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The Wychwoods area

Explore the Cotswolds

Whether you would like to tour Cotswold attractions, hike the rolling Cotswold hills or cycle from village to village - Shipton-under-Wychwood is the perfect base.

Shipton-under-Wychwood sits in the middle of many remarkable towns of the Cotswolds such as Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-Water and Woodstock.

In addition to some hidden gems that you’ve probably never heard of such as Old Minster with its ancient leaning buildings, The Slaughters and The Barringtons with quaint villages and endless Cotswold fields.

We are also just a 20 minute drive from Oxfordshire’s Witney- the historic market town famed for making blankets in the 1800’s.

Romantic weekend getaways

The Wychwood Inn is perfect for the romantic weekend getaway. Sit and while away the afternoon together in the pub garden, or enjoy long walks in barley filled fields.

And if the British winter is upon us, hole up beside the inglenook fire and enjoy local ales or world wines in one of our cosy bar areas.

An historic Cotswold holiday

Shipton-under-Wychwood itself is rich with history, and is perfectly positioned to venture to other stunning areas of the Cotswolds.

A term for the area is ‘The Wychwoods’ which consists of Shipton-under-Wychwood, Milton-under-Wychwood and Ascott-under-Wychwood and vaguely includes the surrounding villages.

The area was once the site of a hunting forest called the Wychwood Forest, hence the name. Here Henry VII and other Tudor monarchs would hunt for sport.

Today, Wychwood Forest is considerably smaller, but the villages in the Evenlode valley supply endless possibilities for soaking up the history and culture.

Things to do in or near Shipton-under-Wychwood

Sites of interest in the village of Shipton

Shipton Court

Shipton Court was built for the Lacey family around 1603 then sold to Sir Compton Reade sixty years later. It passed down in the Reade family for two centuries. The last in Reade succession, Sir John left to his footman Joseph Wakefield, on the condition that he took the family name.

The Wild Gardens

Once the gardens of Shipton Court and situated opposite, The Wild Gardens is a community owed wooded area with a network of paths that wind around the gardens, enabling visitors to enjoy various flora and fauna in a natural environment. Well worth a visit. Dogs must be kept on leads. Entry is free.

Diggers Wood

Diggers Wood about 6¼ acres of woodland located down Dog Kennel Lane in Shipton-under-Wychwood. You can access it via the back entrance of The Wild Gardens. Here dogs can be let to roam free.

Matthew's Flour Mill - FWP Matthews Ltd

Situated on the edge of the beautiful Cotswold hills in the village of Shipton under Wychwood this traditional mill produces a wide range of quality organic and conventional flours. They still use the original building that was completed in 1912.

Walking in the Cotswolds

Shipton-under-Wychwood has its choice of short, leisurely walks or long hikes that could take the whole day.

Short walks

Ten minute walk to the river Evenlode along a public walkway.

Forty minute walk to Bruern Abbey grounds, where you can loop back round to Shipton-under-Wychwood through Milton-under-Wychwood.

From Old Minster Lovell walk along the River Windrush to Witney.

The Cotswolds Way

The Cotwold Way is a national trail - 100 miles of rolling hills, villages and antient sites. Starting in Bath and finishing in Chipping Campden, which is 30 minutes from The Wychwood Inn. You can visit much of the trail whilst staying with us.

Walking resources

The Wychwood Way is a 37 mile circular trail around the Royal Forest of Wychwood. Purchase your guide to The Wychwood Way.

Some Wychwood circular walks with downloadable maps.

Oxfordshire Cotswolds offers some free downloadable walks in the area.

Cleeve Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, habitats and botany. It is about 40 minutes away from The Wychwood Inn and you can download their self-guided walks.

Cycling in the Cotswolds

The Wychwood Loop - Part of the Cotswold Line Cycle Route, this circular route takes you through country lanes around Charlbury.

Cotswold Line Cycle Route with Sustrans - the charity that makes it easier for people to walk and cycle.

National Cycling Route 442 through Charlbury.

National Cycling Route 57 - through Burford.

National Cycling Route 5 - through Woodstock.

Cotswold Water Park - very flat and you can hire bikes here too.

News in The Wychwoods

The Wychwood Magazine - News from The Wychwoods.

Subscribe to The Wychwood Magazine here.

Tourist attractions in the Cotswolds

The Wychwood Golf Club

5 minutes

Set in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside and just outside the historic town of Chipping Norton, is the exceptional Wychwood Golf Club.

Bruern Farms

7 minutes

Bruern Farms is a third generation family run farm in the heart of the Cotswolds. They are passionate about the environment and work hard to create an eco-system where farming practices and bio-diversity co-exist.

They offer a range of products including delicious pasture-fed Old English longhorn beef, free range pork, pastured eggs and wild venison.

Diddly Squat Farm Shop

8 minutes

Opened in 2020 by Jeremy Clarkson and Lisa Hogan, the Diddly Squat Farm Shop is a small barn full of good, no-nonsense things you'll like.

They have food, such as hamburgers, and a full bar including cool draft beers, lagers, ciders and of course rosé.

All the stuff we sell in the shop is produced either on Diddly Squat Farm or by our neighbours in the Cotswolds.

Burford Golf Club

10 minutes

The Burford experience starts when you drive through the gates. The stunning Cotswold property welcomes you with lush green fairways weaving their way through mature trees.

Cotswold Wildlife Park

15 minutes

One of the UK’s largest zoological collections and most exciting gardens. Millions of visitors in that time have discovered here the beauty and diversity of the natural world.

Daylesford Organic Farm and Garden

15 minutes

Surrounded by clover-rich pastures where our organic animals roam freely. Fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs are picked each morning from the Market Garden, which is steps away from our award-winning farmshop & café, kitchens, bakery and creamery.

The farmshop offers a zero waste pantry where you can fill your own containers to the stunning collections in the homeware and garden spaces.

Chipping Norton Theatre

15 minutes

Chipping Norton Theatre is a much-loved Cotswold home to theatre, independent cinema, music, comedy and much more. A huge range of interactive arts activities, and they produce their own theatre productions.

Rollright Stones

17 minutes

The Rollright Stones is an ancient site located on the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border in England. The complex consists of three main elements, The Kings Men stone circle, the King Stone, and the Whispering Knights.

Dragonfly Maze

18 minutes

A large, classic garden maze and puzzle where the mission is to solve hidden clues that lead to a Golden Dragonfly at the very centre.

Rissington Road, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire GL54 2BN

Chastleton House

18 minutes

An ancient country house where you can discover the family that lived and own Chastleton for over 200 years. Stroll through the Jacobean garden that contains a 400 year old tree.

Hook Norton Brewery

20 minutes

Sitting in its beautiful, mellow Cotswold Hills landscape, Hook Norton is a proudly independent and passionate family business that takes the very best of its handcrafted brewing heritage and combines it with a thoroughly modern approach, to create a range of real ales for today’s

Birdland Park & Gardens

20 minutes

Birdland is set in nine acres of gardens and woodland in Bourton-on-the-Water. With over 130 species of birds on display, Birdland Park & Gardens is home to the only breeding group in the UK for King Penguins.

Cotswold Boat Hire

22 minutes

Day cruisers and small electric boats are available to hire from Cotswold Boat Hire in Lechlade-on-Thames. Cruise the Thames for a day - makes a romantic trip or a fun family adventure.

Aston Pottery

25 minutes

Take a leisurely wander around the large shop of handmade ceramics - stenciled, designed, manufactured and decorated on site. Tour the beautiful gardens then visit the spacious café which serves cakes, scones and traditional cream teas all day.

Bibury Trout Farm

25 minutes

The fishery is very much aimed for beginners and for fun - not for serious fishermen or women. We supply all the equipment and staff are on hand to help.All fish must be killed and paid for by weight, nothing can be returned to the water. We ask that adults rather than children undertake the killing of the fish. Landing nets must be used to avoid undue suffering of the fish.

Fishing is open:
10am - 5pm from April - September.
10am - 4pm in March.
10am - 4pm in October.

Broadway Tower

30 minutes

Broadway Tower is a unique Folly Tower - ornamental, rather than practical. It was designed by architect Lancelot 'Capability' Brown and is built at the highest point in the Cotswolds. It has a nuclear bunker and which can be accessed during a tour via a ladder. The tower is open to visitors wanting to experience English heritage in an inspiring location and you can walk and picnic in the grounds.

Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park

30 minutes

Passionate and dedicated to delivering the best of British farming, through a sustainable and authentic approach. There is a Discovery Barn, an Animal Barn, Adventure Barn, Farm Safari, Rare Breeds Trail and lots of play areas.

Cotswold Falconry Centre

30 minutes

Cotswold Falconry was opened in 1988 by Geoff & Naomi Dalton, with the aim of giving people a greater knowledge of birds of prey and an understanding of the ancient art of falconry. Next to Batsford Arboretum.

Batsford Arboretum

30 minutes

Next to Cotswold Falconry and home to the country's largest private collection of trees and shrubs.

Chedworth Roman Villa

30 minutes

Cradled in a beautiful Cotswold valley rest the remains of one of the grandest Roman villas in Britain.

Sezincote Estate

32 minutes

4,500 acres of rolling Cotswold countryside and at the heart of it all stands a 200-year-old Mogul Indian palace, set in a romantic landscape of temples, grottoes, waterfalls and canals reminiscent of the Taj Mahal. Sezincote Estate is truly unique.

Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford

35 minutes

The Air Tattoo is the best place to see military aircraft on display to the public. Under 18's are free with a paying adult. A great day out for aviation enthusiasts and families. Usually in July, check the website for details.

Cotswold Water Park

36 minutes

A range of activities in one area with numerous flat cycle paths and walk ways around lakes. Find wildlife with otters, water voles, and thousands of wintering water birds. Or try a watersport - lake swimming, waterskiing, kayaking, sailing or paddle boarding.

Kelmscott Manor

40 minutes

Open twice a week, you can explore the house in which there are historical collections of art and crafts. Originally home to yeoman farmers, in 1871 it became a place of inspiration for 'Father of the Arts & Crafts movement' William Morris (1834-1896). Explore the high walled gardens, divided by hedges and beautiful beds.

Cleeve Common

42 minutes

Cleeve Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, habitats and botany. Here you can walk, picnic, cycle, play golf, ride horses, fly kites or climb.

Sudeley Castle

40 minutes

Sudeley Castle offers events most of the year round so it is worth a visit to the website. It is possible to explore much of the interior which is still a family home. There are 10 beautiful gardens each with its own unique style - in some of which you may spot rare and endangered species of pheasants.

Westonbird, The National Arboretum

1 hour

A magical tree garden, where you can explore trees from all over the globe.

Nearby towns

Burford

10 minutes

Boutiques and browsing.

Bourton-on-the-Water

20 minutes

Boutiques and browsing.

Broadway

35 minutes

Boutiques and browsing.

Stow-on-the-Wold

40 minutes

Boutiques and browsing.

Oxford

45 minutes

Historical centre, shopping.

Shopping

Burford Garden Centre

10 minutes

Gardenalia, home decor, furniture, art, clothing and food.

Daylesford Farm and Farm Shop

15 minutes

A simple passion for real food and a desire eat better grew into Daylesford as we know it today, one of the most sustainable organic farms in the UK.

Aston Pottery

25 minutes

Home to handmade ceramics, beautiful gardens & delicious food! A great family day out, located in rural Oxfordshire.

Cotswold Lavender

25 minutes

Located near Broadway - this third generation family farm is set in heart of the beautiful Cotswold Hills. The lavender is steam distilled on the farm to make the highest quality essential oil, which is used to make a range of toiletries.

Closed during the winter months, open June to August.

Cotswold cafés

Dashwoods

2 minutes, or a 15 walk through the village or fields

Milton-under-Wychwood, 10 - 17.00.

A relaxed and comfortable coffee shop in the Wychwoods. Drink in or take out! Coffee, fruit smoothies, homemade cakes and biscuits, shakes and paninis.

Go to Dashwoods' Facebook page for information.

The Wychwood Pantry

2 minutes, or a 15 walk through the village or fields

Milton-under-Wychwood, 10 - 17.00.

Go to The Wychwood Pantry Facebook page for information.

Huffkins Tearooms

10/20 minutes

Located in towns and villages near by - Burford, Witney and Stow-on-the-Wold.

The Tea Set

10/20 minutes

Located in Chipping Norton and Broadway. Afternoon tea, coffee and cake, lunches, pre-theatre dinners with bubbly and anything you could ever wish for in a High Street cafe ... pure indulgence.

Well-being

Cotswold Wellbeing, Burford

10 minutes

Our wellbeing centre offers highly qualified and skilled professionals, delivering exceptional quality in the beautiful Cotswolds.

Bamford Haybarn, Daylesford

15 minutes

The Bamford Haybarn Spa is a wellness retreat in the Cotswolds, situated next to Daylesford Farmshop. With a strong commitment to caring for the mind, body and spirit, it provides a calming day retreat. Emphasising the human connection with nature, the Haybarn Spa offers a range of activities that nurture inner peace, including yoga, pilates, meditation, facial and massage treatments.

AA Inn Silver Award
AA Dinner Award

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