Saturday 21st June 2014 Oxford Canal Walk Ramble 10: Aynho Wharf to Lower Heyford

Saturday 21st June 2014 Oxford Canal Walk Ramble 10

Aynho Wharf to Lower Heyford (Bridge 206), which is nearly 5½ miles.

We, with Margaret B, Hugh, John, Julie, Sue and Jem set out from Aynho Wharf where there is a small shop selling provisions and souvenirs and some convenient picnic benches. The weather could not have been better; brilliant sunshine with a slight breeze.

The first lock we came to, Somerton Deep Lock, vies with Tardebigge Top Lock on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal for the honour of the deepest narrow beam lock on the UK canal system. The fall is 12 feet.

Along the Oxford canal we have noticed ‘DIS’ marker posts; positioned just before and after the locks. Internet research suggests that they were used by horse boatmen to signal to the lock keeper ahead, and so claim priority for the lock over others, by cracking the whip at that point. Later it is said that horns were used. Online there is a fair bit of discussion as to how well this system would have worked.

 Continuing south along the Cherwell Valley our route became increasingly rural. The vegetation was high on both sides of the towpath in some places. We spotted butter burr, common valerian, fumitory, yellow flags, meadow cranesbill, as well as a few garden escapees (more exotic roses and poppies, love-in-the mist). Many boats had lovely displays of flowers in pots and one had a green roof.

 

 It seemed at times that we were walking alongside a river rather than a canal; the towpaths waivered slightly away from the edge of the water and, in places, brambles were growing high in-between. The rows of pollarded willows with meadows beyond helped make a ‘river-scene’ too.

 

A herd of cows (calves, cows and a bull) came close to us at one point and a family were enjoying a leisurely paddle, going the same way as us, with a new (?) inflatable canoe. 

 We were keen to make our way to the agreed picnic spot by Heyford Common Lock (35) and it seems that I may not have lingered long enough to realise that the four posts we passed had poems written on them. To mark the launch of the Canal and River Trust, Ian McMillan was commissioned to write some poetry and I think some lines have been inscribed onto balance beams from bridges and placed along here.

Allen’s lock was an idyllic place and is where we persuaded another walker to take our group picture.

 In Upper Heyford, overlooking the River Cherwell and canal, is the magnificent stone tithe barn at Manor Farm. It was built in about 1400 and is 120 feet long. A party seemed to be going on with guests chatting and drinking, enjoying the warm sunshine.

  Nearby, until 1994, was the giant Upper Heyford US airbase. Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock dream ‘the bombers in the sky have turned to butterflies’ came true! We drove back through the site, and it is now being redeveloped with housing.

At the end of our walk at Lower Heyford we saw Oxfordshire Narrowboats base, from where they hire out boats. Very close to the canal is Heyford railway station and after enjoying a cup of tea at the café, we crossed over the railway line to our cars.