Hadrian’s Wall Hike-Day 5

Hadrian’s Wall Hike-Day 5

Introduction

Hadrian’s Wall at Willowford. Note that the vallum is now a farm track.

Today, I continued my hike west along Hadrian’s Wall covering about nine miles in ambient temperature but with cloudy skies and intermittent rain. Key highlights of the day were:

  • Encountering a ‘bridge to nowhere’.
  • Visiting Birdoswald, one of the largest forts on the Wall.
  • Encounter with an unusually friendly lamb.
  • Finding the tallest surviving section of the Wall (9 ft.) at Hare Hill.

Details of today’s exploits

I overnighted at Gilsland, a village which actually straddles the Wall. After departing my lodgings first stop was the local Poltross Burn Milecastle.(A burn is a stream.)

Poltross Burn Milcastle
Impression of Poltross Burn when operational

Next on to the excellent extant stretch of the Wall at Willowford. The key item of interest here are the remains of a bridge which are now located in the middle of field as the river (Irthing) has moved since Roman times and is now over a hundred yards from the Roman bridge.

Section of Hadrian’s Wall approaching Willowford
Now isolated former bridge at Willowford
Impression of Willowford Bridge when functioning

Next stop was Birdoswald Roman Fort, one of the principal such forts on the Wall. Like Chesters this site benefited from the attentions of a benevolent owner during the Victorian period. Only the granaries (food store) of this extensive site have been excavated. This site is of interest as there is evidence that occupation continued well into the 5th century AD, long after the departure of the Romans in AD 410.

Former granaries (food store) at Birdoswald
Plan of fort when operational
South Gate
Impression of life at the fort in the post Roman period

Today, the going was easy being relatively flat passing through interesting landscapes and farmland populated with sheep and cattle. Sheep were everywhere but they usually run off if a hiker gets too close. Unusually, today, a lamb actually walked towards me and permitted me to stroke it. For a short spell it then joined a group of hikers on their way. I suspect this animal had been a ‘pet’, possibly an orphan reared by the farmer, and therefore used to human contact.

Friendly lamb. (The red spot is just a dye)
Lamb joining group of walkers
Landscape view

The final feature of interest was connecting with the tallest surviving section of the Wall (about nine feet) at a spot named Hare Hill. When finished it is believed the Wall reached a continuous height of fifteen feet.

Hare Hill section of Hadrian’s Wall

End of the day

My hike terminated at Walton from where I availed of a transfer to nearby Brampton. Tonight, I am ensconsed in a comfortable hotel which could esily be used as a set for an Agatha Christie movie.

Tomorrow I head for Carlisle which is my final day.

More information

For more information on Hadrian’s Wall, the Antonine Wall and many aspects of touring Scotland please refer Visitors Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4

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