Purston Fields

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 9.6km anticlockwise loop from Middleton Cheney is a fantastic test for runners who enjoy a mix of traditional asphalt and raw cross-country terrain. With approximately 95m of elevation gain, the route features rolling hills that provide a cardiovascular challenge without being overwhelming. You’ll navigate a variety of surfaces, ranging from paved village outskirts to rugged farm tracks and soft grassy footpaths near Great Purston. Given the uneven ground and the potential for faint trails through the fields, this route demands active engagement with your surroundings and steady footwork, particularly during the gentle climbs on the southern stretch where the rural Oxfordshire views really start to open up.

Middleton Cheney serves as a historic gateway between the Cotswolds and the Cherwell Valley, and running through this landscape offers a glimpse into England’s deep agricultural heritage. The area around Purston was once home to a medieval village, and as you traverse the quiet fields, you are essentially running through centuries of farming history. Local runners know that this area transforms with the seasons; while the summer offers firm tracks and golden crops, the winter months bring a "true runner’s challenge" with soft, heavy ground that builds calf strength. It’s a quintessential English countryside experience, far removed from the noise of the nearby M40, where the only sounds are the rhythmic beat of your gait and the local wildlife.