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South East England

South Oxfordshire

Swift Ditch Pound Lock (the first pound lock on the Thames)

South East England

South Oxfordshire

Swift Ditch Pound Lock (the first pound lock on the Thames)

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Swift Ditch Pound Lock (the first pound lock on the Thames)

Hiking

5.0

(18)

Location: Culham, South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, South East England, England, United Kingdom

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Tips

July 12, 2022

Hiking

A thousand years ago, there were sections of the Thames that were only navigable by smaller craft. At Abingdon, this was a major problem and so Swift Ditch was cut, opening up a channel for larger vessels. This channel was used for around 700 hundred years before Abingdon Lock was built, allowing traffic to pass along the main flow of the river instead, leaving Swift Ditch and its historic pound lock – one of the oldest in the country – as a sleepy backwater.

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Nearby routes

Best routes near Swift Ditch Pound Lock (the first pound lock on the Thames)

3.7

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Abingdon & Clifton Hampden loop via Thames Path

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Embark on a moderate hiking adventure along the Thames Path, exploring the scenic loop between Abingdon and Clifton Hampden. This route spans 9.8 miles (15.8 km) with a gentle elevation…

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4.5

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#2.

Abingdon Bridge – Abingdon Lock and Weir loop from Abingdon

14.1km

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40m

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Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

12

hikers

#3.

Abingdon Lock and Weir – Abingdon Bridge loop from Abingdon

4.86km

01:14

10m

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Details

Informations

Elevation 50 m

Weather

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Sunday 18 October

14°C

7°C

25 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

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See nearby routes

Location: Culham, South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, South East England, England, United Kingdom

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