I have attended a couple of Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photo Walks before (in 2016 and 2017) both in Oxford. This year’s walk on August 13th was the first after Covid.
From Bracknell Camera Club I was joined by David Watkins and Paul Hendley . Plus from Farnborough Camera Club, Chris Bean came with us too.
Oxford Covered Market
My earlier visit to Oxford in the week confirmed to us that using the Park and Ride was easily the best option. Our plan was to have lunch in the Covered Market and then explore Oxford before the walk started.
After lunch we split up and each went off to find images to get ourselves “warmed up” for the walk.
Images of a busy Oxford
The 2022 Oxford Worldwide Photo Walk
By the time we gathered by the Radcliffe Camera the temperature was in the in the mid-30s. This walk was organised by Brian Worley and as we chatted before the start of the walk, he told us that quite a number of participants had dropped out before the day.
Brian estimated that the walk would take 40 minutes without stopping and as we had from 3pm till 5pm we would have lots of time for socialising and taking pictures. There were members from 3 or 4 other clubs including Oxford.
Before we set off Brian took a photo of all the participants.
Summary of the Oxford Walk
Images for the all the walks around the world will be hash tagged with #wwpw2022.
Bracknell Camera Club’s website has a summary of images from their participants here.
Brian posted his own summary of the walk and suggested that this walk would be forever known as “the hot one”.
The route of the walk
Leave the Radcliffe Camera and pass through the Bodleian library quad, before taking the exit to the right hand side where you cross over the road to the famous “Bridge of Sighs” in New College Lane.
Proceed along New College Lane towards the wooden door, then turn right in to Queens Lane and keep following the route along until you reach the main road, where you turn left and walk along until you reach the Eastgate Hotel on the right hand side.
Turn in to Merton Street and walk along towards the pink coloured house where you have to turn right and walk along the cobbled street.
Look out for Magpie Lane on the right, and then go left through the iron gates in to Merton Walk. At the end of Merton Walk go through the gate, it only allows one person through at a time and it is advised to remove large photo backpacks!
Once through the gate go straight, keeping the wall on your right and Merton Field on your right, then turn right towards Christchurch college.
Keep on going past the college and then leave the park, crossing the road and proceed straight on to Rose Place.
Turn right up Littlegate street, then left in to Turn Again Lane.
Follow Turn Again Lane as it crosses through the Westgate shopping centre until you see The Castle pub on Castle Street ahead of you.
Turn right up Castle Street and cross the road then walk down the side of the Swan & Castle along the pedestrianised Oxford Castle Street.
When you reach the Oxford Castle Quarter bear right towards the Malmaison and follow the street up by Prezzo and back to the main road.
Cross the main road and go right then take the small left hand turn in to Bulwarks Lane and follow along this narrow footpath.
As the lane starts to widen take the right towards the Four Candles pub and George Street. Turn right up the street towards the Odeon, before turning left in to St George’s Place.
As you walk along you’ll reach Gloucester Green market, which is a great spot for some character shots of market traders.
Exit the market and keep following St George’s Place to Gloucester St then bear left and turn right in to the narrow lane Friars Entry.
This where is we stopped and didn’t complete this loop of the walk
Exit by Five Guys burger place and turn left along Magdalen Street. It is a good idea to cross over by the and cross over by the Martyr’s Memorial and keep moving along on the right side of the wide street.
After a short while you reach the Lamb & Flag pub, then turn under the arch in to Lamb & Flag Passage.
The footpath joins to Museum Road, and when you exit Museum Road turn right along Parks Road.
Continue along Parks Rd, until you can turn right in to Broad Street.
Halfway along Broad Street cross over and turn right in to Turl Street, then turn left in to Brasenose Lane.
End of the Day
After the walk had stopped and those of us left on the walk returned to the Radcliffe Camera to say goodbye. There learned what would happen next with the Worldwide Walk including submitting an image for consideration for a prize.
On our way to catch the bus back to the Park and Ride we paused for a drink at this pub opposite the bus stop.
