Follow the Footprints to explore the Kidlington and Gosford

• Have Fun with your family or friends
• Get active outside for body and mind
• Discover new paths you've never walked before
• Enjoy nature on your doorstep

What are the Zoo Trails?

Five family friendly, accessible walking trails based on zoo animals exploring Kidlington and Gosford.  Did you know that in the 1930's there was a zoo here? From the Bear Cub trail at 1.5km to the Lion trail at 5km there's a route for everyone.  All routes are accessible to buggies and wheelchairs and pass by all the schools, near shops, bus stops and there are public toilets in the centre of Kidlington.

Things you need to know:

The Big Bear and Bear Cub trails follow the side of the canal so please take care next to the water.  This canal section on the Bear trails does not have street lighting.  On the Monkey trail, where it crosses Park Hill Recreation Ground, there is no hard surface path.  The path crosses the grass for about 50 metres. 
The trails follow alleys, pavements and cross roads; so remember wait at the end of alleys for an adult and cross safely.

Finding your way:

All the routes are marked from a central sign in Exeter Close.  All the distance markers start from here but you can join a route at any point.  Simply follow the footprints and lines on the ground and signposts up above.  These will lead you around each circuit.  There are also a few shortcuts marked to shorten your walk.  

 

On the route, keep an eye out for: 

• Bug hotels and nature stops
• Scramble boulders and balancing logs
•  Pavement games and activities
• Benches and picnic spots
• adventurous wolves - HOW MANY CAN YOU SPOT?

Click onto the Video Link for: Kidlington Zoo Trail 

K5 Better Together Programme for Kidlington and surrounding villages

In January 2020 an exciting new venture for Kidlington and the surrounding villages was launched by Cherwell District Council, aimed at promoting wellbeing and community cohesion. Based on the experiences of the Healthy Bicester model, K5 Better Together is designed to enable people who live or work in Kidlington, Islip, Yarnton, Begbroke and Thrupp, to enjoy healthy, happy lives where it is easy to be active, eat healthily, and be a good neighbour.

After consultation with community groups, charities and businesses in the area, the key priorities of the project were identified as: encouraging healthy living by being active and eating well; to promote mental wellbeing; to tackle loneliness and to increase community cohesion. K5 Better Together is an extension of Cherwell’s healthy place shaping programme, established in March 2019 following the council’s commitment to continue the work of the Healthy Bicester partnership.

Residents and workers in Kidlington and the surrounding area are being encouraged to keep up-to-date on all the latest developments of the project by following @K5BetterTogether on Facebook and @K5Better on Twitter.

Walking for wellbeing: Kidlington and Gosford Zoo Trails

 You can find a fuller description here, and a map of the walks here.