Princes Risborough to Leamington Spa (110.90km; 1090m ascent)
The middle section, between Princes Risborough and Leamington Spa, is undoubtedly the toughest. There are two long inter-station gaps, each of which has been broken at about the only practicable bus stop along the way.
The route between Princes Risborough and Haddenham is rural and relatively flat. Beyond Haddenham and Thame Parkway, the rurality intensifies, with next to no facilities (stock up the rucksack at home) until Kingswood Crossroads, where there is the bus stop which provides the breakpoint on the way to Bicester North. Bicester is reached after some more countryside with the occasional village (most without facilities).
From Bicester, the route climbs gently to Fritwell, then there are some drop-and-climb parts before the descent into Kings Sutton and the flat towpath approach to Banbury. The hilly section between Banbury and Leamington Spa (climbing to Edge Hill and dropping into Kineton, then a succession of smaller hills, crossing the Fosse Way, and descending into Leamington Spa) is split in two, making use of the bus service or bed-and-breakfast opportunities at Kineton (which is the sole re-stocking point between Banbury and Leamington Spa).
All sections in this group await final checks, after which the directions will be published for those so checked.
| 15: Princes Risborough to Haddenham and Thame Parkway — 13.09km; 62m ascent | Map |
| 16: Haddenham and Thame Parkway to Kingswood (bus) — 15.59km; 196m ascent | Map |
| 17: Kingswood (bus) to Bicester North — 15.92km; 69m ascent | Map |
| 18: Bicester North to Kings Sutton — 20.07km; 221m ascent | Map |
| 19: Kings Sutton to Banbury — 5.97km; 20m ascent | Map |
| 20: Banbury to Kineton (bus, or b&b) — 20.52km; 304m ascent | Map |
| 21: Kineton (bus, or b&b) to Leamington Spa — 19.74km; 218m ascent | Map |
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