When it came to doing this review of the CS Lewis Nature Reserve I’ve been slightly jinxed. Every time I’ve meant to go something has stopped me. Most recently, the day before visiting one of the kids tested positive for Covid! Anyway, we finally made it down there and, in a way, I’m glad we got delayed because it meant we visited during the peak of spectacular autumn colour!
Why is it called the CS Lewis Nature Reserve?
It’s called the CS Lewis Nature Reserve because he used to own it! Basically it’s his back garden! His house, The Kilns, is just outside of what is now the nature reserve. He lived here whilst he we writing the Chronicles of Narnia (one of my favourite books as a child) and these woods, along with Shotover Country Park, are the inspiration for parts of Narnia. Famously the lamppost in St Mary’s Passage in Oxford is where Lucy comes into Narnia and Aslan and Mr Tummnus can be seen on the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.
Pond dipping
I’d heard from Little Oxplorers that the CS Lewis Nature Reserve is really good for pond dipping because there is a big pond right near the entrance. Or is it a lake? When does a pond become a lake btw? Even the BBOWT website bigs-up the pond dipping potential. So, like a good little Mummy, I went prepared a took three nets and a bucket with us. There’s lots of really good spots to access the pond including a cute little seating area.
Anyway, back to fishing. We caught…… absolutely flipping nothing. Nada. Well, some duck weed but that was it. Not even some water snails. I’ve literally never caught less when pond dipping in my life! I think we must have just gone at the wrong time, or we were incredibly unlucky, but it certainly didn’t go to plan!! There were lots of signs up about frogspawn btw. Apparently the number of frogs and toads returning to the site has significantly declined each year. They think it’s because people keep collecting frogspawn and so they’re asking people not to.
The woodland
The woodland at the CS Lewis Nature Reserve isn’t massive but all the criss-cross paths make it feel deceptively big. Particularly so when a certainly little person has declared they desperately need the loo, the Potette is back in the car and you can’t find your way out!! The other thing you need to know is that it is muddy (being a woodland and all!), steep and slippy in places. It certainly isn’t pushchair friendly. In autumn it’s absolutely beautiful though and there are some stunning views across the Oxfordshire countryside. In fact, if it wasn’t for the muffled sound of the A40, you wouldn’t even know you were in the middle of Oxford.
There’s some hidden treasures to explore in the woodlands. You’ll find boardwalks, loads of steps (which the kids seem to find much easier to go up than our own steps at bedtime!!!) and lots of carved trees. I didn’t really want to point out that carving your initials into a tree isn’t actually cool given that they had no intention of doing it themselves. I think they thought it was like the old graffiti we’d seen on the walls at the Tower of London somehow!!?!!
From the CS Lewis Nature Reserve it’s about a 10 minute walk across to Shotover Country Park, which we decided to do. It’s a fairly easy walk to do, past a field of sheep and nearly being run over by a deer!
The fairy door trail
Dotted around is a little fairy door trail. Unfortunately, when we visited the CS Lewis Nature Reserve part of the woodland had been closed, due to the risk of falling branches, and it looks like that’s where most of the fairy doors were. We only spotted two!
Our review of the CS Lewis Nature Reserve
You’re not going to be here for hours on end, but it’s a lovely little hidden gem. We were there for about and hour, plus lunch. If we’d actually found something in the pond, or if we hadn’t had the option of going over to Shotover, then we probably would have stayed for longer. Probably not that much longer though.
Knowing that this place is so tied in with the story of Narnia we went straight home and watched the Chronices of Narnia (the proper 1980’s TV series) and I’m now reading them The Horse and His Boy.
Admission cost
Free
Parking / How to get there
Parking – On street parking. Please be considerate to the local residents
Address – Lewis Close, Risinghurst, Oxford. OX3 8JD
Toilets
None. I’m sure everyone fancies sharing a cheeseburger from the McDonald’s around the corner on the way home though! Or doing the big shop at Aldi, Lidl or Tesco that are also a few minutes’ drive away.
Food
Nothing on site but picnics allowed.
What else is there to do nearby?
Oxford is packed with things to do! Have a look at my guide to free things to do in Oxford. As I mentioned, Shotover Country Park is only a few minutes walk away. Also there are not one but two Treasure Map Trails in Oxford. You can save 10% using the code FREETIMEWITHTHEKIDS and this affiliate link. Find out more about the maps here.
Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook