Category Archives: Leisure

A springtime walking route through Langford and Graven Hill

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The new 2024 walking route we posted to our facebook page has proved quite popular so here it is for our website followers and friends who’re up for somewhere else to stroll nearby.

You can walk from any point on the map/route though the marked start (A) and finish point for this one is the postbox at the Peregrine Way and Shearwater Drive junction. Start with a walk down to Jubilee Lake then over to Graven Hill via the Rodney House roundabout and back through the tunnel beneath the A41 and over the London Road to return to Langford again.

To download and print off a copy of the map just click here

OR to download a gtx file for a navigation device or phone app click here

The full distance of the route is around 3.5 miles and so it will take between an hour or two to complete, longer if you choose to stop at one of the two coffee shops, the wine bar or the pub – all of which you’ll be passing. Why not let us know how you get on with a comment here?

Daffodils near the entrance to Graven Hill in late March 2024 (outside of the public access area)

posted by Chris A’Court

Four Langford Village Walks

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We’ve recently mapped out four Langford circular walking routes, all easily accessible and – for most people – usually walkable in around an hour or just under. There’s also another longer walk that’s been added in 2024 that goes through Langford and Graven Hill.

You may have seen them on our facebook page, but now we’re making them available here with links that enable you to print out any of the routes as a map to follow. In distance they’re between two and three miles – the longest is the Langford Blue Line.

We call them the Langford from-your-front-door walks, especially suitable for residents who’re taking daily exercise during the lockdown. Remember to keep to the social distancing rules and to be prepared to wait on some of the narrower paths if others are coming in the opposite direction. Also please be aware that runners and cyclists may be using these routes too.

Click a walk to download and print out a map:-

If you’d like a route file to load into in a GPS device then click on the links here

We hope you enjoy trying these Langford community walks and welcome comments here too.

Stoke Wood

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BluebellsFor Langford residents not yet familiar with Stoke Wood, late April to mid May is the best time to visit this ancient woodland to view the abundant bluebells in flower. The early purple orchid is also widely seen during this time.

Stoke wood is less than 6 miles from Langford, just off the B4100, near to M40 Junction 10 (see map for location). The property has a car park and over 2 miles of easily accessible footpaths (see details & map), though some of  these can become muddy after wet weather. A medieval boundary bank runs for 3000 yards around the 90 acre wood.

In 1954, an American bomber based at Upper Heyford crashed into the wood killing the crew and causing extensive damage to the woodland.

This ancient woodland was originally managed by coppicing but this stopped over 50 years ago, and during the 1950’s a large area was planted with conifer. The Woodland Trust purchased the wood in 1993 and aims to gradually restore the whole woodland back to its ancient broad-leaved character by progressive thinning of remaining conifers.