Oxford Circuit Canoe trail
Area of Trail: Oxford Circuit
Region: Southern Region (Oxfordshire)
Maps covering the area: O.S. Map 164 and Geoprojects map of the River Thames
Difficulty: Easy for summer and winter levels
Accessibility: Easy access to the water
Portages: There are portages once on the water and a coule of ones wit h steep banks and sides.
Licences: If you are a member of Canoe England your membership covers the canal and River Thames licences needed. If you are not a member then licences can be obtained from
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ - River Thames
http://www.waterscape.com/ - Oxford Canal
Approximate distance: 9 miles
General Information:
This paddle is best done in winter and spring, the area around Port Meadow is very popular with the public in the summer with families swimming and fishing in the pool below Godstow Bridge. So if you paddle in the summer be aware that there may well be people in the water.
This paddle is suitable for most abilities and ages, the only part that can be a problem is the portage at the weir, the bank to the lower stream is at about 45 degrees and is usually muddy a safe way to portage is to let the boats down on ropes, and then get in at the bottom.
Starting point: Start at Port Meadow (grid ref…) which is near Wolvercote just off the large A40 roundabout at the North of Oxford. The car park is free and also has public toilets and is next to the Trout Inn (the second home of Insp. Morse in the T.V. series). There is a height barrier so check before entering if you have a pile of boats on your car roof.
Launch into the back stream and pool by Godstow Bridge and paddle down stream to join the main river below Godstow Lock, beware rowing boats coming from the rowing club on the right bank just before joining the main river and also a strong current from the adjacent Weir if the river level is up.
The Thames now widens out as it passes the large area of Port Meadow with its views of Oxford. It then narrows as it comes into Oxford passing a boat yard and a foot bridge. About ¼ mile before reaching Osney Bridge, the lowest on the Thames at 7ft 6ins, look for a junction on your left with a foot bridge over it, you turn here into the Sheepwash channel. This takes you under the railway approaches to Oxford rail station and joins the Oxford Canal at Isis Lock. Turn left into the side stream and portage up a low bank onto the canal just above the lock.
From here you now paddle North on the canal for about 3 miles, portage Wolvercote Lock, and continue under various concrete road bridges carrying the A34 and A40, you will see Dukes Lock ahead. Turn left before the lock into Dukes Cut. As you enter the cut you will see another railway bridge and a shallow entry lock back to the Thames level, portage this and you are now heading west back towards the River Thames.
You will reach a tee junction after about ¼ mile, the navigation sign tells you to go right for the Thames, but you turn left into the back water called Pixey Mead. A short paddle takes you again under the A34 and on to a small weir on your right and the entrance to a mill on your left, portage on the extreme right of the weir against low concrete pilling. Take care climbing down the sloping muddy bank into the lower stream. The last part of the paddle takes this narrow, shallow back stream with some over hanging trees back to Godstow Bridge. Take the middle arch of the bridge it has the deepest water going over a slight ledge, you are now back at start point at the Port Meadow car park.
Canoe Clubs in the area – Falcon Canoe Club http://www.falconrcc.co.uk/
Robert Yeowell…