In the largely undocumented days
between the departure of the Romans and the settlement of England by Saxons,
Angles and Jutes, a dyke, with its ditch facing north, was constructed across
the Wiltshire Downs. Long stretches of the eastern bank of this wall, named by
the Saxons 'Woden's Dyke' or 'Wansdyke' survive, running across the open
expanses of the Marlborough Downs. During the week, you will walk alongside,
and occasionally on, Wansdyke, at times veering away from the dyke to visit
other Saxon sites, such as Alton Barnes and Adam's Grave. The terrain on the walk
is hilly and occasionally overgrown, but generally good underfoot. The walks
will vary in length from between three and five miles.
MONDAY
From the College we
climb the hill behind the College, enjoying views over the Town and the
Downs beyond. We will head towards West Woods, a western outlier of Savernake
Forest, where we will pick up our first traces of Wansdyke.
Dikes in the English
landscape - Iron Age, Roman and Anglo- Saxon
TUESDAY
Wansdyke leads us
through West Woods and past traces of an abandoned village at Shaw. We leave
Wansdyke to climb towards Adam's Grave and south to Alton Barnes.
The End of Roman power
in England and the coming of the Jutes, Angles and Saxons
WEDNESDAY
From the escarpment of
the Downs, we head back to Wansdyke, now tracing a more dramatic and isolated
line across the Wiltshire landscape. At Tan Hill we again head south to the
road near All Cannings.
The new kingdom of
Wessex.
THURSDAY
Wansdyke now crosses
Bishop's Cannings Down and joins the Roman road on Morgan's Hill
The impact of
Anglo-Saxon settlement on the modern English landscape.
FRIDAY
As Wansdyke merges with
the Roman Road to Bath, we follow this new line as closely as possible through
Stockley and on towards Chittoe.
The possible courses of Wansdyke on its route towards
Bath and Somerset.
Adrian Woodford
About Adrian
Adrian Woodford has worked as a
guide from the mountains of Nepal to the streets of Venice. He has written
walking guidesto France and Italy, and run a series of walking weeks at
the Marlborough Summer School.
