Womens Thoughts

If you are thinking of walking part of Hadrian’s wall which stretches 135km across the northern part of the UK, let us at Women’s Thoughts suggest what is consider by many, to be the best stretch of wall along the Northumberland National Park of approximately 8 miles, running parallel to the B6318 from Greenhead west to Chollerford east.

This section houses the Roman Army Museum which gives you a clear insight into the everyday lives of the multi-cultural soldiers, who came from all over the Roman Empire to serve on Rome’s most Northern frontier.

You can park your car at Housesteads, a dramatically sited Roman fort on the crags of the Whin Sill.  Extensively excavated and consolidated, there are visible remains of barracks, granaries, a hospital, latrins and the remains of a large civilian settlement outside the fort.

From here you walk up and down dips following the wall in a westerly direction along often wild landscape with vast panoramic views, to a section called Sycamore Gap which houses a solitary Sycamore tree tucked neatly into the dip of the landscape where the wall runs along, made famous by the film Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves, with Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.

You continue along this superb section of the wall, passing "milestones" along the way that housed up to 15 soldiers at any one time.

You can curtail your journey at a landscaped quarry site with picnic tables, toilets and cycle storage. At this point is another milecastle that brings you back onto the B6318 where a small public house, The Milestone Inn serves food all day. A very welcome site to the novice walker!

Alternatively you can continue along the rugged landscape back to the Roman Army Museum which lies beside the site of Carvaron (Roman Magna) which awaits excavation.

We were able to telephone for a taxi from the Milestone Inn – and waited for our journey back to the car parked at Housesteads, having enjoyed good pub grub and a much needed coffee.  (Please note that between 2.30 & 4.00 you may have to wait as local taxis all appear to do the school run.) If you wish to book in advance, try www.600600.co.uk or phone ecocabs 01434 600600

There are many historical sites to view over the weekend within a small radius.

Roman Vindolanda houses the largest collection of roman buildings to be seen on the wall.

Chesters Fort is the best visible remains of a Roman Cavalry Fort in Britain, situated in Chollerford where we stayed at The Georges Hotel – fine for an overnight stop if a little tired in its décor. 

The town of Hexham has a beautiful abbey with quite a lot of eating places – Italian and Indian do seem to be the most popular!

However if you are looking for somewhere a little more quaint in appearance, may we suggest Corbridge – The Black Bull or The Angel serve very good food at a reasonable price and there are many small coffee houses and individual shops to browse for an enjoyable few hours.   

Related articles:-

Pub Guide and a travellers rest recommendation

Walking the walls of Chester

Short Stay in Ludlow