Attractions and Places To See around Ambrosden - Top 20

J. R . R. Tolkien often visited Brill when he lived in Oxford, and used it as his basis of Bree where beloved character Frodo Baggins meets Aragorn for the first time.

A beautiful park with an obelisk as the centrefold, built in 2012 to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The roads on the west of the Mill are the easiest to ascent, the steepest is for descending is to the south towards Oakley

On the edge of the village, surrounded by fields grazed by sheep and horses, St Mary’s Hampton Poyle enjoys one of the loveliest settings of any church in Oxfordshire. Built of local stone around the same time as St Mary’s Kidlington, it has many interesting features inside and out. Small and simple Two stone corbels greet you at the large oak entrance door, which opens into the south aisle. The core of the church is a simple 13th-century chapel, consisting of a nave and chancel. The north and south aisles were added in the 14th century and the double bellcote at the west end is thought to date from the early 18th century. The chancel The chancel contains some fine features from the 13th-century ‘Early English’ period, including a lancet window and a priest’s door on the south side. The three-light east window, with its geometric tracery, dates from the late 13th century. The glass was renewed in the Victorian period. Medieval stained glass from about 1400 survives in the lights at the top of the window in the north side. They represent the symbols of the four Evangelists. The ornate marble reredos behind the altar, and the tiles at the side, were added in the Victorian period. The north aisle The two recumbent effigies in the north aisle are said to represent Walter de la Poyle, who became Lord of the Manor in 1267, and Catherine, Lady of the Manor, who died in 1489. The window on the left of the north wall shows the arms of Walter de la Poyle, and the brass fixed to the wall represents John Poyle (d. 1424) and his wife Elizabeth. Low down towards the east end of the wall there is a niche containing what is thought to be a ‘heart-stone’ for the separate burial of a heart. Interlocking arms Between the nave and north aisle is an octagonal pillar with a capital showing the upper halves of four figures with their arms linked. This style of 14th-century sculpture is more common in churches further north in Oxfordshire, including Adderbury and Bloxham. The Parish Previously a parish in its own right, Hampton Poyle has been served by the Kidlington Team Ministry for a number of years and was united with the Parish in 1997. Condemned clergy Hampton Poyle’s 16th-century priest Richard Thomason was allegedly condemned to hang in chains from Duns Tew steeple for his opposition to the first prayer book of Edward VI. The 17th-century rector Edward Fulham was forced to resign and flee abroad on account of his strong Royalist views and his opposition to Puritanism.

Great spot to stop, lovely views and quite a few benches to have a rest.

After Tackley and Kirtlington, there is a 3-mile (4.8 km) stretch of the Oxford Canal with no settlements until you reach the Heyfords. The walk along the towpath here is much loved by the folk of Oxford, who use train the stations at Tackley and Lower Heyford and walk between the two. Aside from the occasional train rattling along the nearby tracks and the chugging of passing canal barges, this section is characterised by peace, serenity and birdsong. The canal and River Cherwell both provide a habitat for a number of bird species.

The nearest building 60 yards away is a nice pub - The Pheasant.

The beautiful view makes you forget the pain to get to the top.