Walks
There are several attractive and gentle walks beginning at Osney, offering a mixture of ecological, aesthetic, historical, and social interest. The Thames Path borders the island, and can be followed upstream towards Binsey or downsteam towards south Oxford.
At Binsey there is a well sacred to Frideswide, Oxford’s patron saint, and made famous centuries later as Lewis Carroll’s ‘treacle well’. Further north, at the top of the great expanse of Port Meadow, are the ruins of the 12th-century Godstow Nunnery, forever associated with another singular Oxford woman, Rosamund the Fair. Another option is to branch off from the main course of the Thames to find Isis Lock, the picturesque and historically significant junction with the Oxford Canal. Nearby is the Victorian canalside suburb of Jericho, stigmatised in the past despite its rich literary associations. Another easy stroll is to head in a westerly direction along the causeway to North Hinksey village. The historic and commercial centre of the city can also be accessed easily via a footbridge over the railway lines.
For more information about local walks and river activities see www.oxfordwaterwalks.co.uk.
About Osney Island
Osney Island is one of Oxford’s best-kept secrets. Located to the west of the city only minutes from the railway station and just off the busy Botley Road, it’s a small ‘village’ of some 300 households surrounded on all sides by the Thames and the Osney Stream.
Walk over the footbridge and drop down to the Island you are immediately in another world with boats, wildlife and the tranquillity of the river. It really is an island in the centre of Oxford.
Shaped like an old-fashioned belt buckle, streets named after the points of the compass provide its frame with Bridge St the prong in the middle. Most of the houses are small terraced homes – but you’d be amazed how inventive people have been in making the most of small spaces.
The population of Osney Island is an eclectic mix of people. Some have been born and bred here, others are commuters, academics, artists. We all enjoy the very special community spirit.