The Oaks at Hadden, Didcot

Welcome to The Oaks at Hadden Travel Plan website! We’re here to help you settle in, explore the best of your area and travel in a sustainable way. We’ll do this by providing you with up-to-date information on how to travel sustainably to access local facilities and public transport services. On this page you can find information on:

  • The sustainable travel voucher on offer
  • Your local area (including a map)
  • Local pedestrian network
  • Local cycle network
  • Travel by bus – routes and service information
  • Travel by rail – station facilities, ticket and service information
  • Car Travel options
  • Local Taxis
  • Deliveries

In each section we have also provided useful links to webpages that will provide further information which you may view and read whenever you like.

Your local area

Your home is located around 2km north of Didcot Town Centre where you can find many key amenities including a pharmacy, a range of restaurants, cafes and pubs, a post office, and bus stops. It is also around 2km away from Didcot Parkway Railway Station. These facilities are highlighted in the Accessibility map below.

Orchard Shopping Centre is also in Didcot Town Centre and contains Supermarkets, Clothing Stores, Discount Stores, Cafes, Restaurants, Banks and a Pharmacy, and is only a 25-minute walk from your home (or an 8-minute cycle).

Sustainable Travel Voucher

Each address in The Oaks, Hadden may be entitled to a sustainable travel voucher. One sustainable travel voucher is available per address. To find out if you are eligible, email us at travelplan@paulbashamassociates.com

Local Pedestrian Network

With lots of amenities and things to do, why not get out on foot and explore the local area? Walking has many benefits including:

  • It’s free.
  • Increasing your cardiovascular fitness
  • Lowering anxiety and stress
  • Boosting your energy and improving your mood
  • Strengthening your bones, improving your balance and boosting your muscle power.

It is only a 25-minute walk into Didcot Town Centre. So why not walk into town and leave the car at home?

Local Walks

Fancy walking for leisure? The Didcot Nature Trail is an opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy and explore the local area, become more active and learn more about the diverse natural world around us. Visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/south-oxfordshire-district-council/sports-and-activities/didcot-nature-trail/

There are also a range of walking groups to get involved with. They are a great way to be social, meet new people and get out and about in the fresh air and the beautiful countryside.

These groups include:

  1. Didcot and Wallingford Ramblers: Part of the national Ramblers Association and 1 of the 10 Ramblers groups in Oxfordshire. As well as led walks, walking holidays and summer BBQs are organised. Visit: www.ramblers-oxon.org.uk/didcot-wallingford.html
  2. Didcot Hash House Harriers:  (Didcot H3 or DH3 for short) are a social running and walking club exploring areas around South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and beyond. All are welcome. Visit: www.didcoth3.co.uk
  3. The Active Communities Team in South Oxfordshire District also offer friendly group walks, designed to keep people active within their local community. Walks take place regularly throughout the week, with differing levels and routes available. Visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/south-oxfordshire-district-council/sports-and-activities/active-communities/community-walks-2/

Public Rights of Way

There are also plenty of Public Rights of Way in the local area including footpaths and bridleways, shown on the map below. Use these to get around your local area without having to worry about cars! There is also a footpath running along past the Railway Centre and towards the railway station: use this as an offroad route from your home into town and back!

You can view this map in more detail online: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/environment-and-planning/countryside/countryside-access/public-rights-way/public-rights-way-online

Local cycle network

Cycling is a great activity that provides multiple physical, mental and environmental benefits. Did you know that it is approximately an eight-minute cycle into Didcot Town Centre?

The Benefits of Cycling!

  • It saves you money
  • It’s an easy way to build physical activity into your daily routine
  • It’s good for your mental health
  • Cycling can play a huge part in tackling air pollution
  • Fresh air, freedom and fun

Cycle Routes

A selection of cycle paths are located near your home in Didcot allowing easy connections around your local area. See the map below for more information and how to connect to these cycle routes.

National Cycle Routes (NCR) 5 and 544 run nearby your home. NCR 5 runs from Reading to Holyhead, but locally, provides links north towards Abingdon and Oxford and south towards Wallingford and Reading.

NCR 544 runs south west providing a local link to Wantage. Use the map above to show you how to connect to these cycle routes.

Join a cycle club

Into your cycling? Want to cycle along new routes? Or simply want to make new friends? Get involved with Didcot Phoenix today! They offer a variety of rides including Sunday club rides. These run for 3-4 hours with a cafe stop along the way. For those that want to take up racing, sessions also run specifically forto this. Visit www.britishcycling.org.uk/club/profile/1544/didcot-phoenix-cc

Want some route information? Visit www.letsride.co.uk/routes for some inspiration if you would like to get out on your bike but you’re not sure where to go.

Halfords Didcot

Your nearest bicycle shop is Halfords, based in Didcot and only a 6-minute cycle away. They sell range of cycle equipment and accessories, as well as offer a free bike check to ensure your bike is safe.

Cycle Hire

Don’t want to commit to buying a bike? Why not hire one to try it out? There is a cycle hire hub from Didcot Parkway Station allowing you to hire a bike whether it’s for commuting or leisure.

Travel by Bus

Your local operator is Thames Travel, part of Oxford Bus. For timetable information and fares, visit www.oxfordbus.co.uk/. You could also get the Oxford Bus App. You can use this app to buy tickets online, track your bus, get live departures, and get access to exclusive offers. Visit www.oxfordbus.co.uk/app for more information.

So why take the bus?

  • The walk to and from the bus stop is a great way to incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine.
  • Relax and read a book whilst you travel to your destination.
  • Season tickets offer unlimited travel on services and can prove cheaper than running a car.

Your local bus services

The nearest bus stops to The Oaks at Hadden are located at Franklin Gardens, just under 800m away (10-minute walk). Other bus stops are also available nearby, which can be seen on the map below.

Franklin Gardens bus stops have a flag and a pole bus stop sign as well as timetable information.

Franklin Gardens is served by the X36. This service is operated by Oxford Bus and runs northbound to Wantage and southbound Didcot Town Centre and Didcot Parkway Railway station. Services run every 20 minutes Monday to Friday, and every 30 minutes on Saturday.

Service 95 also links to Culham Science Park. This service also serves Franklin Gardens, with 2 services in the morning and 3 in the evening. This service is also operated by Oxford Bus.

Coming soon…

Exciting news! New bus stops directly outside The Oaks are planned, making it even easier to take the bus to town, the railway station and much more. They will be called Lady Grove! Check out the bus map to see where they will be located.

Travel by rail

The nearest station to The Oaks, Hadden is Didcot Parkway Railway Station, located around 2km south of your home. The station is approximately a 24-minute walk or an 8 minute cycle. Additionally, the X36 bus provides a service to the train station which takes around 12 minutes.

From Didcot Parkway, Great Western Railway services run on a frequent basis to key destinations such as:

  • Reading (12-minute journey time)
  • Oxford (18-minute journey time)
  • London Paddington (40-minute journey time)
  • Banbury (47-minute journey time)
  • Bristol Temple Meads (56-minute journey time)

Didcot Parkway Railway Station is equipped with a range of facilities to support you with your journey including:

  • 682 cycle spaces
  • Toilets
  • ATM machines
  • Waiting room
  • Wi-Fi
  • Step Free Access
  • Telephone

For all live journey updates, timetables and tickets, visit www.gwr.com or download the free GWR App.

Cycling to the station

If you’re a keen cyclist and fancy getting the train, visit www.nationalrail.co.uk/on-the-train/train-travel-with-bicycles/ for more information. This will give you all the essential information to ensure a stress free cycle and onward journey.

Get a railcard

Purchasing a Network Railcard will give you up to a 1/3 off rail fares and will allow you to travel across 16 counties in the South East (inc. London). Visit www.network-railcard.co.uk. You can also obtain a range of different railcards including for Veterans, Senior Citizens, and 16-25 year olds.

Car travel options

Car sharing

Car sharing is a great way to get around your local area for day trips or work events at a fraction of the price. A commuter can typically save around £1,000 a year by car sharing. Reduce stress and cut your carbon footprint at the same time. For more information visit: www.hub.liftshare.com/regional/oxfordshire

Electric Vehicles

Considering the national move towards hybrid and electric vehicles in the coming years, now is the time to make the switch and go electric!

Electric and hybrid vehicles are more affordable than you think and can offer remarkable benefits such as:

  • Lower / no fuel costs
  • Lower / no emissions tax
  • Lower maintenance costs
  • Eco-friendly with no emissions.

In addition to the charging points available at home the following electric charging points are available in your local area:

  • Tesco Superstore
  • The Orchard Centre
  • The Prince of Wales Pub

Zapmap provides useful information on public charging points. Visit www.zap-map.com/live to see the location of charging points across the country.

Efficient driving tips

Still need to drive your own car? There are many ways to help your fuel efficiency, which in turn saves you money on your fuel bill. Why not try some of the following techniques:

  • Remove unnecessary weight from your car such as roof racks or boxes
  • Avoid breaking and accelerating hard by driving smoothly
  • Limit the use of your air conditioning
  • Check your tyres are fully inflated
  • Stick to the speed limit – speeding often leads to higher fuel consumption

Local Taxi services

There are a range of local taxi services in your area, two examples are:

  1. Allo Taxis: 01235 603055, https://allotaxididcot.com/
  2. 001 Taxi: 01235 812812, https://oxfordshire001taxis.com/

Deliveries

Rather than having to travel to the shops, why not have your groceries and other items delivered to your doorstep? You could always speak to your neighbours and other residents and coordinate your deliveries to reduce the number of trips required, which will be better for the environment!

There is also an Amazon Locker by the junction of Cow Lane and Tyne Avenue, a 17 minute walk from your home. You will probably walk or cycle past this locker on your way to and from Didcot Parkway station or the town centre.