{"id":"69847948533dbb4b73118865","title":"Walk 412 Silchester And Pamber Forest","path":"walks/scrapbook/by-year/2020/volume-31-jan-to-mar-2020/walk-412-silchester-and-pamber-forest","contentMarkdown":"# 🥾 Walk 412 - Silchester and Pamber Forest\n\nThe first walk of the year (and the first walk of the decade) was attended by 22 eager walkers, some BWWs, some from other groups and several newcomers trying us out. We met up at the Wall Lane English Heritage car park and set off toward the West Gate of the remains of the Roman Town of Calleva Atrebatum.\n\nWe followed the ancient city wall to the North Gate, where we stopped to look at the information board. Then we continued along the wall until we'd nearly reached the East Gate, where we diverted to the amphitheatre, which is outside the city walls.\n\n![The North Gate of Calleva Atrebatum.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume31/images/calleva_north_gate.jpg)\n\nAfter exploring the amphitheatre, we passed through the grounds of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin and back into Calleva Atrebatum where we saw a few alpacas. We followed the path that crosses the town from the East Gate to the West Gate where we made our exit.\n\nLeaving the Roman town, we headed south and then south-west through farm land before following a couple of quiet lanes that took us around the outskirts of Silchester. Some more footpaths through mixed woodland took us into Pamber Forest.\n\n![Alpacas, near the church in Calleva Atrebatum.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume31/images/calleva_alpaca.jpg)\n\nA short way into the forest, we found some fallen trees to use as benches and had our packed lunches. Then we continued heading west on a forestry road and, just as it reached the western perimeter, we swapped onto another path, the Brenda Parker Way. This took us back through the forest in the direction of Silchester.\n\nThe path became quite muddy as we crossed Silchester Brook and its surrounding streams. An uphill stretch of footpath brought us into Silchester village, close to the Calleva Arms pub.\n\n![Walking through Pamber Forest.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume31/images/pamber_forest1.jpg)\n\nAt this point, the group split into two. Most of us stopped off for refreshment at the pub while the others headed back to the car park, using a spare map I'd produced for such an occasion. We managed to find empty tables in the pub as we had fortuitously arrived as the Sunday lunch people were finishing up and leaving.\n\nOn leaving the pub, we followed the Brenda Parker Way back to Calleva Atrebatum and then took a short cut back to the car park. See our route on Google Maps. Although this walk was 6.5 miles long when I last led it in 2018, I added a little extra to it this time, making more like 7 miles. I don't think anyone minded as the weather was fine. (I wouldn't have done that if it was raining.)\n\n![Crossing a stream near Silchester Brook.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume31/images/silchester_brook.jpg)\n\n## 📸 Back to Volume 31\n\nReturn to volume index","contentHtml":"

🥾 Walk 412 - Silchester and Pamber Forest

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The first walk of the year (and the first walk of the decade) was attended by 22 eager walkers, some BWWs, some from other groups and several newcomers trying us out. We met up at the Wall Lane English Heritage car park and set off toward the West Gate of the remains of the Roman Town of Calleva Atrebatum.

\n

We followed the ancient city wall to the North Gate, where we stopped to look at the information board. Then we continued along the wall until we'd nearly reached the East Gate, where we diverted to the amphitheatre, which is outside the city walls.

\n

\"The

\n

After exploring the amphitheatre, we passed through the grounds of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin and back into Calleva Atrebatum where we saw a few alpacas. We followed the path that crosses the town from the East Gate to the West Gate where we made our exit.

\n

Leaving the Roman town, we headed south and then south-west through farm land before following a couple of quiet lanes that took us around the outskirts of Silchester. Some more footpaths through mixed woodland took us into Pamber Forest.

\n

\"Alpacas,

\n

A short way into the forest, we found some fallen trees to use as benches and had our packed lunches. Then we continued heading west on a forestry road and, just as it reached the western perimeter, we swapped onto another path, the Brenda Parker Way. This took us back through the forest in the direction of Silchester.

\n

The path became quite muddy as we crossed Silchester Brook and its surrounding streams. An uphill stretch of footpath brought us into Silchester village, close to the Calleva Arms pub.

\n

\"Walking

\n

At this point, the group split into two. Most of us stopped off for refreshment at the pub while the others headed back to the car park, using a spare map I'd produced for such an occasion. We managed to find empty tables in the pub as we had fortuitously arrived as the Sunday lunch people were finishing up and leaving.

\n

On leaving the pub, we followed the Brenda Parker Way back to Calleva Atrebatum and then took a short cut back to the car park. See our route on Google Maps. Although this walk was 6.5 miles long when I last led it in 2018, I added a little extra to it this time, making more like 7 miles. I don't think anyone minded as the weather was fine. (I wouldn't have done that if it was raining.)

\n

\"Crossing

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📸 Back to Volume 31

\n

Return to volume index

\n"}