1. As you descend Chapman’s Lane,(between steps 3 and 4 on map tab) fine farmland views open up before you of the valley fed by South Brook on its way to join the River Cherwell. The landscape is largely the result of the Enclosures Act of 1808; you may like to imagin the very different impact that would have been made by the open-field system that preceded it for at least 1000 years. Leadenporch Farm lies at the centre of the scene. Highland cattle, on of its specialities, are often to be seen in the surrounding pastures.
2. Bowman’s Bridge, (between steps 7 and 8 on map tab) a few yards from your route, is an old pack horse bridge over South Brook. As you turn North, you look out across the fields to the River Cherwell. In winter these are quite often flooded and attract substantial flocks of wildfowl (mallard, wigeon, pochard, teal) and waders (lapwing, golden and grey plover).
3. Close to the River Cherwell, Clifton (step 10) is a pretty hamlet of mainly two-storied ironstone rubble cottages, a number from the 18th and early 19th Century. The Chapel of St James, built in 1853, has been converted into business premises whilst the Duke of Cumberland with its thatched roof dates from the 17th Century. One of its earlier licensees in the mid-19th Century ran a beaver hat factory in a neighbouring building.
4. As you ascend back in to Deddington, the Church will be clearly visible. Although the tower is 17th Century, St Peter and St Paul Parish church dates from the 13th Century.
5. As you cross the final stile to join the Clifton road, you will be looking directly towards the remains of Deddington castle. The 8.5 acre site consists of massive earthworks marking an 11th Century motte and bailey. The castle itself had already been destroyed by the end of the 14th Century. The earthwork and surrounding moat are now largely covered by mature trees, mainly sycamore and chestnut, but there are a dozen other species including ash, birch, oak, wild cherry and rowan. A varied flora flourishes under the canopy of trees.
   
   Please note that the route has been shortened. When viewing the map on the following tab, note that Steps 12 – 16 do not apply.

Clifton Loop - Wildlife

All of the following are regularly seen on the Clifton loop

Roe Deer

Recognition. Small & elegant. White rump patch with short tush in females. Black nose, white chin. Bounding gate when alarmed. Adult Size. 10 to 25kg, 60 to 75cm at shoulder (bucks - males slightly larger than does - females). Colouration. Summer: reddish brown. Winter: grey, pale brown or (occasionally) black. Antlers. Rugose, short (<30cm), 3 tines (points) on each.

Fallow Deer

Recognition. Intermediate in size between roe and red deer. The common variety is the familiar tan/fawn colour with white spotting (becoming long and grey with indistinct spots in winter) on the flanks and white rump patch outlined with characteristic black horse-shoe. The fallow is the only British deer with palmate antlers. Adult size. Bucks (males): 84 to 94cm at shoulder, 46 to 94kg. Does (females): 73 to 91cm at shoulder, 35 to 56kg. Antlers. Palmate in adult (>3 years), increase in size with age, up to 70cm long.

Muntjac

Recognition. Small, stocky, russet brown in summer, grey brown in winter. Long pedicles, short antlers and visible upper canines in bucks. Very large facial glands below the eyes. Ginger forehead with pronounced black lines running to the pedicles in bucks, dark U shape in does. Haunches higher than withers, giving a hunched appearance. Fairly wide tail, which is held erect when disturbed. Adult size. Bucks (males): 10 to 18kg, 44 to 52cm at shoulder. Does (females): 9 to 16kg, 43 to 52cm at shoulder.

Brown Hare

Fox

Badger

Kingfisher

Heron

Great Spotted Woodpecker

There have even been unconfirmed sightings of:

Black Puma

Lynx

Jungle cat