Illustration — photo coming soon
High on the Cotswold scarp near Birdlip, you're walking one of Roman Britain's most important roads.
Ermin Way connected Calleva Atrebatum at Silchester in the south-east with Glevum at Gloucester to the north-west, serving as a crucial route for military movement and trade across the province. The engineering feat of keeping it remarkably straight across the landscape is still evident today, even though much of the original Roman surface has vanished beneath modern roads and field paths.
Standing here, you're looking at over two thousand years of continuous use. It's not difficult to picture legions marching or merchants travelling this same stretch, and the high vantage point makes it easy to see why the Romans valued this location strategically. The views across the Severn Vale are expansive, and there's something absorbing about appreciating how Roman engineering has literally shaped the terrain beneath your feet.
The location is easy to reach and works well as a stopping point during a drive or walk through the area. If you want to go deeper into Roman history, Cirencester is a short drive away with the impressive remains of Corinium Dobunnorum, once the second-largest city in Roman Britain. Gloucester, equally rich in Roman heritage, is also within easy reach. Both make natural additions to a journey exploring the region's Roman past.
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