CycloMe: Hadrian's Wall

Much has been written about the Roman occupation of Britain, so I won't attempt to describe it here. The wall and the forts that guarded the northern border are fascinating and located in a scenic area that is well worth spending a week to explore.

Cawfields Milecastle on the Roman wall

Our week started with a visit to the Norman castle of Prudhoe (pronounced prudha), one of many castles and fortified houses in Northumberland designed to keep out the marauding Scots following the Norman Conquest.

The gatehouse at Prudhoe Castle

We based ourselves at Haltwhistle, which is an ideal location from which to visit the major sites by a combination of bus and walking.

If you have time to view them, we took quite a lot of photos while walking stretches of Hadrian's Wall. We were glad not to be hiking the entire length of 73 miles from Wallsend on the River Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway, which some people we met were doing in less than ideal weather.

The Roman forts we visited shared some similarities - the Romans were methodical - but each had it's special character. Most of the sites are run by English Heritage, so it is worth joining to get free entry. Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum are the exceptions, run by an independent charity.

	Vindolanda - a superb site in a scenic location, famous for the Vindolanda tablets and a large collection of leather shoes in the site's museum.
	Birdoswalds Roman Fort - a typical Roman fort protecting an impressive bridge over the River Irthing.
	Roman army museum - on a wild section of the wall. Combined ticket with Vindolanda, although the museum is perhaps not as good as the one at Vindolanda.
	Chesters Roman Fort - well preserved cavalry fort and baths in a scenic location overlooking the Tyne. The site museum has a good collection of inscribed objects.
	Housesteads Roman Fort - located in a windswept location dominating a high part of the wall, with cramped barracks contrasting with the extensive commander's house.
	Corbridge Roman Town - home to skilled artisans and the main base for re-supplying the other forts along the wall. The site museum has some prize exhibits including the best preserved plate armour from the Roman world.