Hadrian's Wall was built more than 1900 years ago by Roman Emperor Hadrian at Britain's narrowest point. The wall forms a barrier between the Wild Barbarian North and the Roman occupied Britain. The Wall was extended and enhanced with impressive stone defences following natural ridge lines and with a deep ditch 'The Vallum' and military road dug alongside it. Remains of Roman presence are still very much evident today. The 133km walking path through rugged moorland, rolling fields and dynamic landscapes opened in May 2003 making it a relatively new trail.
On this guided hiking holiday, enjoy the satisfaction of crossing Britain under your own steam, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea Coast while joining a small group of international travellers. Our experienced guide will add to your understanding of the history, culture and nature. A superb highlight of this particular tour is the free day in Once Brewed, here you can either rest, visit Housesteads Roman Fort or walk over to visit the extraordinary Roman site of Vindolanda, where some of the most exciting recent finds have been unearthed. There is a section of the wall between Banks and Carlisle which we cover by private transfer.
** History of Hadrian's Wall and trail **
The trail was officially opened in May 2003 after many years of negotiations with landlords and farmers to finalize the exact route which stretches 83 statute miles/133 km across town and country, forest and moorland, World Heritage Site and National Park. The actual wall however was constructed in 122 AD! At this time the Roman Emperor; Hadrian was having a lot of trouble with the restless natives to the north; those devilish blue painted Pictish and assorted Caledonian warriors were causing mayhem across the wild Northern frontiers and hassling trade and settlement.
It became imperative to create some kind of order and consolidate the extreme North of the Empire, especially after one of the legion divisions was withdrawn from Britain to fight the German tribes leaving Britain under defended. The wall was built “to separate Romans from Barbarians,” across northern Britain at its narrowest point between the Solway Firth and the North Sea. In its original form it was built in 6 years over 73 modern miles (80 Roman ones). It was extended and enhanced with impressive stone defences following natural ridge lines and with a deep ditch (The Vallum) dug alongside it. Later much of the stonework was mortared allowing it to survive the centuries to become one of the oldest structures in the country today. The amount of work and finance that would have gone into the wall was immense; even with slave or conscript labour. Post forts were built every Roman Mile over the of the route and are known as milecastles. At intervals huge garrison forts were built so that a counter attack or a raid could be organised at short notice.
These forts incorperated baths with hypocausts (underfloor heating). There were also gatehouses controlling access over the frontier forests and moors. So there must have been hundreds of skilled and semi skilled masons involved and thousands of labourers who were usually the legions. Even stone was brought in by boat on the Tyne, to supply areas where it could not be cut locally.
Things are more peaceful today, the Picts have disappeared altogether, absorbed perhaps into other tribes like the Scotti, the Romans have gone and much of the imposing defensive structures were dismantled and used for building and field wall stone. This means that you can enjoy “walking the wall” undisturbed, on this alternative Coast-to-Coast route. It is a great walk, with a lot of scenic variety from the modern, busy cityscapes of Newcastle Upon Tyne to the red sandstone hues of medieval Carlisle, from industrial Tyneside to the quiescence of Bowness on Solway. From the barren blustery heights of Highshields Crags in the Northumberland National Park; to the lime green pastoral scenes of the Eden valley. Omnipotent along the route the Wall snakes its way. In sections interrupting a housing estate here, popping up under a road there. Then from being little more than a grassy bank it transforms into stone and rollercoasters over crag tops and down into impressive fort like structures such as at Birdoswald and Housesteads.