Wittenham Clumps to Days lock, Oxfordshire

This is a lovely walk round the base of Wittenham Clumps where people don't often walk heading down towards Days Lock which is famous for Pooh Sticks and then back up to the top of the clumps.

Approx time: 1-2 hour

Paths:  grass and mud
Points of interest: wildlife, river
Amenities: car park at Wittenham Clumps
Grading: possible with all terrain buggy but hard work going up the hill
Weather: all seasons  (except after heavy rain)

map of the area, following the red line

Starting at the Wittenham Clumps car park take the small gate to the left before heading up the hill, currently its all very over grown looking.

the footpath from the car park

This footpath is quite flat and takes you around the base of the clumps, we spotted quite a lot of wildlife (or signs of) and also lots of blackberries ready to pick. After a short time the footpath will widen out.

clear open space

 You will eventually come to a gate and into a wooded area. This is where they hold the Earth Trust birthday parties so we came across a lot of dens almost the trees and we had a great time building some more dens and improving others.

checking out the dens

 At the end of the wood you will get to another gate and come out the other side of the hill. Turn left after the gate heading down the hill towards the church. At the Church turn right and you will cross a couple of bridges and days lock. This is where they play the famous game of pooh sticks every year, and we had a couple of goes ourselves.

days lock

When you are all pooh sticked out retrace your steps back to the base of the clumps, and if you are up for the walk head up the hill for wonderful views across Oxfordshire.

looking back towards Wittenham Clumps

 There is a bench right at the top to rest any weary legs.

view down towards days lock

 Circle round the top of the hill and then back down the other side to the car park.

Wittenham Clumps and Pooh Sticks at Days Lock both feature on the oxtrails app.
If you are ticking off your 50 things before 11 3/4 then den building, climbing a big hill, fly a kite, play pooh sicks, pick blackberries, eat an apple from a tree, make a trail with sticks, hunt for bugs, catch a falling leaf can all be done on this walk. I do not advise rolling down a big hill due to cows and sheep grazing!

Green Birthday Parties at Earth Trust, Oxfordshire

We decided to do a birthday party with a difference, we avoided having to organise party games in a hall, tantrums over not winning games and this new thing of sweets in every layer of pass the parcel. We decided on an extra cold February day to get the kids outside exploring. We still passed on the organising bit and left this to the excellent Corinne at Earth Trust.

 So with a dusting of snow fall on the ground we all met up at the earth trust offices, all of us decked out in at least 4 layers and thermals and the kids buzzing with anticipation of what was going to happen. I think the parents were interested with a bit of dread that it was "so cold / I could do with a good cup of coffee in the nearest cosy cafe". But soon enough with kids running ahead we were at the base of Wittenham Clumps. The kids were armed with a little plastic pot each to fill with things they could find. Corinne gave them instructions to find different colours and textures, and even on a freezing cold February day once you looked closely you did spot different things. Then they added a touch of snow for fairy dust.
Some magic water was added to their pots then they made a wish and turned them out, so the wish would come true.

Soon enough we were into the woods and finding twigs and leaves, and making magic wands with a face on the end and giving the wands magic powers.

The children went looking for fairy signs and put string on branches as signs for the fairies. We then looked for fairy houses in the trees and then collecting sticks and leaves to make fairy houses.

A couple of games of hide and seek in the woods to keep the kids moving and warm and we headed back to the party room. Muddy boots left outside and lunch boxes of food were waiting inside for the children (and cups of much needed warm coffee and tea for the adults).


All the children went home having had a great time, it was the talk of the playground for most of the week. I've been informed by most parents that the magic wand has pride of place in the garden and there are fairies hiding at the end of the garden. This was a fairy party, but boys and girls were invited and the boys loved it just as much as the girls. It really was inclusive. As said by one little boy on his way home "I didn't think I would enjoy a fairy party but it was great fun". There are other themes of parties and they vary depending on the age group and time of year.

The food, coffee and tea supplies, cake, balloons and party bags were provided by us, but surprisingly took minimal effort, no prizes had to be thought of or 50 layers of wrapping for pass the parcel.

What are we going to do next birthday, probably another Earth Trust party as I really don't think it could be topped as an excellent idea that gets kids exploring. Please also read my recent post about why its so important to get children outside.