Medieval Shorthampton

Along the Evenlode valley to the wallpaintings of Shorthampton Church

All Saints, Shorthampton, is a fascinating medieval chapel with restored wall paintings and a remarkable sense of peace. This walk reaches it via one side of the Evenlode Valley and returns along the other.

Download printable PDF with route instructions »

  1. From the Bull and the Rose & Crown in the centre of Charlbury, take Market Street (signed to Burford), passing the pharmacy and Post Office. Continue straight on downhill along Thames Street towards Spelsbury, past the cemetery on your right.
  2. At the picnic area at the bottom of the hill, take the footpath signed Oxfordshire Way, through a metal gate, and follow in a line parallel to the left hedge line over three fields. Cross Water Lane and continue over another four fields, keeping the hedge line on your right until you cross a section of the fourth field to footbridge.
  3. Cross the next field to the far right corner.
  4. Turn right onto the track, and walk uphill next to Dene Grove wood.
  5. At the top of the hill, just before the fieldgate, turn left and follow the hedge line downhill to gate on your right. Turn right and then left to follow the bridleway passing Greenhill Copse and Little Wood to Catsham Lane.
  6. Leave the Oxfordshire Way and follow Catsham Lane left. Cross over the River Evenlode and the railway line and continue uphill.
  7. At the Shorthampton turn, follow the minor road to this little hamlet, to visit the 12th century chapel with its restored wall paintings.
  8. From Shorthampton, retrace your steps to Catsham Lane, then turn right and immediately left on the bridleway to Charlbury, passing the hamlet and TV transmitter at Walcot, to the main road.
  9. Turn left to Charlbury, passing the railway station and continuing uphill. Halfway up the hill, turn right along Church Lane. Walk through the churchyard past St Mary's, then turn left up Church Street to return to the start of the walk.
Charlbury Website © 2012-2024. Contributions are the opinion of and property of their authors. Heading photo by David R Murphy. Code/design by Richard Fairhurst. Contact us. Follow us on Twitter. Like us on Facebook.