A summer round-up of attractions, events and stories helping South Oxfordshire visitors enjoy the super weather includes record breaking plants, a gruelling swim, new electric bicycles and the enduring popularity of the Midsomer Murders trails.

1. Henley hosts The Chilterns first electric bicycle network
A network of electric bicycles based in Henley-on-Thames means there's no need to drive to explore the Chilterns countryside. Novice cyclists can keep their cool heading into the Chiltern Hills with the effortless flick of a switch. The bikes are available to hire from Henley Cycles; Swiss Farm Touring & Camping and The Chilterns Valley Winery.

2. Record breaking Delphinium grows at Waterperry Gardens
Many years ago, horticulturalists at Waterperry Gardens, Wheatley, planted a delphinium plant, unaware of the colossal heights it would later reach. Thanks to this year's weather conditions the plant has since grown to an enormous 9ft 2¼ inches, a height likely to earn a Guinness World Record.  It certainly takes Waterperry's herbaceous border to new heights.

3. Festivals, festivals
Take three examples - Rewind, Towersey and Bunkfest. Think 80's hair and shoulder pads. Think great music, dance, street theatre, visual art, film and song. Think family friendly, a magnificent range of real ales and singing trains (historic steam engines and vehicles).

4. Henley's Bridge to Bridge swim
With things hotting up day by day, this gruelling 14 km open water swim is not for the fainthearted. More relaxed than a race, this is for serious open water swimmers seeking a long distance challenge and an opportunity to take in the scenery of downstream Henley. It's with the stream which makes progress feel surprisingly easy - a bit like cycling with a tail wind the whole way.

5. Hollywood comes to South Oxfordshire - again
Recently spotted filming The Monuments Men nearby in the Chilterns were director George Clooney along with Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett and Jean Dujardin, star of The Artist. Some scenes shot in Fingest, used St. Bartholomew's Church and the village pub Chequers as backdrops. To give the church a more mediaeval feel the production crew requested Rev Jeremy Mais not to cut the grass for several months in the run up to filming.

6. Midsomer Murders
It's one of the hottest shows on TV and sees increasing coachloads of Scandinavian tourists discovering the gorgeous Oxfordshire locations of Causton, Midsomer Newton and Midsomer Mallow. Demand for the two available self-guide trails continues to grow as well as local guided tours, location books and hotel special offers.

www.southernoxfordshire.com                
www.visitmidsomer.com

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For further information please contact:
Jackie Ellis
Tel: 01273 622656
Email: jackie@tourism-angles.co.uk