We did it! We walked the whole 12 miles. It rained, there was an excess of mud, and yet we had a really good day. “We” means Councillors Nick Barlow and Theresa Higgins, Mike (a friend), Lucy (my dog) and myself. There was quite a good turnout despite the weather, including a photographer from the Gazette and a reporter from Anglia TV. After a short photo session we set out (in light rain which continued, on and off, all morning) with Bob Russell MP and fellow-walkers from the Roman Circus starting gates at Abbey Field. We displayed an impressive collection of umbrellas as we went. Our route crossed St John’s Green and went under Southway into St John’s Street, then left at Scheregate Steps, and along the southern Roman town wall (which you can see inside the Lemon Tree Restaurant, formerly Traders, but not from the street) to the Headgate which was, as its name suggests, once an important gateway. Then along Crouch Street and up to the Balkerne Gate, Roman of course, once a mighty three-arch affair and still impressive, at the highest point in central Colchester. At that point Bob’s “urban roam” group and ours parted company: we headed west along Hilly Fields, through Lexden Springs nature reserve, to cross Spring Lane (where a spring emerges as the gravel meets the London clay; it is the site of old Lexden Village and of some of the oldest houses in Lexden). Then up across Lexden Park and along London Road. Fellow-walker Gwen and her dog left us at Nelson Road; we carried on to New Farm Road, which is the western boundary of pre-Roman Colchester. We turned south and walked for a mile or so along the ancient earthwork called Gryme’s Dyke (very muddy in parts) which took us to Gosbecks archaeological park. After pausing to read the noticeboard and admire the site of a Romano-British temple and very large theatre (marked on the ground only, though one day I hope it may be made more noticeable for visitors) we carried on along the bridleway which joined Olivers Lane. Then down a grassy track past the beautiful house called Olivers, noticing clumps of snowdrops just opening their flowers, to the Roman River, where we spotted a heron. We crossed the footbridge and headed up to Layer de la Haye through Chest Wood. Lots more mud! It was then about halfway and time for refreshments, so we stopped at the Donkey & Buskins. They wouldn’t allow Lucy in, so we had to sit in the smoking area outside. Then off again down the hill towards town, but just past the bridge we turned right along a public footpath up Bounstead Hill. That took us across some firing range land, and eventually to Friday Woods. We walked a fair distance through there, which involved a fair bit of map-reading, crossing a couple of streams (or was it the same one twice?) and negotiating some exceptionally gooey mud. A pack of young cross-country runners were passing us in the opposite direction, running and sometimes falling in the mud, which they were taking in good spirits. No couch potatoes here. By this time it was a pleasant afternoon with periods of sunshine. We came eventually to a road and turned left towards Berechurch, crossed Berechurch Hall Road and then followed a new cycle path through former Ministry of Defence land, now undergoing development, for a long way towards town. They could do with some dog poo bins along there! Whoever designed the cycle path route was clearly not a walker, as it zigzagged about in a rather annoying way for someone as tired as I felt who was just trying to get back to town. And I am not really a tarmac fan. Anyway, after considerable further plodding, we got back to Abbey Field to complete the circuit at around 4 pm. by which time my mind was fixed on having a cup of tea. And I didn’t get any blisters. A reminder: this was all to encourage people to donate to the Save the Roman Circus campaign: to do so online, just go to www.romancircus.org – and if you do, thank you. The accompanying photo shows us celebrating having completed our walk. Behind the white rallings is the site of the Roman Circus starting gates, and behind that is the former Sergeants’ Mess, which as you can see is a very fine building, and would make a great museum. Vive Colchester!

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