Circular walk #3: Cow Lane and GWP

Walk down Cow Lane and round the edge of GWP, and see the countryside before it is built over

A separate post describes two circular walks from the village, outlined first forty years ago.

This walk, “circular walk #3”, just over 3 miles long, is made possible by the clearing of the route between Cow Lane and Great Western Park (GWP) and the completion of the path all round the western edge of GWP.

It’s very easy to follow, in either direction.  

Start anywhere in the village, and go down Townsend.  Cross the A34, and proceed down Cow Lane. Once you reach a small group of trees on your right (East) look for way markings, and turn right to follow the path through the trees, along a hedge, and across open ground.  You then join the new, well made, GWP path.  Keep right and follow the path all the way back to the Didcot Road. Return to the village passing either side of the link road roundabout.

• At the top of Cow Lane, after the A34 bridge, divert right, on the track to the sewage works, and admire the view north over the large fields.
• While walking past GWP, enjoy the views west to Harwell and Cow Lane, over land that will soon be covered in houses.
• At the moment, March 2021, a small section past the skate park is closed and you have to divert along the road.
• Instead of going down Townsend, an alternative is to go through Grove Farms and follow the path alongside the A34 (see circular route #2).
• Details of all Harwell footpaths can be found in a new (2020) footpath map published by the parish council.

Soon the developers will move in and all this walk will become part of the Valley Park development.  It was a clear and sunny morning on 28th Feb, so this photo gallery tries to document what the area is like, and what will, eventually, be lost.    Each photo has a caption, explaining where it was taken and, at the end of the caption, an indication of what direction the camera is facing.

Where each photo was taken