Midgham to Mortimer via Tadley and Silchester, 10.6 miles, easy/moderate

This walk will take us between Midgham and Mortimer stations via the AWE site and the Roman Silchester/Calleva Atrebatum site.

This walk will be led by Michael.

Please see our website for more information about the group.

Pace: medium. Ascent: 73m.

Walk details

Part of this walk will take us through Silchester’s Roman ruins, of which its origins can be traced as far back as the Iron Age Atrebates tribe. These were the main people in the area known as Calleva from the late 1st century BC, and after the Romans invaded Britain in AD 43, it became the large and important town of Calleva Atrebatum. However, unlike most Roman towns, the town was never reoccupied or built over after they abandoned it in the 6th/7th century, and because of this, archaeological investigations have given an unusually complete picture of its development. As a result, the complete circuit of the Roman walls are some of the best-preserved Roman town defences in England, and remains of the amphitheatre also still survive.

To celebrate Silchester’s long and rich history, we’ll be walking along part of the walls in today’s walk between Midgham station and Mortimer station. From Midgham station, we’ll start off by heading towards the AWE site in Tadley before we walk through Tadley village centre towards the common. From there, we’ll head towards Pamber Heath and Silchester Common towards Silchester village. After this, we’ll continue to head towards Silchester Roman ruins where we’ll walk around the northern walls towards the Amphitheatre. From here, we’ll start heading towards Foudry Brook, which we walk parallel to after we walk over the railway twice before we get to our finishing point at Mortimer station.

As this has no pub nearby, there’ll be no pub stop at the end of the walk. However, as we’ll be passing through Silchester village, we’ll be stopping off at The Calleva Arms pub, where we’ll possibly have lunch.

Travel details

By public transport

If you're travelling from Reading, you'll need to get the 09:43 GWR service, which arrives in Midgham at 09:59. For those who are travelling from Newbury, you'll need to get the 09:47 GWR service, which also arrives in Midgham at 09:59.

By car

Midgham station has a small car park on the north side of the station, of which you'd have to pay for the day. However, as this is a linear walk, you'd have to make your own way back to Midgham station from Mortimer via Reading West station.

Alternatively, Mortimer station also has a car park (charges apply) from where you could travel by train to the start of the walk and have your car ready at the end.

Notes

• Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
• It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
• Please contact the leader directly if you are delayed on the day or can't find the group (find contact details on our website). We are unlikely to respond to Meetup comments or messages sent on the day of the walk in enough time to be helpful.