The Confessor's Walk

Our walks have taken us to the top of Wittenham Clumps, the ancient town of Dorchester-on-Thames, the picturesque Cotswold village of Quenington, the Maharajah’s Well at Stoke Row, and the grounds of Blenheim Palace.

We also travelled north to Edge Hill, where the boundaries of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire meet.

We spent an enjoyable hour walking the ancient castle grounds at Deddington too and all because we wanted to write another book on dog-friendly pubs and walks in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.

This time we wanted to show how history had shaped the landscape.

One of our favourite recent walks encircles the village of Islip. The history of this charming little place has been influenced by Edward the Confessor and later the Civil War.

The poet Robert Graves once walked its streets too. In other words, Islip proved the perfect place to begin our quest and help us recognise the way history has affected the landscape.

This short commemorative walk was opened in June 2006 to celebrate the birth of Edward the Confessor.

As it is really well marked, you can start this walk at any point of its journey round the village. Having enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Swan, an 18th-century inn, where dogs are welcome, we began walking in the Confessor’s footsteps at Islip Bridge. This is the site of the Civil War battle that took place on April 23, 1645.

One word of warning — do keep the dog on a tight lead while walking across the bridge as traffic moves far too quickly over it and there is very little room for walkers and their dogs.

Having crossed the bridge, take a left turn into Bridge Street. Keeping a couple of cottages on your left hand side, walk the little lane, bearing left towards the well-kept village allotments and the newly established millennium woods.

You will finally reach a gap and a large field that is usually planted with wheat. Here you will find a way sign for the Confessor’s Walk and notice a well-walked path passing diagonally through the field towards the river that meanders lazily through the most glorious countryside.

Once you have crossed this path and reached the edge of the field there is a gap and another way marker. At this point, turn right towards the River Cherwell and on reaching its bank, turn right again until you reach the weir and a metal bridge.

As you cross this bridge you will notice that this is the point where the River Ray meets the River Cherwell. Even during the winter months this is a very beautiful spot with an abundance of birds and wildlife.

It is a spot where you can stop and ponder on the glories of nature before crossing the bridge at the weir and turning right, following a short green path that leads to a metal gate.

You will now notice two 30mph signs, which indicates it is time to put the dog on the lead as you have reached Mill Street.

You will soon discover another way sign directing you left over the village playing field and on towards the village community shop where two large carved wooden figures that appear to depict Edward the Confessor stand proud and tall.

It is here that you can purchase an excellent booklet on Islip’s fascinating and bloody history, compiled by the village history group.

From the shop and its car park, turn right, cross the road and take the stone steps that lead you to St Edward’s Church. Having spent a few moments exploring this fascinating old church, walk on until you reach Mill Street again and find yourself but a couple of minutes walk from the Swan.

The Confessor’s Walk is only a mile long — in other words just a gentle amble. It can be extended if you turn left rather than right on reaching the Cherwell and take in more of the river before turning back towards Islip.

The Confessor’s Way combines the beauty of the Oxfordshire countryside with that remarkable sense of history that envelops this picturesque area.

• This walk appears in Paws for History — 35 Dog-friendly Pubs and Walks in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds by Helen Peacocke (Wychwood Press £9.99).