Hadrian's Wall

LEFT: Hadrian's Wall by Houseteads Fort near Hexham, Northumberland. (Note: Walking on the wall is now discouraged by preservationists.)

Hadrian's Wall is one of the major attractions in Northern England. The surviving portions of the ancient Roman stone wall run across the Border Country of Northern England from Carlisle to Newcastle upon Tyne.

The wall was intended to protect occupied Britain from the unruly Picts, who--in Rome's view, at least--preferred savagery to civilization. Work began under the Emperor Hadrian in 122 A.D., and the 74-mile (119-km) wall was completed in just six years.

Today, the best-preserved sections of wall are in a 20-mile (30-km) section between Hexham and Haltwhistle in Northumberland. You'll find walls, fortresses, camps, and other ruins (some restored) along with museums and information centers.

Reaching the wall

Buses run from Carlisle and Newcastle to the main attractions and visitor centers along the wall in summer, making it practical to combine public transport with point-to-point walks.

Trains are another option. The scenic Tyne Valley Line connects Carlisle, Brampton, Hexham, Haltwhistle, and Newcastle upon Tyne. In summer, you can change to the Hadrian's Wall buses at the Haltwhistle and Hexham stations.

If you're driving, follow the B6318 "Military Road" along the wall or head north from the A69 at Haltwhistle.

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