AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Shotover Country Park is a place of beauty and history tucked right onto Oxford's eastern edge, covering 117 hectares across the southern slopes of Shotover Hill. From the top there are spectacular views over south Oxfordshire, while below the hill unrolls an intimate mosaic of hidden valleys, varied landscapes and diverse habitats that makes it feel a world away from the city.↗↗
A nationally important wildlife site and much of it a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Shotover is open to everyone free of charge all year round. It is ideal for a summer picnic, a leisurely stroll, a walk with the dog, jogging, horse riding or orienteering, with three waymarked trails and a 5km bridle route to explore.↗
Countryside on the city's doorstep
For a national park of character, Shotover needs no long drive. It sits just to the east of Oxford, on the old London road above Headington, and rewards a short climb with broad hilltop views across the Oxfordshire countryside. The park is managed by Oxford City Council's countryside team, whose rangers keep the paths checked and the habitats of heath, grassland and marsh alive.
