From Ascott-under-Wychwood to Charlbury, where a vestige of the medieval forest remains, the Oxfordshire Way is strongly aware of this former haunt of beasts of the chase. The route leaves Ascott by crossing the railway and, ignoring a first footpath to the right for the Wychwood Way, taking a second just beyond the River Windrush. The route initially follows the River Evenlode through to Charlbury. It passes the grassy remains of Ascott D’Oyley Castle, just outside Ascott-under-Wychwood, and is partly coincident with the Wychwood Way.

In 3 miles (4.9km), just arriving in woodland, bear right at a fork to follow the footpath not bridleway. In 400m, at a stony track, turn right. Then, in approximately another 400m, left to cross a field to a prominently placed gate and footbridge. Cross several paddocks to reach the B4026, where you turn right into Charlbury. Keep on the road through Charlbury to a road junction and take the road to Woodstock before turning up Stonesfield Lane.

At Forest Cottage and Pippins turn right onto an often muddy bridleway for one mile (1.6km). Continue straight at a crossroads of bridleways. Meeting a track follow it until it bends sharp left in a valley and take the gate and field path on left to walk by the hedge. At the end of the field, turn left and immediately right onto a long tarmac drive.

In 300m, approaching Stonesfield, continue straight on at crossroads of stony tracks and at the road, diagonally across, to walk between houses. With the Stonesfield Methodist Church in front of you, turn right into Churchfield. At the end of the lane turn right into Brook Lane and follow the path steeply downhill. This passes the deserted ‘slate’ quarries, now a series of hollows and low green mounds, and also provides the opportunity of visiting the Roman villa at North Leigh, just off the Oxfordshire Way. The banks of the Evenlode is a lovely spot to stop for a picnic but, to continue on the route, turn left through a kissing gate 30m before the bridge across the river.

Here, at At Stonesfield Common, you join Akeman Street, the Roman road from Bath to Bicester, where it rises over the last long spur of the Cotswolds. Just beyond the Combe–Stonesfield road it passes the site of a Roman villa, the first to be discovered and recorded in this country, though little now remains to show that it ever existed.