A Walk Along The Fleam Dyke

Fleam Dyke is a massive earthwork, a defensive ditch and embankment which runs for three miles between the villages of Fulbourn and Balsham. It's some 25 feet high and is thought to have been built by Anglo-Saxons to prevent raids into their territory by the Romano British. It's actually one of a series of four such dykes constructed to block the natural routeway along the chalk outcrop. It's thought that it was constructed in three phases during the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries AD.

The bank on the left, the ditch to the right

There is a public footpath which runs along the crest of the embankment, giving views of the surrounding countryside. As you walk it soon becomes obvious what a major undertaking this must have been for a people using only hand tools.

Looking down into the ditch

Much of the dyke has become choked with scrub in recent years though there are now attempts to open it up once again.

Clustered Bellflower

Where the scrub has been removed the wild flowers are returning, clustered bellflower grows particularly well here along with harebells, lady's bedstraw, rock rose, eyebright, dropwort and others. There were also numerous butterflies yesterday.

Harebells beside the path

The Dyke is also home to the only examples of native juniper remaining in East Anglia.

The path passes close to Mutlow Hill - not much of a hill to be honest, but it is topped by a low mound which is actually what remains of a Bronze Age burial chamber dating from 4,000 years ago. The foundations of a small Roman temple were also discovered near this spot.

The burial mound

Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers, Whitethroat and Blackcap were all seen along the way and a Buzzard passed close by. Just a few more shots to give a flavour of the walk:

 Take care