d'Arcy Dalton Way

Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire

The Way, devised with involvement from the CPRE to mark the Oxford Fieldpaths Society Diamond Jubilee, is named after the late Col. W. P. d'Arcy Dalton who worked for over half a century to preserve rights of way in Oxfordshire. It links four major paths that cross Oxfordshire: Oxford Canal Walk, Oxfordshire Way, Thames Path and Ridgeway, following roughly the western boundary of Oxfordshire in unspoilt countryside.

The Way takes a meandering route, first crossing ironstone hills to Epwell and Hook Norton, and then following footpaths and tracks across the limestone uplands of the eastern Cotswolds via Great and Little Rollright, Churchill, Fifield, Great Barrington and Holwell.

The River Thames is crossed at Radcot Bridge and the Way continues across the flatter farmland of the Vale of the White Horse, finally climbing to the crest of the chalk ridge of the Oxfordshire Downs, along which the Ridgeway runs. The guidebook includes eight circular walks.

UPDATE September 2023: The route of this LDP has been amended to cross the M40 via a footbridge 1km east of Shotteswell.

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Details:

Path Type:	Other Paths
Waymark:	Named signs
Attributes:	Average Gradients Downland/Wolds Heritage
Start:	SP448518 - Wormleighton Reservoir, Warwickshire
Finish:	SU281853 - Wayland's Smithy Long Barrow, Oxfordshire
Open Date:	1986
Web Sites:	Oxford Fieldpaths Society - d'Arcy Dalton Way d'Arcy Dalton Way part 1 [YouTube video] d'Arcy Dalton Way part 2 [YouTube video]

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook

d'Arcy Dalton Way across the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and Thames Valley  (CPRE Oxfordshire  - 2016 )

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