A bench overlooking the Cherwell Valley is the destination of a walk from Steeple Aston to Middle Aston. Also included are landmarks for the road route via Fir Lane, a public footpath and named historic buildings. When planning, you can weigh up different interests: a walking leg with a specific destination or a look at architectural and local history.

Walking and directions

The walk from Steeple Aston to Middle Aston leads to a bench overlooking the Cherwell Valley. This gives the walking leg a clear destination and a scenic focus. The order for the construction of a section of the public footpath Middle Aston Footpath No. 9 has been confirmed and has come into force. Check current path conditions before setting out.

For road directions, Fir Lane leads directly from Steeple Aston to Middle Aston. The road is reached via Paines Hill by the village shop and passes the church. Paines Hill, the village shop and the church form a specific sequence of landmarks. This lets you consider the road route and the walk as different options for your plans.

Buildings and local history

The barn at Middle Aston House is a Grade II listed building dating from the 17th or early 18th century. Barleyport, a house in Middle Aston, is also Grade II listed and dates from the mid-to-late 17th century; its front façade has stone mullioned windows. The two examples differ both in building type and date: the barn’s classification extends into the early 18th century, while Barleyport is placed within the 17th century. The named buildings bring architectural history to life through specific features.

Grange Farmhouse is an early 18th-century farmhouse located near the site of the deserted village of Nethercote. This connection adds a trace of settlement to the architectural history: the farmhouse can be dated, while Nethercote, as the site of a deserted village, provides the historical context. This lets you consider building age and earlier settlement patterns as different aspects of local history.

The Steeple Aston Village Archive collects and preserves materials that reflect the heritage of Steeple Aston and Middle Aston. Its thematic focus broadens the view beyond individual buildings to include the history of both places. For a regional perspective, this complements the specific buildings with the context represented by an archive’s collected and preserved materials.

Middle Aston House

Middle Aston House is a 17th-century manor house set in 20 acres of Oxfordshire countryside. The current Oxfordshire County Council list includes it as an approved venue for marriages, civil partnerships and other civil ceremonies. For travellers whose stay is connected with such an occasion, this is a distinct planning consideration. At the same time, the manor house’s date and surrounding landscape give it historical and scenic significance.

Discover more destinations: Nettlebed, Eynsham, Shipton-On-Cherwell, Wantage, Culham, Henley On Thames, Hook Norton, Deddington

For the wider travel overview: Oxfordshire.