Oxford, the Devil’s Quoits, and Godstow

Oxford is beautiful in May. The trees in the parks are all covered in vibrantly green leaves, as of yet untouched by disease and the voracity of insects. So many flowers have bloomed at University Parks, that I can hardly keep track of their names. I have made many walks during the past few weeks, some along the canal, some to Christ Church Meadow, and others still to University Parks.

On the 28th, right at the beginning of reading period, Luqman and I made another long hike, this time to the Devil’s Quoits. We took the bus to Eynsham, from where Luqman’s hiking app directed us to Stanton Harcourt. We then had to switch to Google Maps, as the Devil’s Quoits are not popular enough to have a route on the app we were using. Most of the walk was very pleasant, and Stanton Harcourt is especially charming with its old church, manor, and buildings with thatched roofs. However, to get to the Devil’s Quoits, we had to pass by a recycling plant, which somewhat encroaches on the atmosphere of the place.

The Devil’s Quoits were erected between 4000 and 5000 years ago, though their English name reflects a later legend. It is said that the Devil played quoits with a beggar, and by using these rocks he won his soul. The stones fell down and were damaged in various ways over the centuries but were re-erected once more in the 2000s.

Three days after this visit, we made another hike, this time with several of our housemates. We headed north through Port Meadow, passing by Godstow Abbey and Godstow itself, until eventually making a loop somewhere between Wytham and Cassington. The weather stayed very nice until we started turning back. The rain then came down with an absolute fury and soaked through our trousers down to our very bones. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable walk. I saw many irises and various wild flowers, as well as the steeple of Saint Peter’s Church in Cassington standing against the shadow of the looming clouds.

Saint Philip and Saint James Church
Saint Barnabas Church
The canal
The canal with houseboats
Magdalen College
Magdalen College over the Botanic Garden as seen from Christ Church Meadow
A tree at Christ Church Meadow
Christ Church as seen from the meadow
A wider view from the meadow
A massive tree at Christ Church Meadow
The tower of Magdalen College
The dining hall at Christ Church
A tree at University Parks
A willow at Music Meadow
The white blossoms of an acacia tree
A closer view of the same
A tree on the way to the Devil's Quoits
A sheep
A sheep with two lambs
The same but after working on the angle
Sheep and a rusty tank of some sort
Sheep on our path
Sheep blocking one of the gates
A long path on the way to Stanton Harcourt
A lovely house with a thatched roof
More houses with thatched roofs
A house straight from the Shire
The same
More quaint houses
Another view of the same
The back wall of Harcourt Manor
Saint Michael's Church in Stanton Harcourt
The tower of Harcourt Manor
A view across the cemetery
Saint Michael's Church from another angle
The view of Harcourt Manor across the cemetery
The same from closer up
More of the same
Saint Michael's Church again
The same from farther away
Some of the rocks at the Devil's Quoits
A view of the Devil's Quoits from the entrance
The right side of the Devil's Quoits
The left side of the Devil's Quoits
A view of the Devil's Quoits from the opposite end
More detail of the rocks
More views of the Devil's Quoits
And more
A quaint house in Stanton Harcourt
Another quaint house
A whole row of quaint houses at Stanton Harcourt
A picturesque alleyway
A field soaked in the yellow of buttercups
Port Meadow
Irises
More irises
Greylag geese at Godstow Lock
An oriental Poppy
Godstow Abbey
Poppies on the wall of Godstow Abbey
The Trout Inn at Godstow
The same
Houseboats
A very hairy caterpillar
Fields covered in wrapped hay bales
The same
A collapsed roof
A house far across the field
Another view of the collapsed house
Saint Peter's Church in Cassington
More irises
The stumps of a tree above the Thames
The same
Boats on the Thames
Godstow Bridge
Cows by Godstow Bridge
A dog rose
Another dog rose

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