Silchester Roman Walls and Amphitheatre

Once you find the Wall Lane car park, it's easy enough to find your way around the walls as long as you take the Southern exit out of the car park along the footpath.  Take a map though so you don't miss the amphitheatre.  To be honest, we actually missed the path back to the car park and got as far as the North Gate before we realised our mistake!

The 2.5 miles only took us an hour and a half.  It was just my 9 year old and me so it was easy to build up a bit of pace without distraction.

Once the footpath meets the wall you can continue into the middle of the old town and see the dig site.  Students from Reading University spend 8 weeks excavating the area in the summer and even have open days with activities for children.  Today they were in residence but didn't seem to be actively digging.

Archeaology students camping near the dig site

We couldn't work out what these holes were in the walls of the amphitheatre.  It would be interesting to find out.

View from one of the high paths around the amphitheatre

One of the steep paths leading down from the upper level.  Probably no historic relvance, but fun to climb (I'm told!).

We decided to follow the wall by heading back down Wall Lane the short distance to the wall footpath (the way we came).   

We continued around - through a gate and past the farm

However, this is the route back to the dig site, so we followed another path (past St Mary's church on our left) to meet the road. This turned out to be a private route through the farm (oops!).  We have visited the 17th century church before and it's well worth a detour if you have the time. 

View along the Roman Wall

Back towards the church with the wall on the left

We walked along the path at the top of the wall.  You can take a lower route along the outside if you prefer.

On the wall - how much fun for a 9 year old?!

View from top of the South Western wall

As you turn onto the Western wall (and we dropped down to the lower level) we spotted a stream.  It would have been a lovely place to play if we'd had longer.  We must come back again soon!

From the sheltered lower path we spotted several trees growing out of the wall.

Somehow we missed the path back to the car park and walked on as far as the North Gate.  By this stage we were running late and the last half mile or so involved lots of running and wrong turns!  It's hard to see how we managed this when you look at the proper route at the top of the page.  How could it be simpler?!  It was fun though and we laughed so much!

One very tired boy on the footpath back to the car park.

Wendy Booth - Portrait Artist