Roman Calleva at Silchester

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Our view

"Revealing the history of this once-extensive Roman town and its impressive surviving walls."

Walk directions

From the church, turn right along the road. Just after the bend bear right at a gap, up steps, to follow the Town Trail along the undulating grassy top of the Roman town’s perimeter wall. At the South Gate (one of seven such entry points, although only four now remain) go through to the outside of the wall and follow the grassy path, with the wall now on your right. Continue ahead into woodland and follow the clear track round, with the wall looming to the right, to reach a wooden kissing gate at a junction of paths.

Turn left along the track through a second, right-hand gate signed to Silchester village. Follow the enclosed footpath to its end and straight ahead onto a gravel lane between houses. Continue ahead to meet the road. Here, turn right, passing the wooden Mission Church of St Mary the Virgin, to reach a road junction. Bear right then immediately turn left at the grassy triangle, which is signed towards Tadley. Walk with care along the road to a cottage called Heatherbrae and a parking area (which should be used on Sunday mornings to avoid parking at the church).

Turn right down the broad gravel track, walking past the gate into the managed woodland of Benyon’s Inclosure. Keep straight on this track, until the tracks cross by a green Englefield Estate sign just before the track starts to descend. Turn right here, following the path, at first flat and then gradually downhill to a fork. Keep left and cross the causeway beside the lake.

Where the main path curves left, keep right uphill, following a narrow, winding woodland path. Keep ahead across a wide grassy track (25yds/20m) from a gate on your right), and descend into thicker woods to cross a stream via a plank bridge. Keep right at a junction of paths and head uphill. Pass a barrier to reach the road by The Old School House.

Turn right, passing the church and The Red Lion pub, then take the second track on the left. Cross a bridge and follow the byway uphill. As it curves right and levels out, look for the yellow waymarker on a post on the left. Take the footpath left through the edge of a copse to a stile and proceed ahead, keeping left along the field edge to a stile. Cross a farm track and climb the stile opposite, then keep to the left-hand edge to a stile in the field corner, before crossing another track and stile. Continue ahead along the left-hand edge of the field, then bear diagonally right across the field to a stile by a gate, about halfway down. Walk diagonally across the next field to a stile by a water trough. Proceed straight ahead towards the power lines to cross a stile beside an oak tree. Bear right round the field edge and pass under power cables to reach a crossroads of tracks.

Turn right over a stile, and continue downhill to a plank bridge and a gate. Gently ascend the field and leave via a kissing gate and onto a sunken track. Turn right and pass a thatched cottage (The Mount) on your right. Where the drive meets the lane, a gate on the right leads to the Roman amphitheatre. Walk ahead along Church Lane, keeping right to return to the car park.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Field paths and woodland tracks, some stiles

Landscape - Open farmland, mixed woodland

Dog friendliness - Lead required on Englefield Estate; may need to be lifted over stiles beyond Mortimer

Parking - Church of St Mary the Virgin, Silchester. Avoid Sunday mornings, when you should use alternative parking by Point 3

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Hampshire Dog-friendly walks in Hampshire

About the walk

Tucked between Basingstoke and Reading is a pocket of gently undulating countryside. Here you will find stretches of ancient woodland, open farmland and a web of narrow, leafy lanes leading to isolated farms, secluded villages, stately houses and the site of the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum. ...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Hampshire’s varied landscape of hills and heaths, downlands and forests, valleys and coast are without rival in southern England. Hike across the chalk downland of the north Hampshire ‘highlands’, meander along peaceful paths through unspoilt river valleys of the Test, Itchen, Avon and Meon, or explore the lonely salt marshes and the beautiful medieval forest and heathland of the New Forest.