Stoke Woods, Bicester

These historic woods are a great way to spend a couple of hours walking with dogs, kids, or alone. Big enough with a variety of paths, these woods cater for all, whether you want to go for a short or long walk.

Location:

Stoke Woods is located near the village of Stoke Lyne, just a few miles north of Bicester in Oxfordshire.

Easily accessible by car, with nearby parking available.

History of Stoke Woods

• Stoke Woods has been a part of the local landscape for centuries.
• Historically used for timber and as hunting grounds by local nobility.

Who It’s Good For:

• Dog Walkers: Extensive trails that are perfect for walking dogs.
• Families with Kids: Safe, well-marked paths and plenty of open space.
• Nature Enthusiasts: Rich in wildlife and plant species, ideal for bird watching and exploring.
• Walkers: Offers both short and long walking routes suitable for all fitness levels.

Parking at Stoke Woods

Once you get past the little single track road leading to Stoke Woods, the car park you turn left into is quite large for what it is, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it full.

From the car park, there are two ways to enter the woods, which is great if you have nervous dogs or people nervous of dogs as you can simply walk the other way.

Walk Options

Nearby Shops and Amenities:

• Local Shops: Bicester town center is nearby, with a variety of shops, cafés, and restaurants.
• Amenities: Picnic areas and benches available within the woods.
• Parking: Car park at the entrance of the woods.

Whilst Stoke Woods is nicely secluded and only really accessible by car, it isn’t that far from Bicester, being closest to Bure Park and Southwold.

There is also Baynard’s Green on the roundabout connecting the A43 to the M40, as well as the B4100 which links to Bicester and Banbury. These days Baynard’s Green has a good variety of services:

Picnics at Stoke Woods

If you plan on taking a picnic or snacks to Stoke Woods, there are plenty of benches and open parts or clearings to stop by with enough space to not be in the way of other walkers.

Walking with Children at Stoke Woods

These woods are really well designed in terms of walks and well looked after. This means that with the variety of options with the length of the routes, kids can feel like they’re taking control by choosing which signs to follow.

There are also often a variety of small dens that others have started, and usually others carry on the work or start new ones. There are also plenty of signs educating children (or anybody, really) about not only the diversity of plant and animal species which thrive in the area, but also how the area is looked after and maintained.

Walking with Dogs at Stoke Woods

Almost every time we go to Stoke Woods, there are a variety of dog walkers and dog people/families. There are dog waste bins right on the entrance as you walk in from the car park, and there’s plenty of space to keep dogs that don’t know each other away.

Accessibility at Stoke Woods

With the car park leading straight into the woods, and the parking itself being decent, there is lots of room for mobility scooters or other devices to be taken out and put back into the vehicle.

As most of the paths are quite wide and the terrain is relatively flat, it’s quite a smooth transit if you stick to the main paths. I have no experience in dealing with accessibility issues but I’ve often seen mobility scooters being used whilst people are walking their dogs, so hopefully this helps.

Here’s a short roundup of Stoke Woods:

Feature	Details
Location	Near Stoke Lyne, north of Bicester
History	Centuries-old woodland, used for timber and hunting
Good For	Dog walkers, families, nature enthusiasts, walkers
Walk Options	Short and long trails
Nearby Shops	Bicester town center
Amenities	Picnic areas, benches, parking