If the start of 2021 has left you feeling trapped at home, then we are delighted to let you know about a fabulous new opportunity on your doorstep – Thame Outer Circuit, an approximately 20 mile circular walk through the Oxfordshire countryside surrounding the market town of Thame.

The walk has been divided into three separate sections, with the start and finish of each accessible by bus from the centre of the town, or from surrounding villages. There are also 5 walkable linking routes from the town centre which facilitate walkers to explore shorter segments of the Outer Circuit. The Thame Outer Circuit takes in the villages of Long Crendon, Shabbington, Tetsworth, Sydenham, Emmington, Towersey, Kingsey and Haddenham Church End as well as passing through the Rycote Estate and the Oxfordshire Golf Course. The terrain is generally flat, and the walk is mainly on public rights of way with a few linking sections on reasonably quiet roads. However, it should be noted that this area is fairly low-lying and that, after periods of heavy rain, some fields, particularly those adjacent to the River Thame, may be flooded.

The walk has been created to encourage walking in the countryside as an integral part of Thame’s Green Living Plan, adopted by Thame Town Council, to promote a cleaner, greener, healthier Thame. A huge amount of work has gone into developing the walk with Tony Clark, the inspiration behind Thame Outer Circuit, Ruth Cornish & Len Davidson developing and testing the route with the support of Thame & Wheatley Ramblers. The result is both a printed leaflet (that will be available soon) and an online version of the route available from https://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/visit-thame/town-trails/ for you to use on your phone.

Walkers are asked to respect the Country Code: to leave things as they find them, to take litter home, to keep dogs on leads near livestock and to clean up after their dogs.