Dip of Happiness

Monks Causeway Dip of Happiness

Half way between the bridge of virgins and the ancient boundary between Wessex and Mercia on the Monks causeway into Oxford.

Who could fail to be moved by this place? I see lots have travelled far and wide, not unlike the Grand Canyon, to experience the site.

From a local writer:

“Monks Causeway aka Hinksey Causeway is an ancient footpath extending from Osney Mead to The Fishes PH. It was originally used by Monks and villagers to travel from North Hinksey to Osney Abbey and thence Oxford. It is partially elevated so stays relatively usable even in winter. It is also possible that it was the route for the underground lead pipes and culverts that carried Oxfords' water from North Hinksey Conduit House to Carfax Conduit which was built in the 17th Century.

Bridges now exist where it crosses the Bullstake and Seacourt Streams but originally these would have been fords and one theory is this is where the name for Oxford derives from Oxenford as cattle would likely have been driven along this route.

The first bridge over the Bullstrake Stream is known as Kingfisher Bridge as in summer the water is shallow and clear and kingfishers can be seen catching their dinner. Often larger fish like Chub can be seen especially in July

The bridge at the other end over the Seacourt Stream is shown on Maps as "The Bridge of Virgins" although there is no context as to why.”

I am still missing the words to describe the experience at the dip of happiness. I arrived with a plan, but I left with confusion. This is what this is all about?
You often say 'the journey is the destination', but in this case the great reviews made me loathe the journey and only measure the walk by its destination. Instead of enlightened, I felt puzzled, even restless. It raised more questions than it answered. Don't think I'll be coming back. But at least that's a finding.

Having travelled all the way from Perth, Australia to visit the notorious Dip of Hapiness, I was delighted to find it free of the usual pilgrims. My visit coincided with the Pope’s funeral — for which I would like to extend my gratitude to the Vice President of the United States — which had evidently drawn away those still intent on seeking their hapiness in the supernatural.
I would urge them to forsake their fantasies and instead make their pilgrimage here, where true hapiness awaits — undisturbed, scandal-free, and entirely real.
I would also urge the selfish pilgrims who removed the sign — likely in an attempt to monopolise the Dip for themselves — to return it, so that others might find their way to this pure and undiluted font of scientifically verified serotonin.

We traveled from Wisconsin just to see the dip of happiness and it lived up to the hype. We were quite despondent after our red eye flight and worn down by the suits and crowds of london. All of that went away the moment we dipped through the dip. Truly one of the top 5 dips I've visited.

This is a review of the Ferry Hinksey Road to the Fishes Pub, North Hinksey, foot/cycle Path featuring the Dip of Happiness.

The foot/cycle path between Ferry Hinksey Road and the Fishes Pub in North Hinksey (apologies about this but hereinafter referred to as FHR2FP) is one of the most beautiful in the city. It ought to be celebrated. But, in reality, it is the Cinderella of the city’s pathways.

Willow Walk, which runs parallel to FHR2FP, is much more popular and widely acclaimed. It’s pathway is smooth, level, and its stony surface gives it an all weather surface. Cyclists can cycle along this pathway in a carefree daze.

Whilst Willow Walk is regarded as royalty, FHR2FP is treated as a pauper.

Both pathways are surrounded by an avenue of trees beyond which meadows are visible (sometimes even the same ones). However, FHR2FP’s river and the wildness of its greenery make it seem much more beautiful than its sibling. It has more of an air of serenity about it than Willow Walk.

FHR2FP also has lots more character. It has two bridges (which are real), two walkways (which pretend to be bridges but are not) and a livestock crossroad. The two walkways rather pretentiously proclaim themselves as bridges. They are not. Do not be deceived.

FHR2FP’s path is frequently narrow and bumpy. At the best of times its muddy track is dry. At the worst of times, it is not. Tree roots often protrude from the muddy track making progress even more arduous and hazardous.

FHR2FP’s struggle for recognition begins even before visitors get to it. It is virtually impossible to find the entrance to the pathway off the Ferry Hinksey Road. It might be thought that such an area of outstanding beauty would warrant a grand entranceway and lots of brightly coloured signs and flashing lights. But instead it is not merely unobtrusive it is almost seedy looking, very uninviting. It is also half hidden by a huge electricity sub-station.

The first bridge that visitors come to on the FHR2FP pathway is over a small river. This river comes from Tumbling Bay off the Thames. It is an extremely well known river recognized by everyone in the city because it’s the one that passes by Waitrose on the Botley road. Not surprisingly, it’s much the poshest river in North Hinksey.

The second ‘bridge’ has a sign on it stating ‘Danger Bridge’. This can’t be a warning sign since the self proclaimed bridge is only, at most, a foot off the ground. It is actually a wooden walkway. But, quite bizarrely, like something out of ‘Alice in Wonderland’, it is a walkway that pretends to be something more than it actually is. Visitors wondering what ‘Danger Bridge’ means tend to focus their concern on the word ‘Danger’ thereby inadvertently condoning the use of the word ‘Bridge’. The walkway tries to fool visitors into thinking it is a bridge by calling itself a bridge. But it’s no more a bridge than it is dangerous.

The next structure that visitors come to is the ‘Dip of Happiness’.

There really is a dip between what is left of the two stiles. Its weird how photographs take an exact copy of reality and yet on many occasions it’s difficult working out whether the perspective is up or down. It was difficult photographing the dip but, in the end, I succeeded. It was created by the hooves of cattle as they moved from one field to the other. When they were moved the cattle knew they were going to fresher pasture which made them very happy - hence the Dip of Happiness. Thankfully the wooden fence structure of the ‘Dip’ was much more modest than the two walkways and refused to call itself the ‘Dip of Happiness’ bridge.

The fourth structure is another walkway. It has also given itself a name. It likes to be called the, ‘Bridge of Death’. The fact that it too is barely inches off the ground should make visitors suspicious about its claim to be a bridge.

The fifth and final structure on the FHR2FP pathway is a real bridge over another small river.

FHR2FP is one of Oxford’s most beautiful and characterful pathways.