Walk No 1: Starting from Streetly Gate
Suggested route about 2.5 miles (approx. 1.5 hours)
To download a copy of the route map - please click here or on the image of the map below
From Streetly Gate follow the path to the right of the panel. Turn along a path to the right into the woodland. After a short distance this path crosses the Roman road.
Marker No 1.1 is near the path
The Roman road consists of a raised carriageway or agger of compacted gravel, slight ditches along each side of it dug to mark the route for the road builders and many pits on each side of the road where gravel was quarried to make the agger.
Return back to the main path and continue along it and over the railway line. Take great care over the level crossing. The path now leads you along the Roman road.
Marker No 1.2 is alongside the Roman road
Walk along the Roman road to the edge of the Park, and along the path, keeping the fence of the pony enclosure to your right. Just after the path goes through a gate you can see a bank and ditch which subdivided the medieval deer park. Continue along the path.
Marker No 1.3 is on the left, in front of the Park perimeter fence
The ditch and bank boundary of the deer park, created in the 12th century by King Henry I. Originally the bank rose over 2 metres above the bottom of the ditch and was topped by a paling fence to stop the deer escaping. You can see the ditch and bank along the whole of the Park boundary from Four Oaks Gate to Banners Gate.
By the Milking Gate pedestrian entrance to the Park turn right downhill and then fork left. Continue along the path.
Marker 1.4 is on your right and points to one of the burnt mounds, which has an oak tree growing on top of it.
The burnt mound was formed about 3000 years ago from discarded heat-shattered stones. They were heated by fire, then water was poured on them to produce steam for a “sauna”. You will see stones with jagged edges and hairline cracks on the mound. Pick them up and look at them, but do not remove them from the site. Look around you to spot more burnt mounds.
Continue along the path, turn right at a junction and follow the path downhill to Little Bracebridge Pool.
Marker 1.5 is near the bench next to the pool.
Little Bracebridge Pool was originally part of Bracebridge Pool. Hollows in “The Bowers” may be peat pits that were later enlarged to entice ducks for shooting. The brick arched bridge over the stream was built in the 19th century.
Walk over the bridge and turn left along the track.
Marker No 1.6 is beside the path
The bank and ditch (woodbank) was constructed around Darnel Hurst in the 16th century to keep grazing animals out of coppiced wood.
Continue along the path, cross the bridge over the railway and continue through Darnel Hurst up to the tarmac road. Turn right along the road to get back to Streetly Gate. Watch out for traffic.
