Set on the outskirts of the city, Dean Court provides the perfect place for a light walk up to the village of Cumnor.

Enjoy cornfields and view of Farmoor in the distance before taking your choice of Cumnors two pubs.

Walking Notes

Distance – 6km

Length – 1-2 hours

Terrain – Largely fields/track (Wellies or walking boots recommended)

Start: Nobles Lane, Dean Court

The walk starts near Nobles Lane in Dean Court. Turn left onto a short branch of the Eynsham Road and head to the end of the lane where you will pick up a footpath to the right. Follow this round for a few minutes through a tunnel of trees and by a small stream on your left.

At the end of this passage is a stile. With the static homes of Tudor Court on your right continue along the footpath (here you could explore the green space to your left – but this can get quite overgrown). Cross over another couple of stiles and a short wooden bridge and enter the field ahead.

Dogs will love jumping alongside the corn in the summer or running through the mud in the winter. It’s worth having a check for deer before you let your dog off the lead, as they can often be side on the edges of the field.

Follow the track straight-ahead to the stile opposite. Be careful here, the stile bends towards you and can be challenging to climb over!

Stage 2: Up the hill to Cumnor

You come out by a farm so it could be time to get your pooch on the lead as there are often sheep around. Turn to the left and follow the track past the farm and up the hill. As you climb don’t forget the look behind you – the Oxfordshire countryside opens up and you might be able to spot sailing boats on Farmoor Reservoir.

At the top of the hill you will join Denman’s Lane and can either follow the track right or left into the village of Cumnor. If you choose to head right, be sure to put your dog on a lead as you head past the shepherd huts – there are chickens roaming! I would recommend heading straight on/left and coming out at St Michael’s Church.

Stage 3: A well earned drink in Cumnor

Now it wouldn’t be a dog walk to a village without a pub stop and in Cumnor you have two choices. Just round the corner from St Michael’s Church you will find The Vine Inn a traditional village pub, with a large garden for the summer and a wood burning fire for the winter. Alternatively you could head further into the village and find The Bear and Ragged Staff on Appleton Road. This pub boasts ancient fireplaces and flagstone floors in its bar and a light and bright restaurant with outside space. Both pubs are very welcoming of our doggy friends.

End: Back to Dean Court

After thirsty pups have refuelled you can either head back the way you came through the fields, or extend your walk by following the road down Cumnor Hill. Find the stile on your left opposite the turning to Hurst Lane and follow this path down to the right. You will enter a field (occasionally occupied by cows) and some beautiful views of the Oxfordshire hills. Walk straight onto through the open gate and through two future gates in the corner of the field. The next field is often full of sheep/cows so dogs should be on a lead from here. In the right-hand corner of the field you can walk back to the edge of Dean Court and follow the roads through the housing estate to Enysham Road.

Happy walking!