Willow Walk - Bullstake Stream
Willow Walk aka Ruskins Ride way was originally a footpath and bridleway linking Oxford and North Hinksey. It was built in 1876-77 by Aubre Harcourt a local landowner after which several areas are name e.g. Harcourt Hill. Willow Walk gets its name from the large number of Willow Trees lining its path although most are now very old.
This cache is located overlooking King Georges field and across Bullstake Stream to the east, the Oatlands Road recreation ground. On the west side of Bulstake Stream was meadowland formerly owned by St John’s College. In 1935 the field was given to the city by St John’s College as a playing field to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V in the same year and renamed King Georges Field
Both fields are part of Oxfords flood plain and are flooded at times of high river level. However the Willow Walk footpath itself is raised and remains passable until its end at Osney Mead succombs to extremely high river levels as happened in 2007
The old footpath was large stone cobbles and setts, almost similar to a Roman road and sometime in the late 1990's a strip of tarmac was laid to ease use by bicycles but it was still bumpy and the wooden brisge over the bullstake stream was single file only.
In 2023 Oxfordshire County Council significantly upgraded the path and replaced the bridge to what you see today.
This is a part of a set of caches placed to take you on a walk from North Hinksey to Osney and back (or vice-versa) via two old paths that were used before the modern roads were built to access the western side of Oxford.
They can be completed either way round with parking available at each end, either starting here and having a rest stop/refreshments halfway around at various establishments..
The circular walk should take under 90 minutes but can be extended if wished to collect other caches at either end
NB Monks Causeway and parts of Osney Mead industrial estate often floods when both Seacourt & Bullstake streams are in flood and overflowing into the floodplain fields around them. Do not enter flood water or attempt to walk along the causeway at these times. The cache(s) though should still be accessible but you won't be able to complete a circular walk.
As always please supervise children around water.
Monks Causeway itself is not wheelchair or stroller accessible but the caches and willow walk are although some are placed high up.
The cache is a camo tube Tweezers may be required
Congratulations FTF..... Sapphirites