Roman Way

by: Elaine Steane
The Roman Way is a 174 mile walk, on the theme of Roman roads, using public rights of way. It follows a triangle formed by three Roman roads from Chesterton, near Bicester in Oxfordshire to Cirencester in Gloucestershire, and on to the Roman walled town of Silchester in Hampshire, returning to the Roman military fort at Alchester near the starting point.

The route follows Akeman Street as it crosses the limestone heights of the Cotswold Hills to Cirencester, then south-east following the Ermin Way across the Wiltshire Downs, through the village of Speen in Berkshire, descending to cross the River Kennet as the Romans did. The Way continues through the heathlands and pine forest north to Dorchester on Thames. From this Roman settlement the route goes directly north beside Oxford and across Otmoor, the marsh where the Romans built a bridge to reach the fort at Alchester.

The book divides the Roman Way into 17 sections, all of which have suggested access points for shorter distances, information about public transport and taxis, car parking and a list of tea shops, pubs and accommodation. Each day's walk is accompanied by the relevant sections of the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map with the route clearly outlined in red. For each section Ordnance Survey map sheet numbers are given plus start and finish grid references and a summary of the sections features and terrain. The navigation instructions are comprehensive and clear and useful background information about places of interest is provided in text boxes which includes archaeological, historical, botanical and local anecdotal detail.

The walk sections are as follows:
Chesterton to Sturdy's Castle, near Kidlington - 8.5 miles
Sturdy's Castle to Ramsden - 9 miles
Ramsden to Burford - 10.75 miles
Burford to Coln St Aldwyns - 10.1 miles
Coln St Aldwyns to Cirencester - 11.5 miles
Cirencester to Cricklade - 9.7 miles
Cricklade to South Marston - 10.5 miles
South Marston to Aldbourne - 11 miles
Aldbourne to East Garston - 9.3 miles
East Garston to Donnington - 8.75 miles
Donnington Castle to Woolhampton - 9.5 miles
Woolhampton to Silchester - 9.7 miles
Silchester to Bradfield - 10.3 miles
Bradfield to Ashton Upthorpe - 11.5 miles
Ashton Upthorpe to Dorchester - 11.5 miles
Dorchester to Oxford - 12 miles
Oxford to Alchester - 10.5 miles

This book is now out of print but we have several copies that are not in pristine condition. They are new books but have scuffed covers and slight corner damage. Internally they are fine and perfectly OK for planning and walking this route. We have reduced the price from £9.99 to £6.99

ISBN 9781874192022 Pages 208 (2010) 148mm x 210mm