Dreaming Spires of Oxford

A much better vantage point than Boar's Hill. Must find this.

Get yourself some golfing gear.

If not from the golf course itself (is there public access?) from where was this taken? Was it late afternoon?

8.14pm from above Chilswell Farm. The golf course might be better, but you could get your face dented by a white missile.

It's a similar POV from boar's Hill but closer and far better - although the OS map shows pylons (very visible from Boar's Hill) South of Chilswell Farm, they're not visible in this shot. Perhaps they're concealed by the rise of the golf course. I wish I'd known about this POV. But even from here it must need a very long lens. Did you crop the shot?

I'm going to have to get this shot somehow or another, even if it means being in Oxford late in the day and carrying the tripod et al a mile or more from the nearest parking place. How did you get up there?

The first time I came here, I walked FROM Boar's Hill. I didn't find your viewpoint but went up Jarn Mound, from which I could see nothing but trees. So I followed a footpath running north-east and found this spectacular view from above Chilswell Farm.

On this second occasion, I walked along a footpath from Harcourt Hill, expecting to get a closer shot, but the view was mostly hidden until I reached the same place as before. There probably are some better vantage points, but it needs exploring. The problem is that if you stand too far north you get the Northway tower block behind it.

With my long zoom, I could get right in without needing to crop the sides. But I had to crop it top and bottom to get rid of excess sky and foreground buildings. I was shooting blind, as my viewing screen isn't very good and I have no tripod to steady myself. In this shot I have unfortunately missed the edge of Exeter College on the left, but it was the best shot for clarity. Hopefully I'll do better next time.

I suggest you drive up from the Hinksey Hill Interchange and up Chilswell Lane. It's then a short walk up the grassy hill south of the farm.

Ah, all is revealed. I too climbed Jarn Mound, and there being no view from it, assumed that they'd be no point in going any further, but I could easily and should have taken that same path. From the OS map it looks as though this grassy mound is where the 3 footpaths meet.

I'll park up at Boar's Hill because it's unlikely I'll be able to in Chilswell Lane. How did you get to Boar's Hill without private transport?

The grass hill is before you get to where the footpaths meet. The path goes down the hill to the farm. I ended up in Boars Hill after walking from Bessels Leigh, but there is a bus service from Oxford to Boars Hill. I drank three cups of tea when I got back, but that was obviously very STUPID.

And no water? It was.

Oh, I had plenty of water in my tea. Did you think I drank it neat?

Very funny. You've milked that one for all it's worth.

Black humour and black tea, cos I've run out of milk now.

Free speech in universities:

a duty to offend:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm3__LMnXR0

student censorship of ideas:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0VVbsKA-wo
CENSORED

censorship makes people stupid:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBATlxWuW5U

universities must choose between "social justice" or truth:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaQ-ZF9S3uk

We should NOT support no-platforming:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=njj_rG_9HKM

Woke University Indoctrination Intensifies:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUB40qQ_0B0

Woke British Universities Scrap Writing Skills as a Requirement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=orMfune6xtI

Young & Unwoke - The REAL Rebels refusing to swim with the woke tide
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tTe0Gl8YYE

I must, must MUST go again one day (perhaps next month) and try to get that shot from that POV. But (the last was 9 years ago) have I still got the energy needed to lug all the necessary gear up there?

Just take a camera. That's all the gear you need.

The very long len needed (which I bought specially for, 9 years ago, and only ever used) for this shot will work on my present camera but it needs a tripod. The lightweight tripod I had disintegrated in Venice last year, but the solid one which I've had for 46 years is still good. The question is whether or not I am.

I think I've found the spot on the map. I've got a couple of solo walks mapped out in the Eastern Cotswolds, so DV I'll do one on a suitable, sunny weekday next month and do this on the way home when the sun will be in the West and low.

Good luck with that.