This walk takes in a section of Hadrian's Wall approximately 10 miles ( there and back again) with some of the most delightful scenery and fascinating sections of the Wall. I recommend stout shoes and be prepared for steep climbs and a some down hill scrambling along the way. Walkers should be of reasonable fitness, as this is quite a challenging walk and may not be suitable for small children and the very elderly. The walk starts here, at Housesteads Roman Fort in Northumberland. The Wall built by Hadrian between 122-126 and later extended by Septimus Severus

 

 

Housesteads Roman Fort (Vercovicium, the 'place of able fighters')
As I set out, the weather was fine but a little overcast. The best part about this walk, is that you are able to walk along the very Wall itself right from the start. Great way of getting you in the right frame of mind for all that is to come. Thoughts of work and other domestic problems just seemed a world away, in which they are, as you walk the path of the legions. My route was to take me over the highest sections of the Wall following the crags that made it almost impossible for the local people to remove the stone for building material once the Romans had gone.
Walking along the wall
The first of many milecastles
The Wall with its flower top
The view really started to open out as I headed down past the first of many milecastles on route. It's widely thought that the construction of the Wall was to separate the Romans from the Barbarians. The Barbarians were of course the Caledonian Picts and the huge local tribe known as the Brigantes, whose lands lay on both sides of the Wall. ItŐs also interesting to learn that Hadrian's Wall was first built, with many of its forts facing south in to the land of the Brigantian territory. This might suggests that initially it was not the Picts who were the greatest threat to the Roman occupation of northern Britain.
The view back along the Wall to Housesteads
The first view of Crag Lough
kgklliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Wall following natural geology

The view out across Crag Lough simply takes your breath away. The high crag giving this lovely piece of water its name. It must also have seemed just as delightful to those who guarded the turrets and forts. Another miss conception is that the Wall acted as a boundary between England and Scotland. This was never the case as both of these people did not arrive until three centuries after Hadrian's Wall was built. Just thought I would ad that bit in as many foreign visitors, even the general public look at the wall as everything over it Scotland and everything to south England.

 

kgklliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiThe view over Crag Lough
Another fine view ( you can tell I like it )
kgkgkgkgkgkgklllgkkThe view from the crag onto Crag Lough

Just past the crag I came to one of the better preserved milecastles. These buildings controlled traffic through sections of the Wall. The defences of the area were supplemented by these milecastles which housed garrisons of up to sixty men. They were built along the wall at intervals of one Roman mile and between each of these stood two smaller defensive turret which had small garrisons of four men. The forts, of which there were sixteen, each housing between five hundred and a thousand men, were the most important of the military garrrisons. Some of the men who occupied these forts and the other Wall defences were sometimes recruited locally, while others were brought in from far distant corners of the Empire.

 

 

 

kkMilecastle on the Wall
An Easier going section of the Wall
jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiijjjiA good section

Arriving at Shield on the Wall I had
achieved my destination. Unlike no
other walk I can think of, this route is
just as good when you retrace your
steps back to Housesteads.
The view in reverse is stunning all
the way. This walk took me the best
part of a day and that included
many stops along the way to take
lots of photographs. I hope in some
small way it inspires you to put on
your boots and discover this section
for yourself. Thanks for looking and
happy rambling

BTW . feel free to download and
use any of the images you see.

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllThe Author's tired feet.