Last Sunday, in the warmer sunlight after the snows had melted, 33 ramblers set off to make a circular walk of 6 miles from Venta Silurum (or Caerwent).
There were many places of interest – and something new for everyone. Our informative leader shared her knowledge of the Romano-Celtic Temple, the forum and basilica – surely the first Welsh Assembly - and the ruins of the Roman dwellings.
Having just scratched the surface of history, we crossed the fields, ascending to Highmoor Hill. Looking back, we could see the walls of Caerwent, the military base and Llanmellin Hill Fort. We heard how the residents of Dinham had been subject to compulsory purchase to make way for the military base, (some of us wondered if the old Silureans had been subject to similar compulsory purchase to give way to the Romans), we learnt why the military base was constructed just there –for its close proximity and access to massive water supplies from the Severn Tunnel.