Oxford to Milton Keynes: Saturday Adventure Ride

Overview

This is a train-assisted ride from Oxford to Milton Keynes. We will be making an early start, to avoid busy trains in the morning. Please read the Travel Arrangements carefully.

This is a long ride, with some hills, but not as tough as our Saturday Adventure Rides over the past couple of months. Most of the route follows National Cycling Network Route 51. We use quiet country roads, a short section of off-road track, and shared paths through parks.

Our lunch stop in Steeple Claydon is at approx. 1.30pm after 42 km of the ride, so you need enough water & snacks to keep you going until then.

The Ride

Between two busy cities, there is a surprising extent of quiet countryside! Starting from Oxford Parkway means that we don’t have to navigate city traffic, but instead, we head out on a shared path alongside the main road for a short distance, before turning into Kidlington. We ride through the High Street and into the peaceful space of the Cherwell Water Meadows. We continue through the pretty village of Hampton Poole and tackle a short sharp climb through Bletchingdon. After descending, we ride through Weston, cross the M40, and go on via Wendlebury to reach the outskirts of Bicester (20km).

A series of cycle paths and parklands help us navigate this busy town, and we are soon out into the countryside again. We have a sharp climb through Poundon and then ride on to Twyford where we negotiate some road diversions, thanks to HS2. Once back on our route, it is a short ride to our lunch stop at Molly’s Community Café in Steeple Claydon https://www.mollyscafe.org/ (42km).

After lunch, we have only 26km more to ride. We resume with a short climb out of Steeple Claydon, and then an undulating ride on quiet country roads to Winslow (52km). Shortly after leaving Winslow, we turn onto the traffic-free Swan’s Way cycling route, which includes approx. 3km of unsealed/uneven surface. This brings us to the edge of Milton Keynes, where a network of cycle tracks and parkland routes brings us to the railway station for train services home.

Travel Arrangements

Outward Journey

We will take the 08.07am Chilterns Railways service from Marylebone/ 08.18am from Wembley Stadium, arriving in Oxford Parkway at 09.27am. An Off Peak Day Single is £35.80 from Marylebone, £32.10 from Wembley Stadium. Senior Railcard discounts apply; Oyster is valid as far as West Ruislip.

Please note that if you take the GWR service from Paddington to Oxford, you will need to make your own way from the central Oxford Station to Oxford Parkway, either by changing train or by cycling approx. 8km through Oxford. GWR services also require pre-booked bike reservations. This route is not recommended due to these complications.

Return Journey

From Milton Keynes, we will use London North West or West Midlands (LNR/WMR) services back to London. (We cannot use the faster Avanti service, as this requires pre-booked bike reservations).

LNR/WMR services to London Euston are frequent. Many trains call at Harrow & Wealdstone; or you can change at Watford Junction for other services. Journey times are between 40 mins and 1 hour.

A Super Off Peak Day Single to Euston is £17.90. Senior Railcard discounts apply. Oyster is valid from Harrow & Wealdstone.

Train-assisted ride from Oxford to Milton Keynes, mainly following NCN Route 51.

Quiet country roads. Some off road tracks. Shared paths through parks & alongside main roads. Some short stretches on busier roads.

Lunch stop in Steeple Claydon.

Book train tickets in advance. Money/card for cafe. Plenty of water & snacks. Spare inner tube. Sun cream.

First-timers welcome!