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Silchester Circular Walk

This is a circular walk of about 7 miles around the area of Silchester Roman Town (ancient Calleva).

There is a pub at the start ( and therefore also at the finish - The Calleva Arms).

Take snacks and drinks for this one, 7 miles is a long way so take your time and plan a long day in the woods, play on the trees, enjoy walking the Roman walls at the end - hunt for Roman pottery in fields around...

Car Park

Depending on the day there is car parking on the playing fields on Pamber Road or at the Village Hall. Probably best at the playing fields  - and that's where this walk starts).

The Route

1. From the playing fields car park cross Pamber Road into Dukes' Ride.

2. Head down Dukes Ride until you come to a footpath sign forking to the right.

2. Follow this bridleway all along the back of the houses in the woods, it will start to descend to a little stream - - follow this and the path to the left - have a play on the fallen trees and follow the path right to a small bridge. Cross the bridge.

3. The path now heads across a marshy muddy area and slowly heads up gently into the woods.

4. Keep following this path - crossing a main track - but keep following the same line - you'll pass the local sewage works on your left as you do.


5.  Eventually this same path leads onto a road, the Silchester Road / Little Loddon Road, cross it to the path directly in front of you.

6. Follow this path through Beech woods and along field boundaries - it will emerge into a fairly young plantation which can be very boggy. Head down the left of this plantation and then turn right at the end.

7. You emerge onto a field, head down the left side and you'll come on to a road - Frog Lane, Turn Left and follow the lane.

8. At the end of Frog Lane turn left on Ash Lane and walk up a gentle slope past the farm on your right.

9. Pretty much immediately after you'll see a high stile in the fence on your right, cross it and follow an open field boundary - you'll notice a horse stables on your left.

10. At the far corner of this field stay on the path as it crosses a stream and into a long field.

11. You will follow the left hand side of this field almost until the end when the field merges with a lane. Walk on the lane continuing along the side of the same field until the junction.

12. Turn left down Clappers Farm Road and follow it all the way to the ford at Clappers Farm. Just before the ford is a kissing gate on the left, take this and walk to the small footbridge - crossing it into the next field.

13. Follow the track/path until it turns ninety degrees to the right, you'll see the footpath in front of you through the middle of the field up the hill.



13. Walk through this field along the right hand side - at the end you join another path through a rising field and you should see Silchester Church ahead and to the right.
(You're now on the edge of Roman Calleva, anything orange and brick-like in this field is ROMAN!)

14. As you emerge onto the road - Church Lane - you need to decided to follow the top of the Roman walls or the track around the edge - they merge after a while so take either.



15. Its a lovely walk round the walls until you finally come to a footpath leading left. Take this path.

16. You're now heading back to your start - follow this straight path - that leads to houses and becomes a cinder road.

17. It emerges next to a Scout hut on Bramley Road - go directly over the road to the path leading into and through the woods, it will emerge next to the Silchester Village Hall and the playing fields for your starting point.



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