Castle Mill Stream from William Lucy Way south to junction with Thames, Oxford, September 13th 2024

Castle Mill Stream is a stream of the Thames. It leaves the Thames near Port Meadow's Bailey Bridge, runs west along the southern edge of the meadow, and then parallels the canal, running down to Hythe Bridge, under the bridge and along Fisher Row, and then under Pacey's Bridge, Quaking Bridge, and Swan Bridge. The last is at the junction of Paradise Street and Woodin's Way. From it, one can follow Castle Mill Stream behind the new Westgate Centre and past Oxford City College, and under the Oxpens Road bridge. It then flows past the ice rink, and shortly afterwards rejoins the Thames not far south of Dale Close. It's a nice walk, and surprisingly calm for a route so close to the city centre. I take advantage of the morning sun to follow it, starting at William Lucy Way, walking along the canal, and then following the above route to where the stream rejoins the Thames.

I then try to get to Folly Bridge, and am hit by the continuing closure of Gasworks Pipe Bridge, the bridge that links the north end of Marlborough Road to the other bank of the river. To work around the closure, I have to walk south and around St. Ebbes School and then Salter Close, cutting through to just opposite St. Matthews Church. From there, I can go past Ethos and east along Western Road to just south of Folly Bridge. Unlike, no doubt, some poor residents, ✺I✺ only have to do this ✺once✺.