UK 2021 - Day 08 - Sunday 11/07/21

For many this day will be memorable as one of the saddest days since 1966, for us it’s more about enjoying yet another wonderful walk.  

Regular readers will remember at Easter 2019 we walked to Chedworth Roman Villa from a different hotel, in much nicer weather, but that aside our walk today is just as delightful. 

The villa is quite exceptional, having been occupied for over 200 years until the Romans left Britain around 410AD. Until then it had become an extensive “executive home” with many trappings of luxury like underfloor heating, sauna and stream room, many reception rooms, even two dining rooms and kitchens! After that if fell first into disrepair and later into hiding as the forest consumed it. 

Only in the mid C19 was it discovered and, thankfully, sympathetically preserved by one of Lord Eldon’s sons, a professional archaeologist. Since then it’s been a work in progress, indeed even as recently as 2018 an 18m long mosaic corridor was discovered, although this has now been reburied until such time a a proper plan (and funds) have been put in place to handle it correctly. 

After an excellent visit we purchase sandwiches and then set of on our return journey, stopping at the church of Chedworth to take in lunch. Afterwards we head back, again crossing the Fosse Way, one of the amazing Roman roads that literally devides England from corner to corner. 

We manage an hour in our garden with G&Ts before the cold and rain drive us inside, but that’s fine as we’re meeting friends for drinkies soon enough. 

Later we arrive for dinner at 20:00 only to discover the restaurant is almost empty and those remaining are gulping down puddings as though the World is about to end. We enjoy smoked trout (from across the road) and pea soup before rare côtes du boeuf and finally mille feuille and chocolate ganache with salted caramel ice cream - all absolutely wonderful - and a restaurant just for us with five waiting staff.