Gate to the Culden Faw Estate on the Oxfordshire Way

Start & Finish: Henley Bridge, White Hill, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 3HG
Distance: 10.9 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 185m
Terrain: A mix of tarmac pavements, well-surfaced woodland tracks, and rural footpaths.
Oxfordshire Way Section Covered: Henley on Thames to Middle Assendon: 4.7 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Oxfordshire Way, Thames Path
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots in Henley Town centre, plus The Rainbow Inn (4.7km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills West Map | Henley-on-Thames & Wallingford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 171
Links: Henley-on-Thames, Middle Assendon, Bix, Nettlebed, Lambridge Wood

Welcome to Part 1 of our series of short circular walks along the Oxfordshire section of the Oxfordshire Way. This is a 66 mile long-distance path connecting Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds with Henley-on-Thames. For a complete overview of the trail's history, and the end-to-end route, please read my complete Oxfordshire Way Guide.

This first section starts at Henley Bridge, where the Oxfordshire Way meets the Thames Path. From here, walk up Hart Street in a westerly direction and turn right onto Bell Street. Continue along Bell Street until the mini-roundabout, crossing this onto Northfield End. After 300m, and 1km into the route, take the footpath on the right, following it diagonally up the hill to a wooded area.

Walking Directions

Starting from the vibrant riverside town of Henley-on-Thames, this circular route takes you gently out into the rolling landscape of the Chiltern Hills. You will climb steadily past scenic valleys and tranquil fields before entering the peaceful confines of Lambridge Wood, offering a wonderful mixture of open countryside and shaded forestry.

After winding your way through the heart of the woodland and approaching the picturesque hamlet of Middle Assendon, the path loops back toward the Thames. The return leg provides lovely vistas over the valley floor, making this an ideal walk to experience both historical townscapes and tranquil natural beauty within a single afternoon.

The guidance below will help you navigate, but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

Follow the Oxfordshire Way for 3.5km through the Culden Faw Estate and other farmland until you reach the B480 at Middle Assendon.
Take a right onto the B480 and find the footpath to the left hand side of the Rainbow Inn pub. Here you’ll leave the Oxfordshire Way for this section.
Follow the path from the Rainbow Inn in a westerly direction as it takes you onto White Lane and Rectory Lane along the edge of Bix Common Field.
Cut across the Common to the Church of St James, Bix and take Rectory Lane south, carefully crossing over the busy A4130 to continue following the road past Bix Manor.
Approximately 800m from the A4130 you’ll leave the road when it curves to the right and take the footpath into Lambridge Woods.
Continue in a south-easterly direction through the woods and across Badgemore Park Golf Club to Lambridge Road. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of paths through Lambridge Woods so a GPX route is useful here.
When Lambridge Road takes a sharp turn to the right, take the left hand footpath leading to Crisp Road.
From here there’s a few options to navigate through the houses to return to Hart Street and back to Henley Bridge. We took Crisp Road / Hop Gardens / Mount View then through the Waitrose Car Park.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

Henley-on-Thames: A charming historic market town renowned globally for its annual Henley Royal Regatta. The town boasts a rich architectural heritage with hundreds of listed buildings, beautiful Georgian facades, and a picturesque riverside setting along the River Thames.
Lambridge Wood: An extensive ancient woodland and Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Chiltern Hills, northwest of Henley-on-Thames. It provides an important habitat for diverse wildlife and is particularly noted for its spectacular displays of bluebells in spring.
Middle Assendon: A quiet and picturesque Chilterns hamlet situated in the Stonor valley north of Henley. It is characterised by traditional brick and flint cottages, historic farmhouses, and a classic rural atmosphere typical of the Oxfordshire countryside.