Icknield Way

Infobox Hiking trail
Name=Icknield Way
Photo=DSCN1960-ivinghoe-beacon 1200x900.jpg
Caption=Ivinghoe Beacon lies on the trail
Location=East Anglia, England, United Kingdom
Designation=
Length=over Convert|100|mi|0 [ [http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/environment/countryside/activities/distance/icknield.htm Cambridgeshire county council] ]
Start/End Points=Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk [ [http://www.fatbadgers.co.uk/Britain/longdist.htm#Icknield%20Way Fat badgers long distance walks] ]
Use=Hiking, cycling, horse riding
ElevChange=
HighPoint=
LowPoint=
Difficulty=
Season=All year
Sights=
Hazards=:"This page refers to the old footpath Icknield Way. The modern footpath which partially follows the old route is called Icknield Way Path"

The Icknield Way is a long distance footpath in East Anglia. The Icknield Way is part of four long distance footpaths which, when combined, run from Lyme Regis, Dorset to Hunstanton, Norfolk and are referred to as the Greater Ridgeway. To the west the track, now usually referred to as the Ridgeway, can be detected as far west as Wiltshire, where it follows a course above the spring-line and below the escarpments of the Wessex Downs.

A modern path, the Icknield Way Path, roughly follows the route of the Icknield Way from the Ivinghoe Beacon to Knettishall Heath in Norfolk. [ [http://www.icknieldwaypath.co.uk/ Icknield Way Path] ] Another modern long-distance footpath follows the western course.

Background

It is one of the oldest roads in Great Britain, being one of the few long-distance trackways to have existed before the Romans occupied the country, of which the route can still be traced. The name is Celto-British in derivation, and may be named after the Iceni tribe, who may have established this route to permit trade with other parts of the country from their base in East Anglia. It has also been suggested that the road has older prehistoric origins. However, the name is also said to have been initially used for the part to the west and south (i.e. south of the River Thames) but now refers usually to the track or traces north of the Thames.

From ancient times, at least early as the Iron Age period (before the Roman invasion of 43 AD) and through Anglo-Saxon times, it stretched from Berkshire through Oxfordshire and crossed the River Thames at Cholsey, near Wallingford.

Somewhat confusingly, the name Icknield Way was transferred in the 12th century to a Roman road running from Bourton on the Water to Templeborough near Rotherham. This is now called Icknield Street or Ryknild Street to distinguish it from the older Icknield Way.

The route

In many places the track consists or consisted of several routes, particularly as it passes along the line of the escarpment of the Chilterns, probably because of the seasonal usage, and possibly the amount of traffic especially of herds or flocks of livestock.

At Wallingford, it meets the Ridgeway another ancient trackway, passes in a north easterly direction along the edge of the Chilterns past Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire through Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire to Knettishall Heath in Norfolk. It could be described as a belt studded with archaeological sites found at irregular intervals. Many modern roads follow the Icknield Way, for example the main road at Dunstable that crosses Watling Street (A5).

In some places, especially from the east of Luton to Ickleford (so named from the Way crossing a stream) near Hitchin in Hertfordshire the route is followed by many more minor roads, and is not distinguishable at all in many places, except by landscape features, such as barrows and mounds which line the route, and indentation presumably from ancient and frequent use.

The Icknield Way used to form part of the boundary between Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, and at one time Royston was cut in two by this boundary. Royston is where the Icknield Way crosses Ermine Street.

ee also

* Roman Britain
* Roman roads in Britain
* Iron Age
* Neolithic Age
* Ancient trackways

References

External links

* [http://www.wantage.com/museum/Local_History/Alfred's%20Palace_amended_.pdf Article about Anglo Saxon Wantage] with maps indicating street layout with the Icknield Way and a street with the name (Ickleton) clearly derived from it.