterbur

Highlight • Natural

When I saw this plant I thought 'I wonder if that's rhubarb'. So I looked it up on my plant identifier app. It turned out that it's called Butter Bur as well as the less flattering Pestilence Wort and Bog Rhubarb. I prefer Butter Bur, so called because in days of old the leaves were used to wrap butter to keep it fresh for longer.

Tip by

18.2 km

Upper Heyford village and carved tree trunk

Highlight • Settlement

A mile north of Lower Heyford is its twin village Upper Heyford. Its location in the Cherwell Valley gives it excellent access to the verdant Oxfordshire countryside. There are plenty of local trails to explore. The Barley Mow pub is a good lunch option.

The nearby RAF base was decommissioned in 1993 and many of its buildings are now listed as scheduled monuments. The site is popular with local urban explorers.

Tip by

20.5 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

15.6 km

1.82 km

1.52 km

1.34 km

186 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

13.8 km

4.82 km

1.22 km

458 m

167 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (120 m)

Lowest point (70 m)

Weather

Friday 15 May

14°C

3°C

92 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Pigeon Lock – Lower Heyford Village loop from Upper Heyford

Pig Enclosure

Horse Stables

Pigeon Lock

Oxford Canal Towpath Between Tackley and Lower Heyford

Heyford Train Station

Lower Heyford Village

Butterbur

Upper Heyford village and carved tree trunk

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