Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian’s Wall was the best defended border in the whole Roman Empire. When Hadrian became empire in 117AD the Roman Empire ceased to expand and 5 years later when he visited Britain in 122 AD, he ordered a wall to be built between the Solway Firth in the West and the River Tyne in the east "to separate Romans from Barbarians". Remains of this wall are still visible in the middle of the beautiful Northumberland landscape. Archaeologists continuously make new and exciting discoveries and many aspects of Roman life are reconstructed. Commanding officers lived in style, which is clearly visible in the Arbeia Roman fort in South Shields. In Segedunum close to the River Tyne in North Shields a still functioning Roman bathhouse can be found. The personal belongings from the occupants of Vindolanda Fort were found in an almost perfect state. Many of these archaeological sites can be visited and there is a special Hadrian’s Wall bus service. The most spectacular part of the wall can be found between Birdoswald in Cumbria and Housesteads in Northumberland. Many footpaths give people the opportunity to make walks along the remains. In 2003 a new long distance walk of 80 miles was opened following the complete length of Hadrian’s Wall.