Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall runs for about 73 miles across northern England from Wallsend on the River Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway on the Solway Firth, and was begun around 122 AD under Emperor Hadrian as a frontier of the Roman Empire. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire listing. The remains vary from low foundations to stretches of wall standing several metres high, and are accompanied by milecastles, turrets and a series of forts. Housesteads Roman Fort in Northumberland is the best preserved, with a hospital, granaries and the communal latrines, and it sits on a ridge with sweeping views. Vindolanda, south of the Wall, is an active excavation site with a museum displaying the Vindolanda writing tablets, some of the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain. Chesters Roman Fort and its bathhouse, Birdoswald and the Roman Army Museum at Walltown offer further stops. The Hadrian's Wall Path national trail runs the full length for 84 miles, normally walked over six to seven days, and the AD122 bus service links the main sites in season. The most photographed sections are the dramatic Whin Sill crags around Housesteads and Sycamore Gap, where a famous tree stood until it was felled in 2023. A visit to one or two forts takes half a day, while walking sections takes longer. Crowds are highest in summer and on school holidays, particularly at Housesteads, while spring and autumn mornings are calm. Weather on the crags is exposed, and sturdy footwear is advised. Visitors should plan transport carefully, since the Wall is rural and sites are spread over many miles. The closest rail links are the Tyne Valley line between Newcastle and Carlisle, with stations at Haltwhistle, Hexham and Bardon Mill. Hexham and Corbridge offer accommodation and cafes, and Corbridge Roman Town has its own museum. Walkers should carry food and water, as services between forts are limited, and keep dogs on leads around sheep.