The Windrush Path: Witney to Hardwick
A three-mile (5km) northern section of the Windrush Path between Witney and Hardwick.
This section of the Windrush Path follows the attractive, meandering River Windrush for much of its length.
From Witney, the path can be joined from Witney Lake or the Country Park starting at Bishop’s Farm Mill, it then passes on through riverside meadows to Ducklington. Beyond Ducklington, the Windrush Path picks up a new permissive footpath that runs beside the river, past the area of active gravel extraction at Gill Mill Quarry and on to the tiny hamlet of Hardwick. Near Hardwick, an extensive complex of older restored gravel pits has developed into a popular destination for fishermen.
Location and accessibility
Witney, Ducklington and Hardwick are served by local bus services.
Car parking is available at several on-road locations. There are public car parks in Witney, Ducklington and at Rushy Common. Parking in Hardwick is extremely limited so please avoid leaving cars in this tiny hamlet.
This section of the Windrush Path is a flat walk with no stiles. It does have several kissing gates and crosses varied terrain.
The path can be muddy or flooded after heavy rainfall and is often impassable in the winter during times of flooding. If there has been prolonged rainfall, it is best to contact us before you set out to walk this section of the path.
Please respect the wishes of local landowners by staying on the signed paths, clearing up after your dog and keeping dogs under close control. When walking through fields which have livestock grazing, dogs should be kept on a lead at all times. Cycling or horse riding is not permitted on the Windrush Path.
Download the leaflet
For more information about this section of the Windrush Path, download the following leaflets, which contain maps of the area:
- Windrush Path: Witney to Hardwick leaflet (pdf format, 1.36 Mb)
- Witney Lake and Country Park leaflet (pdf format, 1.23 Mb)
Circular walks
Allow 1-1.5 hours each way to enjoy a leisurely walk between Witney and Hardwick. If you prefer not to retrace your steps, consider using local bus services or use our interactive access map to plan a longer circular walk that follows part of the Windrush Path. Part of this section of the Windrush Path is a permissive path so not shown on the interactive map.
Further information
Contact us to find out more about the Windrush Path.