Day 6 - Iffley Lock (Oxford) to Culham Lock (Abingdon), 9.2m

We set off early because the weather forecast said it would be hot again, and then thought we had made a mistake as we drove through the mist.  By the time we had parked a car at Culham Lock and fought our way back into Oxford, the weather had brightened and it was a lovely temperature to start our walk from Iffley.

Iffley weir and lock

The path was really good as we left Oxford through another green corridor; even the bypass didn't seem too noisy though there were lots of joggers, cyclists and dog walkers until we parted company from the cycle track.

Various views leaving Iffley lock

The path continued to be good until Sandford Lock where we had a chat to the lock keepers who were not too busy.  We had thought from the description in the book, that the next part of the path would be poorly maintained, but they assured us that it would be fine so we shed our jumpers and trouser legs.

Sandford lock

Once again, the grass had grown and in some places we couldn't see the river, but it was OK for shorts.  We saw some interesting places along the way including Radley College boat house, which is in the middle of no-where but does not seem to have a problem with outboard motor theft as they were just left on boats!  Next were a rather an unusual boat house and a very nice house by the river.

Clockwise from top left - Approaching Radley boathouse, Radley boathouse (2), an elegant boathouse

And in one of the spots where we could see the river through the vegetation on the bank we saw a rowing crew under instruction.

Rowers under instruction

Eventually, we reached Abingdon Lock.  This part of the river up to Oxford has the small cruisers and narrowboats we have seen since Lechlade, but we have started to see many more flashy sea-going gin palaces, which can't get under Osney Bridge.

Abingdon weir and lock

We stopped for a lovely lunch at the Nags Head, right in the middle of the river at Abingdon Bridge, with fabulous views back along the river.

A lovely lunch stop - the Nag's Head at Abingdon

The walk from the bridge is nice at first, but soon crosses fields where the river isn't visible through the vegetation on the bank, so it was really nice to emerge at Culham Lock, where we had a chat with the lock keeper before returning to the car.

Culham lock and bridge