Summary (by AI): I enjoyed a fabulous and highly recommended bike ride through the beautiful, unforgotten eastern Cotswolds in Oxfordshire while exploring the area around Diddly Squat Farm.
Blog: A few years ago, I picked a ride off Komoot fairly randomly. It was somewhere close to the Oxfordshire Way, and about halfway through the loop, I suddenly realized I’d stumbled right onto the Diddly Squat Farm Shop. It dawned on me then that I’d effectively been cycling all around Clarkson’s Farm. It was a great ride, so when it came time to plan my "O" entry for Oxfordshire in my ABC biking series, I decided to do a proper variation on that route.
I got out the OS maps and tried to pinpoint exactly where Diddly Squat Farm actually sits. I knew where the shop was, but after a bit of digging, I worked out that most of the farm lies a bit further south. I planned myself a new route on Komoot and off I toddled.
I wouldn’t say I’m a massive Clarkson "fanboy" or anything, but I have to admit, having "Clarkson’s Farm" or "Diddly Squat" in the title of a post is great clickbait. You’ve got to play the game sometimes!
It turned out to be another fabulous ride. We’re currently in early April 2026, and we’ve been hit with a period of beautiful high-pressure weather. It’s lovely and sunny, though still a little bit cold. For the first three quarters of the loop, it was perfect, but the last quarter was a bit of a slog—I ran into some headwinds that really reminded me it’s still early spring, despite the bright sun.
I started the ride in Chadlington, which is a lovely, "Cotswoldy" town. It’s funny because while this area is technically the Cotswolds, it’s the far eastern edge. It’s not the high-profile, tourist-heavy part like Burford or the Rissingtons; it feels more like the "unforgotten" part of the Cotswolds, and it is just beautiful.
There was a specific section where I rode down a lovely farm lane that runs right through the heart of what I’m fairly sure is the farm itself. I found myself looking at a property that I suspected was Clarkson’s farmhouse, and some post-ride research confirmed I was right.
Most of the route followed the Oxfordshire Way, and I hardly saw a soul the whole time. I also crossed onto the D'Arcy Dalton Way, a long-distance path that skirts the western edge of Oxfordshire, following the unbuilt line of a proposed 1930s bypass.
I thoroughly recommend this loop if you’re looking for a ride in a stunning part of the world. And for those wondering: no, I didn’t spot Jeremy or Kaleb out in the fields !
The Map: