Murcott lies between the River Ray and Otmoor. Footpaths and bridleways within the parish, a cycling route through the village and historical traces in the surrounding area offer different focal points for a stay. There is also a practical point to factor into your plans: Murcott has no railway station.
Location between the River Ray and Otmoor
Murcott lies between the River Ray and Otmoor; Alice's Meadow is north of Otmoor, between Fencott and Murcott. The Parish Council plans to preserve Alice's Meadow as grassland for landowners and the local community to spend time in; this does not guarantee unrestricted public access. There are numerous footpaths and bridleways in the parish of Fencott and Murcott. When planning, you can therefore distinguish between the village's location and the wider parish as reference points for paths.
On foot and by bike
One precisely described footpath is Fencott and Murcott Footpath No. 12. It runs along Pigeon House Lane to the public highway. The section in Murcott is 127 metres long: it follows Pigeonhouse Lane from a point near Pigeon House Farm to the existing footpath north of Dunrowan. This defines a short route through the village, while the numerous footpaths and bridleways cover the wider parish.
For cycling, the BLR05 Southern Circuit from Bicester Village follows a different route. It reaches Murcott via a short field section and a surfaced gravel track, then continues through the village to Fencott. Unlike the defined footpath section, the route description connects Murcott with a route that continues beyond the village to Fencott. When comparing your plans for walking and cycling, these different scales help distinguish the local section from the longer cycling route.
Roman traces and village history
In nearby Ot Moor are two sections of the Roman road from Alchester to Dorchester, among the best-preserved sections of this road. Along much of its length there, the road survives as a low earthwork. The surviving carriageway rises by as much as 0.6 metres in many places; side ditches flank it on both sides. These features describe the form of the road in the landscape as concretely as its historical context.
Named buildings also mark different periods. Woodbine Cottage is a Grade II listed cottage dating from the early 18th century. The Nut Tree Inn is a Grade II listed inn dating from around the early 17th century. Murcott Primitive Methodist Chapel was built on the eastern edge of the hamlet. The rector's decision to build a mission room in the centre of the hamlet is recorded for 1895.
Getting here and planning your accommodation
For rail travel, Islip or Bicester are options; Murcott itself has no railway station. A short taxi ride from either location will take you on to the village. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Murcott, factor this final leg into your travel plans: the station and onward journey are part of the same decision. You can then choose between footpaths, the cycling route and historical themes to suit your own travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Garford, Stratton Audley, North Leigh, Middle Aston, Shipton-On-Cherwell, Sparsholt, Chipping Norton, Clanfield
For the wider travel overview: Oxfordshire.
