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Duke's Lock – Barracks Lane Path loop from Cowley

Routes

Mountain biking trails

Duke's Lock – Barracks Lane Path loop from Cowley

Moderate

riders

Duke's Lock – Barracks Lane Path loop from Cowley

02:21

42.4km

90m

Mountain biking

Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 25, 2026

Tips

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 5.96 km for 60 m

After 38.4 km for 166 m

After 41.5 km for 78 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

2.58 km

The Gut

Lake

5.55 km

Snakes Island

Nature Reserve

6.15 km

Oxford Canal

Lake

7.03 km

Port Meadow

Highlight • Natural

Port Meadows is a foodplain out of Oxford centre to the north.

Take care in the winter as it gets very wet and slippery, but in parts you'll find some hard paving to help against the sludge!

Look out for the wildlife here, including many species of wildfowl as well as resident cows and ponies.

Tip by

21.5 km

Oxford Canal at Shipton-on-Cherwell

Highlight • Viewpoint

Shipton-on-Cherwell is a fine little village on the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal. Its manor house was once the residence of artist William Turner, who went on to design the Church of the Holy Cross, the local parish church.

To the north of the village is what was once the largest limestone quarry in the country and is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This is due to the reptilian fossils found on the site, particularly that of ancient crocodilians.

Tip by

31.7 km

Duke's Lock

Highlight • Structure

Waiting to get to the lock.

Tip by

37.5 km

Carfax Tower

Highlight • Historical Site

Carfax Tower is all that remains of St Martin's Church, which was the official church of Oxford from 1122 until 1896, when it was demolished to make more room for the traffic. Upon climbing the 99 steps to the top of the Tower, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Oxford’s skyline. It costs £3 to enter the tower.

Tip by

37.8 km

Radcliffe Camera

Highlight • Historical Site

Famous library with dome

Translated by Google •

Tip by

38.4 km

Danby Gateway, Oxford Botanic Garden

Highlight • Monument

Oxford Botanic Garden was founded in 1621 as the first botanic garden in the UK. It is part of the University of Oxford and contains over 5,000 different plant species. This makes it one of the most diverse yet compact collections of plants in the world and includes representatives from over 90% of the higher plant families. The Botanic Garden has been a rich source of inspiration. In the 1860s, this is where Charles Lutwidge Dodgson took the Liddell sisters, inspiring the stories that became Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. See if you can find the grinning Cheshire Cat, tucked away in the Literary Woodland in the Walled Garden. Equally, the author JRR Tolkien spent much time here, in particular in the company of the late great Austrian pine tree (Pinus nigra), whose twisting branches is said have resembled the 'ents' in his 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Perhaps most poignantly, in Philip Pullman's brilliant 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, the protagonists Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry meet between their respective parallel worlds on a bench in the back of the garden. At the end of the novels, they promise to sit on the bench for an hour at noon on Midsummer's day every year to feel each other's presence. Just behind their bench, you will find a stainless steel sculpture by the sculptor Julian Warren, depicting the ‘daemons’ of the novels.

Tip by

38.6 km

Punting from Magdalen Bridge

Highlight • River

Punting has been a quintessential Oxford experience since Victorian times. What better way to while away glorious summer days punting with friends along the River Cherwell? But be prepared for a steep learning curve on learning to punt. Please note that according to a tradition dating back from before 1880 - and in contrast to the other place - in Oxford the proper way to punt is from inside the boat rather than from on top of the box and to propel the punt with the box end facing forwards.

The punting station just below Magdalen Bridge dates back to 1911 and is currently one of three places in Oxford where punts, rowing boats and pedalos are available for hire. You can punt north towards Parson's Pleasure or south towards Folly Bridge on the River Isis (as the Thames is known locally). The southern route will bring you to where mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson set out on boating trip with the young Alice Liddell in 1862, and told her the stories that became "Alice in Wonderland". The northern route is perhaps a more tranquil option and will eventually bring you to further refreshments found at the Cherwell Boathouse and Victoria Arms along the river Cherwell.

Tip by

40.3 km

Barracks Lane Path

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Scenic stretch of level cycling through woods and alongside golf course.

Tip by

41.6 km

Cowley Marsh Nature Park

Nature Reserve

42.4 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

16.4 km

15.0 km

5.35 km

2.92 km

2.37 km

359 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

26.4 km

6.34 km

3.95 km

3.56 km

1.52 km

631 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Wednesday 27 May

29°C

14°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Duke's Lock – Barracks Lane Path loop from Cowley

Port Meadow

Oxford Canal at Shipton-on-Cherwell

Duke's Lock

Carfax Tower

Radcliffe Camera

Danby Gateway, Oxford Botanic Garden

Punting from Magdalen Bridge

Barracks Lane Path

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