Walk pictures - Oxford

Introduction

We visited Oxford twice in early 2019. First, R had to attend a day school in February. Then in March we decided to spend a weekend there.

February: Morning walk

After leaving R at the venue in Summertown, an area a little north of the centre, I walked back southward, then diverted along the edge of a park so I could go and see the River Cherwell.

Boat in backwater of the river.

1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′54″N 1°15′5″W

River Cherwell, with somebody crossing the footbridge.

1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′49″N 1°15′3″W

I walked back into the centre to the start of the Oxford Canal, which I had walked last time, and set out along the canal again.

St Barnabas Church, Jericho.

1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′27″N 1°16′13″W

With time to spare, I crossed the river and walked around part of Jericho, a district of Oxford that was developed after the canal arrived.

Canal Street.

1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′32″N 1°16′13″W

Another view of the church tower at St Barnabas’s.

1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′27″N 1°16′11″W

I returned to the canal towpath and proceeded slowly along it, back towards Summertown.

October (although it was actually February), in the Castle Mill Steam.

1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′33″N 1°16′15″W

221B; disappointingly it's moored near Juxon Street. There is no Baker Street in Oxford.

1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′33″N 1°16′15″W

Reflections beneath Walton Well Bridge.

1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′44″N 1°16′14″W

Kingfisher mural (by Richard Wilson) on the Frenchay Road bridge.

1/500 at f4, 23mm, ISO200 51°46′12″N 1°16′13″W

February: Afternoon walk

I met R from her course (Summertown is by the canal so it was not far out of my way) and we had a rather late lunch before setting off again together. R wanted to see the part I walked on my own last time, so we repeated that walk.

Yellow canal boat, black cat.

1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200

Fencing on the Godstow Road bridge.

1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200

The route leaves the canal along Godstow Road and crosses through the village of Wolvercote to join the Thames at Godstow Abbey.

Lake on Port Meadow, Wolvercote.

1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO200

Chapel at Godstow Abbey (1).

1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200

Chapel at Godstow Abbey (2).

1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO200

We followed the Thames most of the way back into Oxford. We had started later than planned and it was getting rather dark.

View across Port Meadow from bridge to Fiddler’s Island.

1/30 at f8, 23mm, ISO200

Rewley Road swing bridge, which used to bridge the Castle Mill Stream (alongside).

1/20 at f4, 23mm, ISO400

Tower in Nuffield College, viewed from Bulwarks Lane.

1/15 at f4, 23mm, ISO1600

March: Saturday

In March we decided to stay at a fancy hotel (just for one night) so we could see Oxford for a weekend, and without one of us having to spend half the day being educated.

University Church of St Mary the Virgin (which has a very nice café).

1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′9″N 1°15′14″W

Part of the wall of All Souls College.

1/1000 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′13″N 1°15′13″W

Bodleian Library courtyard wall and shadows.

1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′14″N 1°15′15″W

Radcliffe Camera. (Not actually a camera.)

1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′12″N 1°15′17″W

We picked up a guidebook with some town walks and started by doing the ‘authors’ one, which takes you to a police station with a plaque about Inspector Morse. Dorothy L Sayers was also born a few streets away from that. Good place for crime, Oxford. Somehow we still managed not to get murdered on our trip.

Clarks Row with nice red bike.

1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO800 51°44′56″N 1°15′24″W

Christ Church college and cathedral.

1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO800 51°44′56″N 1°15′23″W

Water feature.

1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO800 51°44′56″N 1°15′20″W

Willow.

1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO800 51°44′56″N 1°15′20″W

More of the Christ Church gardens.

1/1000 at f8, 23mm, ISO800 51°44′56″N 1°15′19″W

College building.

1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO800 51°44′57″N 1°15′17″W

Archway in Magdalene College.

1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′7″N 1°14′51″W

St Helen’s Passage. (The other sign is for a pub.)

1/30 at f4, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′16″N 1°15′13″W

Silly heads on the Bodleian Library.

1/30 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′14″N 1°15′14″W

Wall of Bodleian Library courtyard.

1/30 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′14″N 1°15′16″W

The Afghan Women’s Orchestra were playing that evening at the Sheldonian Theatre. Unfortunately we didn't find this out until it had already started! They sounded pretty good from outside.

Part of the Sheldonian.

1/25 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′15″N 1°15′16″W

Doorway into the building that contains the History of Science Museum.

1/30 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO200 51°45′15″N 1°15′16″W

March: Sunday

We began the day by visiting the Ashmolean museum (directly opposite our hotel). We’d seen the main connection before, but they had a temporary exhibition from the artist Jeff Koons. I had never heard of him but he is apparently well-known and extremely rich (which we could have worked out from the prices in the gift shop). Among other things he makes shiny sculptures that you can see your reflection in, which is obviously fun, so it was a good exhibition.

R and I.

1/30 at f4, 23mm, ISO1600

Just me this time.

1/30 at f4, 23mm, ISO1600

My legs.

1/30 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO1600

My two heads and camera.

1/30 at f4, 23mm, ISO1600

Looks a bit like CCTV...

1/30 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO1600

Then we went back to the University Church, where you can pay to climb the tower. The stairs are not as exciting as some, but you still get nice views from the top. You also walk past the room where, allegedly, the University first began.