World Heritage Site Hadrian’s Wall is one of the most popular, and famous tourist attractions in the North of England. The construction of the wall was ordered in AD 122 by Emperor Hadrian, its aim to provide heavy fortification in the wake of military difficulties in Britain, and serve as a symbol of Roman power. The wall took around six years to complete, with a variety of turrets, forts, and milecastles built along the route.
Today Hadrian’s Wall is a designated World Heritage Site, which runs from Arbeia at South Shields to Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coastline. The site is 150 miles long, featuring 84 miles of the National Trail system for walkers. Although at some points along the route, all you can see is the line of the wall, there are many preserved parts of both the wall, and it’s fortifications to explore. Walking and cycling are two of the most popular ways to explore Hadrian’s Wall, with suggested walking routes marked out on the National Trail or in the book ‘Walking In Hadrian’s Wall Country’. Cyclists also have a choice of routes, including some that run to the west of Carlisle. These include the Roman Solway, which runs through Bowness on Solway, a village built on an area at the western end of Hadrian’s Wall, and the Silloth-Abbeytown route. This cycleway runs through the seaside town of Silloth, and also passes by the remains of Holm Cultran, a 12th Century Abbey.
The Abbey is just one of the notable landmarks close to the line of the wall. English Heritage manages quite a few sites, some of which are free to explore. Following the wall out to the West of Carlisle is Banks East Turret, Hare Hill, which is a small 8ft high stretch of the wall, Pike Hill, one of several signal towers that pre-dates Hadrian’s Wall, and Poltross Burn, a Milecastle.
There are also some larger attractions alongside Hadrian’s Wall, which charge for visitor entry. Close to Carlisle this includes Birdoswald Roman Fort, a site which is a haven for wildlife, and also welcomes visitors to its tearoom, visitor centre, and farmhouse style accommodation.
Further afield the excavated Roman Town at Corbridge, Housesteads Roman Fort, and Chesters Roman Fort and Museum are also worth a visit. There’s also a program of special events such as re-enactments, exhibitions, and local festivals/fairs held yearly throughout the area.
In the summer season, the dedicated Hadrian’s Wall Bus Service runs daily between Newcastle and Carlisle, so if you’re still stuck for ideas of where to go and what to do, this service is ideal. It stops at many attractions, towns, and villages along the way, so you can hop on and take your pick.
With plenty to see and do in all directions around the route of Hadrian’+s Wall, and a mix of traditional market towns, and major cities like Newcastle and Carlisle within easy reach, this can prove to be an ideal place to stay as well as visit. So why not take your pick of country pubs, self catering lodges, or city centre hotels, and explore all Hadrian’s Wall Country has to offer.
