Hadrians Wall

[Yokel]

I'd be very grateful if anybody could give me places of interest to look at whilst I am staying near Hadrian's Wall. It's in the Hexham/Harlington region, so in the centre of the main body of the wall. Anything with historical importance, or any surviving ruins, or just tourist sites.

Thanks in advance,

Scott

[Morsleib]

How many do you want? Just off the top of my head:

Housesteads

Vindolanda

Corbridge

Birdoswald

Chesters

Brocolitia

Wallsend

South Shields

Some of that depends on how mobile you are. Try these sites:

http://www.hadrians-wall.org/

http://www.hadrianswallnorthumberland.co.uk/

Any or all of those are worth visiting. Housteads is the most spectacular site but takes a bit of walking to get to. Vindolanda, Wallsend and South Shields have various reconstructions.

I am hoping to get up there myself in the next few weeks to feed two of my interests - Roman Legions and Border Reivers.

Terry

[Phil]

We're off up there for a whole week, the week after next. To say I'm getting excited would be just to understate things a tad.

In my opinion, it's well worth getting a copy of the OS map of the Wall, because not only does it show the wall and the forts, it also shows & identifies the Stanegate and other 'lumps and bumps' in the ground. This, in my opinion, enriches one's appreciation of what went on in the area, including the period before the Wall was erected. There's a fair bit more there to see than just the Hadrianic frontier.

Cheers,

Phil

[Yokel]

Oh, that's brilliant. You're both like a one-stop shop for knowledge I'm sure the library will have the Ordanance Survey. I'll take a peek at the map and see the closest ones. The websites will be great as well.

I love walking in any natural place, but with the amount of history so obvious around those areas, it just fuels your interest and understanding of it all. I think that's what i'll be spending most of my time up there doing.

Thanks, and enjoy your time up there.

Scott

[Morsleib]

Yokel said:

<snip>I love walking in any natural place, but with the amount of history so obvious around those areas, it just fuels your interest and understanding of it all. I think that's what i'll be spending most of my time up there doing.

Thanks, and enjoy your time up there.

Scott

---

If you are a walking fan then there are lots of walks along the line of the wall itself. Just Google 'Hadrian's Wall' and you will get dozens of good hits.

As Phil said as well as the well known sites which i mentioned there are lots of minor ones which are worth a look if you are prepared to get out of your car a bit.

Terry

[Little Odo]

Phil said:

In my opinion, it's well worth getting a copy of the OS map of the Wall, because not only does it show the wall and the forts, it also shows & identifies the Stanegate and other 'lumps and bumps' in the ground. This, in my opinion, enriches one's appreciation of what went on in the area, including the period before the Wall was erected. There's a fair bit more there to see than just the Hadrianic frontier.

Cheers,

Phil

---

Thanks for the tip Phil - I will get me one of those OS maps as I am off up there from tomorrow!

Also no-one has mentioned the Roman Army Museum just up the road from Vindolanda. I haven't been there yet but will be going next week. I found out you can get a pass that allows entry to both Vindolanda and the RAM at a discount - a family ticket is £23.

If you don't mind a bit of a hairy drive, then just south of the wall in Hardknot Pass is a lovely Roman fortress. It is very isolated and windswept but well worth the effort visiting. But, again, be warned, the roads are treacherous and best approached from the West.

[Phil]

I like Hardknott. It has a very obvious parade ground too - it's the only level(ish) bit of ground anywhere near the fort, and has been deliberately cleared of rocks - much more noticeable than the same thing would be in lowland Britain.

But the roads aren't for the faint-hearted, particularly these days with so many selfish morons on the roads - those roads really require drivers to be well-behaved and courteous to stand any chance of being even moderately safe.

Phil

[Morsleib]

Little Odo said:

Also no-one has mentioned the Roman Army Museum just up the road from Vindolanda.

---

I hadn't even heard of that. It shows how long it is since I visited the area. It's on my itinerary now.

Terry

[Morsleib]

Well plans have come to fruition. We are booked into a hotel in Haltwhistle 31st Aug to 3rd Sept. I am looking forwards to getting into some Roman goodness as well as exploring some of the Border Reiver haunts.

Terry

[Guest]

I'll have to wait till next year, unfortunately.

But next Saturday I'll be taking the family to London to see the Hadrian exhibition, looking very much forward to seeing this one.

Hope we'll be seeing some pics once you are back!

Cheers

S.P.