Discover Shipton Under Wychwood

Shipton Under Wychwood combines historic architecture, unusual gardens and a variety of walking opportunities. Anyone looking for a holiday cottage for a stay that caters to different interests will find opportunities here for cultural experiences as well as days on the Oxfordshire Way. The option of dividing your holiday focus between formal gardens, listed sites and circular walks is particularly appealing.

Historic Sites and Special Gardens

Church Street is home to the Church of St Mary in Shipton-under-Wychwood, a Grade I listed building. The parish church dates from the early 13th century, providing a tangible connection to the long history of the village. Those interested in historic religious buildings can include this site in their travel plans without having to make their entire stay about a single theme.

A different attraction awaits at Wychwood Wild Garden near the centre of Shipton-under-Wychwood. The woodland and garden area covers 12.5 acres. It includes avenues, woodland and ponds, most of which were created in the 1860s. The garden is also home to 38 different tree species. This combination of designed areas and woodland landscape makes it a worthwhile focus for anyone wishing to combine nature observation and garden culture during their stay.

The Japanese Garden at the New House is also part of the village's history. It is located in Shipton under Wychwood and was created around 1964–1965 by a small team of gardeners from Japan led by Mr Kasamoto and the modern abstract painter Viacheslav Atroshenko. Shipton Court is listed as a Grade II park and garden in the National Heritage List for England. Both references add to the picture of a place where gardens and historical connections play an important role.

Walking Between the Wychwood Villages

The Oxfordshire Way offers several different perspectives when planning active days. The long-distance trail connects the National Landscapes of The Chilterns and The Cotswolds. An easy circular walk on the Oxfordshire Way passes through open countryside between two Wychwood villages. Anyone wishing to plan a clearly defined longer outing can follow the 5-mile, or 8.05-kilometre, circular walk; the route takes 3 hours. The distance should therefore be taken into account when planning the day.

The Wychwood Walking Maps from Shipton-under-Wychwood Parish Council provide additional guidance. The collection comprises seven maps with detailed circular routes around the Wychwood villages. Along the routes, contemporary photographs show the landscape, while 100-year-old images offer comparisons with similar places from an earlier period. This makes it possible to plan a walk not only as a way of moving through open countryside, but also as a view of how the surrounding area has developed.

Most inns have copies of individual Wychwood walking maps. They include walks that start at or pass by their establishments. If you are looking for accommodation, it is therefore sensible to consider in advance whether your stay will focus mainly on garden and cultural themes or on several days of walking. A holiday cottage can then serve as the starting point for your personal daily plans, without requiring you to fit all your experiences into a single route.

Shipton Under Wychwood as a Holiday Choice

For families and other travel groups with different preferences, the appeal lies in the different scales involved: the Church of St Mary and the historic garden connections offer cultural themes, while the Oxfordshire Way and the Wychwood Walking Maps provide concrete ideas for outdoor activity. When looking for a holiday cottage in Shipton Under Wychwood, you can therefore first decide which of these experiences should shape your holiday. Those who prefer individual garden and cultural destinations will plan differently from someone intending to take a three-hour circular walk or several routes between the Wychwood villages.

Other Places in the Overview

For additional destinations, you can also visit Horspath, Weston-On-The-Green, Alvescot, Hook Norton, Forest Hill, Woodstock, Ipsden and Milcombe.

For the higher-level travel overview: Oxfordshire.