St Birinus Part 4: Brightwell-cum-Sotwell – Sinodun Hills

Jacqueline Brown

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St Birinus Part 4: Brightwell-cum-Sotwell – Mackney – Sinodun Hills

A short loop from Brightwell to Mackney links with Birinus Part 3 and is over flat farmland. Then a northerly loop rises up the Sinodun Hills with splendid views, as well as an ancient hill-fort. The Poem Tree had a poem carved into its bark in 1844. The ravages of time have made it hard to read, but a nearby plaque gives the words more legibly. This and Little Wittenham Wood, which is the next part of the route, are in Northmoor Trust Nature Reserve, where you are likely to see many different birds and if you are lucky, the wild animals which are rather more shy. Leaving the wood you cross farmland, then rising over a hill again look down on Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. Crossing its busy bypass you walk through this lovely village, admiring its old buildings.

Northmoor Trust Nature Reserve web site: www.northmoortrust.co.uk

For more information about the St Birinus Walks please go to St Birinus

England - Central England - Oxfordshire - Thames Valley

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Church, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Pub, Wildlife, Woodland

5/8/2020 - Neil Packham

Great little walk. For a shorter stroll, the initial loop to Mackney and back to your start point could be omitted to save about 1.5 miles without missing too much. At WM2 the path was very overgrown with stinging nettles and there was a herd of cattle in the last field so carrying on down the road might be the better option.