19/07/11….Get out and about with the family this summer!

OXFORDSHIRE FAMILIES are being encouraged to use online walking guides in order to get the best out of the county’s great outdoors during the school summer holiday period.

A series of new family-friendly walk maps have recently been published by Oxfordshire County Council, which cover rural routes under one-and-a-half miles in length and identify features that people can take advantage of in individual areas across Oxfordshire, such as wildlife and local attractions.

The routes take in a range of landscapes which include meadows, woodlands, nature reserves, rivers and lakes.

Information and maps on how to access green space in urban areas of the county are also now available to view. The highlighted areas are close to several county council children’s centres.

Families can also take advantage of suggested countryside activities, which are aimed at children aged three to 11. Fun outdoor opportunities range from learning about camouflage to listening to a countryside concert.

People wanting longer treks can explore information about circular walks which take in some of the county’s most beautiful areas of countryside, such as the Windrush Valley and the Chiltern Hills.

The in-depth guide to the historic 65-mile Oxfordshire Way walking route – a route which runs from the Cotswold town of Bourton-on-the-Water to the banks of the River Thames at Henley – includes up-to-date large scale maps and details of locations of geological and historical interest.

Great opportunity

Councillor Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We are extremely lucky in Oxfordshire to have such wonderful countryside right on our doorstep. Our revamped website offers a huge amount of information about various walking routes that people can take advantage of.

“The school summer holidays are an ideal opportunity for families to get out and about and to enjoy the county’s countryside.”

Click HERE