Great Tew - Ledwell - Little Tew

Ron and Jenny Glynn

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The charming village of Great Tew is a magnet for visitors, with many hidden delights on offer. One of the prettiest villages in Oxfordshire, it has its own visitors' car park and nearby, a wonderful Post Office Stores, selling a tantalizing selection of locally made delicacies and gift items. The famous Falkland Arms pub a few steps away offers food and drink in a cosy atmosphere, with historical artifacts to interest and intrigue.

From this wonderful setting of thatch and stone, the walk takes a bridleway to follow the dry-stone walling of Great Tew Estate. The countryside en route is truly magnificent, with oft far-reaching views.

The tiny village of Ledwell is another beautiful setting along the route, before entering fields and meadows again on footpaths and bridleways, passing farms and isolated dwellings.

Sandford St Martin is skirted, although the estate boundary is followed via the dry-stone walling that is characteristic of these parts. Woodland and copses are passed quite frequently and streams and brooks meander to and fro at various locations along the way.

It is but a short distance from Little Tew back to Great Tew, but the blend of nature and the handiwork of man is always apparent to be viewed and admired.

England - Central England - Oxfordshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Church, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Pub, Stately Home, Wildlife

1/23/2017 - andrew thomson

The section between 9 and 11 has changed, where we used to go through the meadow, we now go on the right of this behind the trees and instead of crossing the stile and lawn. The path turns left through a gate and over a new bridge to another gate and then follows the hedge past Tracy's barn which makes it much easier.

10/11/2015 - andrew thomson

I took a party of walkers over this walk today but did it in reverse and Mill Covert there is a sign diverting the foot path to the left then right with the hedge on your right which blocks out the tin roof buildings which have been put up on the meadow as mentioned in Richards comment dated 07/08/2015.Apart from that section it was a very good walk.

8/7/2015 - Richard Barnes

This used to be one of our favourite walk but the new, and hideous (to us) development 'Soho Farmhouse' at what was one of the most unspoilt stretches of the walk' from point 9 to the Mill Covert has totally ruined it. If ugly wood or corrugated tin cabins, artificial lakes and car parks full of expensive 4x4s is your thing then fine, if not turn right rather than left at point 8, left at the road junction then left again down the path to the Mill Covert then right on to point 11. Otherwise avoid this section of the walk entirely which is what we'll be doing. What a shame. Thanks to Ron and Jenny Glynn for what used to be lovely walk.

4/2/2014 - Martin Seymour

We did this walk on 1 April 2014. Despite the widespread and severe floods of the winter there was surprisingly little mud about. This is a lovely walk through totally unspoilt countryside, untroubled by motorways or dual carriageways and thankfully spared the visual blight of electricity pylons. In general the written directions are good.

11/18/2004 - Mark Stansfield

I did this walk in early October and really enjoyed it. However the path between Hookeswell Farm and Little Tew (steps 11 to 14) was ploughed over and covered in very very very deep mud! Foolishly I persisted across this field, got very muddy indeed and ended up coming out at the wrong place in Little Tew! If you are doing the walk at the same time of year, I would recommend having a look at the path across the field. If it looks muddy/unnavigable, follow another footpath further south or the road to get to Little Tew. You have been warned!