Chedworth Woods
This is a pleasant walk that includes the wooded banks of the River Coln. When planning the walk allow plenty of time to visit the Roman villa, owned by the National Trust, it is regarded as one of the finest examples in Britain. It gives a fascinating insight into 4th century Roman Britain and has some beautiful mosiacs.
Chedworth is an attractive, unspoilt Cotswold village around 600ft (183m) above sea level and extends for almost two miles along the valley of a tributary of the Coln. In the centre of the village is the Parish Church of St Andrew dating from Norman times, although it was substantially rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Perpendicular windows lining the nave are unusually large for a church of this size.
Directions:
a Use the car park near the villa. Walk back down the road to the gates on the right at the bottom of the hill and turn right along the track. Continue to the road and carry on a short way just past the house on the right.
b Turn right up the steps into the wood. Cross the first track and turn right at a second track. After about 30yds (27m) bear half-left downhill to the main track in the valley. Turn right and follow this track up the valley to the open field.
c At the entrance to the field, turn slightly left and head uphill across the field, aiming for the marker posts visible in the distance. Bear left slightly as you pass the two trees and join the road.
d Turn right for Â½ mile (800m) to a bridleway on the right just as the road starts to descend steeply.
e Turn right and follow the track, passing the buildings on the right and walk through several gates.
f As the track ends continue along the path which bears slightly right, just to the right of the gate straight ahead. Follow the path into the wood and continue downhill. Stay on the path to a stile and then follow the track straight ahead for a short distance. At the road turn left back to the car.
Places of Interest:
1 These are the remains of one of the largest Romano-British villas in Britain. It is thought to have been inhabited as a country house over a period of 250 years. The location was chosen for its sheltered position, water supply, and communications. The first villa was built in the 2nd century but was later altered and enlarged some time in the 4th century, from which the present buildings date. The first remains were discovered by accident in 1864 by a gamekeeper who began to notice fragments of Roman paving and pottery among the rabbit burrows. A museum now houses finds from the site, and there are several impressive mosaics of varying quality, the remains of two bathhouses and hypocausts for underfloor heating.The Romans introduced large edible snails to Britain and they can still be seen in and around the villa.
2 The ancient Chedworth Woods have a great diversity of flora and fauna. Ancient woods are those which were in existence before 1600 and because of this they tend to be very rich in wildlife. Bluebell, primrose and wood spurge can all be seen in the area as well as ramsons (wild garlic) and wild strawberry. There are also many woodland birds such as tawny owls, woodcock, nuthatch, blackcap, wood warbler and wren. In damp weather the large Roman snail which was introduced by the Romans might be spotted.
Gentle Walk
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