This review of Shotover Country Park in Oxford wasn’t actually planned! Although I’d been aware it was an option, we’d actually been visiting the nearby CS Lewis Nature Reserve and it hadn’t taken as long as I thought it would. I like to try and plan ahead, so I’d checked this place out but it wasn’t until we were there that I actually decided to go. More specifically, it wasn’t until I saw two people wondering in what I thought, after checking Google maps, might be the right direction that we decided to follow them. Yes, I followed two random strangers through the woods because I thought they might be going where I wanted to go! In hindsight probably not my best move!
Anyway, I’m not sure if they were going to Shotover County Park or not, because we lost them, but Google maps knew the way! It’s quite an easy walk but I’m not going to try and explain it. Use your phone, you’ll get there in about 10 minutes!
The car park nemesis
You might be wondering why I’m starting with the car park! Probably not much to talk about? Well the first thing, literally the first thing, the kids saw was a flipping ice cream van and started begging for an ice cream. It’s bloomin’ November. Why they’d want one I don’t know. I don’t even have the “Mummy doesn’t have any change” excuse any more because everywhere takes cards and Middle Child is old enough to realise that. Stupid covid and cashless society! I’m weak, I know when I’m beaten. They got ice cream. Damn you car park nemesis!!
Way-marked trails
There are loads of different footpaths all over Shotover Country Park, including three way-marked trails. These all start in the field by the car park. You can get leaflets from the massive sign near the car park or download a less detailed version here. The shortest, and most family friendly, path is the red route which takes 20-30 minutes to do. Not including sand pit time!! All the footpaths are really easy to follow, and this one has a small, natural, sandpit approximately half way with a natural spring running through it.
When I say sand pit don’t think it’ll be like an actual sand pit though. When we visited it was more like sandy mud, but I guess that really does depend on the time of year. Anyway, the kids had a great time playing in here. They were mainly rescuing the world by unblocking all of the dams that other kids had built on their previous visits. Personally I was a little bit underwhelmed by this. Maybe I was imagining something a bit more like Old Faithful, but it’s closer to the sand play area at Hampton Court Palace if they had water pressure issues! Judge for yourself. Does this scream sand pit to you??
The red route is apparently also the best route to see bluebells in the spring as well. There’s various open fields along the way to play in as well.
The woodland
Bearing in mind that you’re sat just above the A40 it’s surprisingly peaceful up here. We visited in autumn so the woods were probably looking at their best, but it’s beautiful up there. There’s plenty of dens, but largely it’s been left alone. There’s no sculpture trails or play trails or anything like that here. It’s “just” a woodland, and that’s OK!
The only downside is that it’s not particularly pushchair friendly in places. Lots of the paths are really narrow and rutted (particularly where it’s also a cycle path). I certainly wouldn’t say there’s an accessible path!
Our Shotover Country Park Review
Shotover Country Park is a lovely, large country park overlooking Oxford. The fact that it’s free makes it quite popular, problematically so at times. During nice weather getting in and out of the single track access road can be tricky apparently. That said, it’s such a nice woodland walk. I was a bit disappointed by the sandpit, but mainly because of my own expectations more than anything else. The kids loved it, and that’s all that mattered. No loos is a big downside to this place, otherwise you’d be able to stay a lot longer. But then, if they had loos it would be too popular, commercial and spoilt, which would be a bad thing!
Admission cost
Free
Parking / How to get there
Parking – Free car park on site. We walked from the CS Lewis Nature Reserve so parked near there.
Address – Old Road, Headington OX3 8TA
Excellent public sector transport links
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
Picnics allowed. Ice cream van!!
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, The CS Lewis Nature Reserve 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
