RoutesBike touring routes & trailsUnited KingdomEnglandSouth East EnglandOxfordshireCherwellKirtlington
Holy Rood Church, Woodeaton – Martyrs' Memorial loop from Kirtlington Quarry
RoutesBike touring routes & trailsUnited KingdomEnglandSouth East EnglandOxfordshireCherwellKirtlington
Holy Rood Church, Woodeaton – Martyrs' Memorial loop from Kirtlington Quarry
Moderate
4.5
(8)
45
riders
Holy Rood Church, Woodeaton – Martyrs' Memorial loop from Kirtlington Quarry
01:56
32.3km
170m
Cycling
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: August 8, 2026
Tips
Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route
After 16.4 km for 103 m
After 19.7 km for 211 m
Waypoints
A
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
8.46 km
Woodeaton Copse
Forest
2
9.23 km
Holy Rood Church, Woodeaton
Highlight • Other
Woodeaton has had a parish church since the middle of the 11th Century
Tip by
3
14.6 km
Water Lily
Highlight • Natural
4
16.4 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.
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
5
16.7 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
6
17.0 km
Examination Schools, University of Oxford
Highlight • Historical Site
The building was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson (1835–1924), who also designed the cricket pavilion in the University Parks.
The designs for the building were prepared in 1876 and it was completed in 1882, in Clipsham stone. The Examination Schools building is Grade II listed.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Examination_Schools
The designs for the building were prepared in 1876 and it was completed in 1882, in Clipsham stone. The Examination Schools building is Grade II listed.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Examination_Schools
Tip by
7
18.4 km
Martyrs' Memorial
Highlight • Monument
Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the monument was completed in 1843 after two years' work, having replaced "a picturesque but tottering old house". The Victorian Gothic memorial, whose design dates from 1838, has been likened to the steeple of a cathedral, though it was consciously patterned on the Eleanor crosses erected by King Edward I between 1290 and 1294 to the memory of his wife, Queen Eleanor of Castile (1241-1290). The three statues of Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley are by Henry Weekes. The monument is listed at Grade II.
The inscription on the base of the Martyrs' Memorial reads:
To the Glory of God, and in grateful commemoration of His servants, Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, Prelates of the Church of England, who near this spot yielded their bodies to be burned, bearing witness to the sacred truths which they had affirmed and maintained against the errors of the Church of Rome, and rejoicing that to them it was given not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His sake; this monument was erected by public subscription in the year of our Lord God, MDCCCXLI.
Popular rumour is that in the past students have misled foreign tourists about the nature of the Memorial and convinced them it was the spire of an underground church, which could be toured for a modest fee. This would result in the tourists venturing down a flight of stairs near the Memorial which actually lead to the public toilets.
The inscription on the base of the Martyrs' Memorial reads:
To the Glory of God, and in grateful commemoration of His servants, Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, Prelates of the Church of England, who near this spot yielded their bodies to be burned, bearing witness to the sacred truths which they had affirmed and maintained against the errors of the Church of Rome, and rejoicing that to them it was given not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His sake; this monument was erected by public subscription in the year of our Lord God, MDCCCXLI.
Popular rumour is that in the past students have misled foreign tourists about the nature of the Memorial and convinced them it was the spire of an underground church, which could be toured for a modest fee. This would result in the tourists venturing down a flight of stairs near the Memorial which actually lead to the public toilets.
Tip by
8
19.0 km
Pitt Rivers Museum
Highlight • Historical Site
With a maze of glass cabinets containing peculiar items and stacked dinosaur bones, the Pitt Rivers Museum is a fascinating treasure trove of historical items. The museum displays the archaeological and anthropological collections of the University of Oxford. Indeed, many of the staff at the museum teach at the university.
Archaeologist Augustus Pitt Rivers founded the museum in 1884, donating 22,000 of his finds. Today, the collection has grown to over 500,000 items including a striking 37 foot (11 metre) totem pole.
The museum is open 12pm - 4.30pm on Mondays and 10am - 4.30pm Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance is free. You can find more information, here: prm.ox.ac.uk
Archaeologist Augustus Pitt Rivers founded the museum in 1884, donating 22,000 of his finds. Today, the collection has grown to over 500,000 items including a striking 37 foot (11 metre) totem pole.
The museum is open 12pm - 4.30pm on Mondays and 10am - 4.30pm Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance is free. You can find more information, here: prm.ox.ac.uk
Tip by
B
32.3 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
18.7 km
10.4 km
1.91 km
618 m
579 m
< 100 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
25.6 km
6.37 km
288 m
< 100 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Tuesday 1 September
20°C
13°C
87 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 27.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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