This 9km circular route starts in Jericho and takes you through Port Meadow, past Godstow Abbey, and along the River Thames. Please note that parts of Port Meadow can become muddy or flooded in the winter.
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Route overview
Modern Jericho, Oxford’s “coolest neighbourhood”, has a variety of cafes, shops, nightlife, and places of entertainment to keep you busy. In the Bible, Jericho means “remote place” and possibly refers to the area outside Oxford’s city walls. “The Jericho House” was a place of safety for northerners seeking refuge in Oxford after the city gates were closed in the 17th century. This house of safety is now named “The Jericho Tavern” and was restored in 1818 as a three-story structure.
Colourful houses of Jericho of Oxford. Credit: Where Goes Rose?
Start your run in Oxford, down Walton Well Road, into Port Meadow.
Part 1 of the 9km Meadow Run in Oxford
Port Meadow is one of Oxford’s biggest green patches and was once used as grazing land. According to legend, it has never been ploughed for at least 4,000 years. As a result, there are some well-preserved archaeological relics, including remains from an Iron Age settlement, numerous Bronze Age round barrows, and 17th-century defences from the Parliamentary siege of Oxford during the English Civil War. The southern end of the meadow sometimes floods in the winter and freezes over into a relatively safe skating area. In late spring, you will see numerous animals and beautiful buttercups.
Port Meadow in Oxford. Credit: Footprints Tours
When you reach the end of the parking lot, continue down the pathway on your right.
Part 2 of the 9km Meadow Run in Oxford
Continue on this same pathway for roughly 1.8km. To your left is a pathway that cuts through the hedge of trees. On the other side of the hedge, follow the pathway slightly to your right that cuts diagonally towards a small bridge.
Part 3 of the 9km Meadow Run in Oxford
Follow one of the clear pathways (this is weather-dependent) towards the end of the meadow. When it splits, keep slightly left away from the buildings and towards a large community garden. Run to the right of this garden to reach another small bridge, and turn right towards the car park. Run to the right of the car park, then turn left on Godstow Road and cross over the bridge. Just before the car park, you will see the Wolvercote Community Orchard.
Part 4 of the 9km Meadow Run in Oxford
The Wolvercote Community Orchard is cared for by members of the tree group and contains many old and forgotten local types of apples. The busiest months on the orchard calendar are late summer and early autumn when the fruits ripen, and we get ready for their unique celebration on Apple Day. Some parts of the celebration include fruit cakes and preserves, apple tastings, juicing, and old-fashioned games like Longest Peel, crafts, and treasure hunts. You can find out a bit more here.
Wolvercote Community Orchard. Credit: CPRE Norfolk
Exiting the garden, turn right towards the car park and over the bridges. At the next split in the road, turn left towards Godstow Abbey.
Part 5 of the 9km Meadow Run in Oxford
Godstow Abbey was constructed starting in 1133 for Benedictine nuns to reside. King Henry II’s mistress, Rosamund Clifford, retired here and passed away at 30 in 1177. Her grave is lost somewhere on these grounds. George Owen transformed the abbey into Godstow House, where his family lived until 1645 when the English Civil War caused damage to the structure. Since then, it has been used as a stone supply for the people’s construction.
Godstow Abbey. Credit: Daily Info
The River Thames, also known as the River Isis, is the longest river in England, with over 200 bridges crossing at various points. After filtering and processing, two-thirds of London’s drinking water comes from this river. One of this river’s most important boat races is the Oxford versus Cambridge boat race, held annually in London since 1829.
River Thames at Port Meadow. Credit: Orniverse
Continue following the path closest to the River Thames. Cross over the first bridge you see on your left, Medley Bridge, and continue along this pathway.
Part 6 of the 9km Meadow Run in Oxford
Follow the bend of the pathway to the left and run under the bridge. At the end of the bridge, turn left on the pathway and cross over Rewley Road. Follow the path until you reach another bridge; turn left here to continue along the water. After 700 metres, turn right into Walton Well Road and over the bridge to end where the route started.
Part 7 of the 9km Meadow Run in Oxford
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Resources:
This route was curated in kind collaboration with Headington Road Runners.
If you enjoyed this route, see our 21km Half-marathon Route
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