Oxfordshire and Chiltern Baby Walks
Oxfordshire countryside and the Chiltern Hills make fantastic walking country. The county has an abundance of the green leafy lanes and green rolling hills England is justly famed for as well as a generous helping of bluebell woods in late spring and pleasant riverside walking along the Thames. This is the county of the majestic Red Kite, which with its impressive wingspan and distinctive cry can be easily spotted soaring above the hill-tops and open fields.
For those with little ones there is no better place to head out onto the footpaths with baby in a carrier. With a network of pretty villages spread out throughout the countryside, walking is pleasant and can be tailored to suit all levels and durations with ample opportunity for refreshment along the way.
Below is set out the best links and suggestions for accessible walking trails for those with babies in carriers or pushchairs. There are also a number of suggested walks listed below and in the walking routes area of this site.
- Chiltern AONB website: this is a great place to find inspiration for exploring the Chiltern Hills with baby. The ‘Access for All’ page lists suggested routes that can be used by pushchair users whilst the interactive maps section can be used to search for pushchair walks, routes without any stiles or obstacles and shorter walks suitable for little legs.
- Oxfordshire.gov.uk: the walks section of the county website has some good suggestions for exploring the surrounding countryside. Why not try one of the suggested routes for those with buggies and pushchairs which can be found here?
- Walking in Oxfordshire: this website has a variety of walks which are free to download. Some of these are suitable for pushchairs and are indicated in their summary on the main page.
- National trails: for those who are seeking a challenge, why not attempt one of the two national trails passing through the region? Both the Thames Path and the Ridgeway have good paths and particularly in summer, are suitable for those carrying babies or little ones in backpacks – you just might have to cover the distance in slightly smaller chunks than those without on-board entertainment! The entire western side of the Ridgeway in particular is free from stiles, small kissing gates, steps and other obstacles making for easier walking or if a tranquil stroll by the waterside is more your thing and you fancy taking a pushchair, why not try out one of the 12 suggested easy access walks along the Thames Path which are suitable for those with buggies or accompanied by small children.
Permanent link to this article: https://babyroutes.co.uk/walking-routes/oxfordshire-chiltern-baby-walks/
Walk Distance: 3.9km
Walk Duration: 1hr 30 at dawdling preschooler pace, with time to climb Jarn Mound & a little nature play along the way.
Ordnance Survey: OS Explorer 180 Oxford; OS Landranger 164 Oxford.
Suitable for: Babies in carriers, good little walkers, all the family. Field walking, muddy areas after wet weather and the return …
Walk Distance: 3.7km
Walk Duration: 1hr 30 at gentle preschooler pace with time for exploring the castle and feeding the ducks.
Ordnance Survey: OS Explorer 171 Chiltern Hills West; OS Landranger 175 Reading & Windsor
Suitable for: toddlers, little legs, babies in carriers, all the family. All-terrain pushchairs are fine on most of the route …
Walk Distance: 3.5km for a full loop of the common but you can do as little or as much as you like!
Walk Duration: As long or short as you like. Allow up to two hours for a slow, full loop of the common at preschooler pace, with plenty of exploring and foraging time.
Ordnance Survey: …
Walk Distance: 3 km
Walk Duration: 1 hour (depends how many photos you take)!
OS Map: OS Explorer 159 Reading;
Suitable for: babies in backpacks, all-terrain buggies (there & back again route only); all the family;
Walk features: beautiful bluebells in late April & May; beautiful chiltern countryside, family friendly pub with great garden; …
Walk Distance: 6.55km
Walk Duration: 1 hour 45
Suitable for: Baby carriers (several stiles and kissing gates)
Walk Features: Red kite sightings, woodland trails, bluebell woods, far reaching field views, gentle hills, pub at start/finish
Walk Description:
This is a varied walk through the hills and woodland near Binfield Heath, not far from Henley on …
Walk Distance: 9.14km from central Caversham; 6.14 km from end of The Warren
Walk Duration: 2hr 45 from central Caversham; 1 hour 50 from end of The Warren (times and distances include return walk).
OS Map: OS Explorer 159 Reading;
Suitable for: All-terrain pushchairs and durable standard pushchairs; little legs, all the family, bikes and …
Walk Distance: 2.2 km
Walk Duration: 1 hr (at toddler pace & with time for taking lots of pictures of the bluebells)
OS Map: OS Explorer 171, Chiltern Hills West; OS Landranger 165 Aylesbury & Leighton Buzzard
Suitable for: All-terrain pushchairs, babies in carriers, …
Walk Distance: 3 km
Walk Duration: 1 hour ( at a leisurely pace)
OS Map: OS Explorer 171 Chiltern Hills West; OS Landranger 175 Reading & Windsor
Suitable for: Pushchairs (all-terrain buggy required after bad weather); little legs, babies in carriers, …
Walk distance: 4.06km
Walk duration: 1 hour
Suitable for: baby carriers
Walk features: Bluebell woods, National Trust teashop (not winter), picnic area
Walk description:
This is a gentle circular walk through the beautiful beech woods of Greys Court estate, 3 miles west of Henley-on-Thames. The walk is fairly flat, with the exception of one small …
Walk Distance: 4.5km
Walk Duration: 1 hour
OS Map: OS Landranger 175 Reading & Windsor, OS Explorer 171 Chiltern Hills West;
Suitable for: Pushchairs (in muddy winter weather only possible on first section), all-terrain pushchairs (all year), little legs, baby carriers, all the family.
Walk features: Thames Path National Trail, waterside walk, ducks, point of cultural interest, accessible …
Walk Distance: 4.2km
Walk Duration: 1hr 15
OS Map: OS Explorer Chiltern Hills West 171, OSLandranger Reading & Windsor 175
Suitable for: baby carriers, all terrain pushchairs / buggies, little legs, older children
Walk features: leafy country lanes, bluebells in spring, dog friendly
Walk description:
The Highmoor Lanes and Hedgerows walk is an easy circular …
Walk Distance: 2.5 km
Walk Duration: 50 minutes (at toddler & bluebell admiring pace)
OS Map: OS Explorer 171 Chiltern Hills West, OS Landranger 175 Reading & Windsor
Suitable for: toddlers, babies in carriers, all-terrain pushchairs, all the family.
Walk features: Bluebells in April/May, National Trust Nuffield Place (with tearoom) next …
Walk Distance: 5.5km
Walk Duration: 1 hour 20 mins
Suitable for: baby carriers(although the first half of the walk is manageable with a good off-roading buggy)
Walk features: leafy tracks, woodland and farm land, a pub serving food at the start/finish.
Walk description:
Nestling at the edge of the Chiltern Hills, walks like this are the …
Walk Distance: One way: 3.7 km ; There & back again: 7.4 km
Walk Duration: One way: 45 minutes; There & back again: 1hr 30 (allow 2 hours for paddling & ice-creams)!
OS Map: OS Explorer 171 Chiltern Hills West;
Suitable for: All-terrain strollers; sturdy pushchairs (in dry weather); babies in backpacks and all the family.
Walk …
Walk Distance: 3km starting from Shiplake Lock
Walk Duration: 40 minutes (more like 1hr30 at duck-feeding, puddle-jumping, stick-collecting toddler speed)
OS Map: OS Explorer 171, Chiltern Hill West; OS Landranger 175 Reading & Windsor.
Suitable for: little legs, babies in carriers, Mill Road & Mill …
Walk Distance: 2.8 km
Walk Duration: 1 hour (at a leisurely stroll)
OS Map: OS Explorer 171 Chiltern Hills West; OS Landranger 175 Reading & Windsor
Suitable for: babies in carriers, good little walkers, older kids.
Walk features: Lovely countryside views, some hills, pub, rolling hill and woodland scenery, some road …
Walk distance: 4.1 km
Walk duration: 1hr (or just over in muddy conditions!)
Suitable for: baby carriers (but can be adapted as pushchairs/buggies can be used on some parts)
Walk features: ancient woodland, woodland trust, free parking, shops, post office and village centre close by.
Walk description:
Beautiful quiet woodland wandering surrounded by british birdsong make …
Walk distance: 9.15km (Sonning circular walk) or 7.8km (there and back again)
Walk duration: 3hr 10 (Sonning circular walk) or 2hr 30 (there and back again)
Suitable for: baby carriers (there and back again only), off-roading buggies (both routes)
Walk features: Thames Path national trail walk, riverside walking, pubs along route, field walk.
Walk description:
…
Walk Distance: 3km
Walk Duration: 1hr 20 at toddler speed (!) , about 50 minutes at a normal pace.
Ordnance Survey: OS Explorer 171 Chiltern Hills West; OS Landranger 165 Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard
Suitable for: Children in slings or carriers, good little walkers (the uphill stretch is steep but short – our 3 year old walked …
Walk Distance: 13 km
Walk Duration: 4 hours
OS Map: OS Landranger Newbury & Wantage 174, OS Explorer Abingdon, Wantage & Vale of White Horse 170
Suitable for: Baby carriers, older children (buggies and little legs would enjoy the first stretch on the Ridgeway)
Walk features: Ridgeway National Trail, Great views, Oxfordshire County Top, Historic …
1 comment
Hi, thanks these are great ideas however se.of the links on this post have expired or donty work anymore…