National Cycle Route 57

Updated on Apr 25, 2026

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National Cycle Route 57 is part of the United Kingdom's National Cycle Network. When complete, it will run East to West from Farmington, Gloucestershire near Northleach to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire.

Map of National Cycle Rte 57, Oxford OX4, UK

Several sections are not suitable for road bikes.

Links to:

National Cycle Route 5 at Oxford.

National Cycle Route 6 at Harpenden.

National Cycle Route 12 at Welwyn Garden City.

Farmington to Oxford

Farmington | Burford | Witney | Eynsham | Oxford

National Route 57 starts in the small village of Farmington, near Northleach. Here it meets NCR 48, which runs south to Northleach and Cirencester; the northern continuation to Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold is not yet open.

NCR 57 continues on lightly trafficked lanes along the valley of the River Windrush to Burford and Witney; this section was formerly Regional Route 47.

The route is not yet open between Witney and Oxford. Possible route options include Eynsham and a new cycle path along the B4044 to Botley, or across the Thames via a new bridge at Bablock Hythe.

Oxford to Thame

This section is largely on country lanes and is fully signposted.

Thame to Princes Risborough

Thame | Horsenden | Princes Risborough

7 miles (11 km) in length, this section follows the Phoenix Trail along the route of a disused railway. The surface is a mixture of tarmac and compacted grit.

Princes Risborough to Chesham

This section leaves the relatively flat Oxfordshire countryside and continues on into the Chiltern Hills. Leaving Princes Risborough the route climbs up Kop Hill to the top of Whiteleaf Cross. From there it continues along small lanes to Prestwood. The short section between Prestwood and Great Missenden takes you off-road along a compacted grit path.