CORINIUM TO AQUAE SULIS DAY THREE

CIRENCESTER TO BATH MAINLY ON THE FOSSE WAY

18 MARCH 2015 - CRUDWELL TO GRITTLETON

The day started sunny and kept that way all day - magnificent walking weather for March.
We retraced our steps along the footpath through Crudwell and Chedglow, successfully avoiding getting electrocuted this time and got back on the Fosse Way.

The going was good today mainly on a Fosse Way looking like this section at the beginning.

This is Ashley Marsh Covert, a private wood, off to the right going south. There is nothing to be seen but there was a Romano British Settlement there and apparently sandstone roofing tile fragments are numerous in the ploughed soil. 

The Fosse Way runs to the west of the former Long Newton airfield now largely restored to agriculture.

A glimpse through an entrance way into the former airfield and there were a number of buildings that could date from World War II.

Before the B4014 there is this prefabricated pill box on the east side of the Fosse Way and another to the west of the route in a field.

This is the ford on the Fosse Way where vehicle users cross the Tetbury Branch of the River Avon.

 Fortunately pedestrians have the old footbridge next to it to get across.

At Whitewalls there is another earthwork in a wood believed to be of Roman origin. Between the wood and the Fosse Way is an industrial estate and although it is not advertised my old guide book told me it used to be a prisoner of war camp and in one of the old prefabricated buildings built to house them Italian prisoners had created a chapel and decorated it. These pictures are of the ceiling. Thanks to the occupier who was using it as a workshop for letting me in and showing me around.

 As you descend from Whitewalls to the Sherston Branch of the River Avon there is the site of a Roman settlement on both sides of the track shown above.

At the bottom there is this lovely bridge and a spot where we had a picnic lunch next to the river. There are also some display boards relating the archaeological significance of this site.

Having climbed out of the valley the photos above and below show the next pretty section.

The route then becomes a tarmac road through fields.

 On the way the road crosses a railway and passes Fosse Lodge with an interesting tower feature.

At Dunley the Fosse Way returns to being a rough vehicular track. South of Brimsol Spring we took the footpath south east across three fields to Grittleton to stay at the Neeld Arms www.neeldarms.co.uk located in The Street just east of the church. Excellent food, exceptionally well patronised for a Wednesday, rooms well appointed but the floor boards creaked.

 

A 12.8 mile day.