Stretching for 73 miles from coast to coast, the impressive Hadrian’s Wall once protected the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. Visit and experience Roman life and epic history in stunning locations.
Did you know? While Hadrian’s Wall itself ends at Bowness on Solway on the Solway Firth, its forts, milecastles and turrets can be found along the Cumbrian coast as far south as the village of Ravenglass in the Lake District. Today, it’s all part of the “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The history of Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall is a perfect example of Roman forward-thinking, planning, tenacity and power. Construction on the wall began in AD 122 under the reign of Emperor Hadrian, following a visit he made to Britain. It was built by the army of Britain, and took around six years to complete. As the Roman Empire’s northernmost frontier, its purpose was to protect the Empire from ‘barbarians’. Upon completion, Hadrian’s Wall ran for 73 miles from the banks of the River Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in north west Cumbria, before continuing down the Cumbrian Coast to Ravenglass.
Following Hadrian’s death in AD 138 the wall was briefly abandoned when the new emperor, Antoninus Pius, moved the frontier further north to the Forth-Clyde isthmus, creating the Antonine Wall. However this lasted for just 20 years before the Romans returned to Hadrian’s Wall, where they remained until the early 5th century when the Romans left Britain.
In the years that followed, Hadrian’s Wall was largely used for its stone, which was quarried to build everything from castles to farms - many of which still stand today. From the mid-1800s, the focus shifted to conservation of the wall and in 1987, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site; today, it is inscribed as part of the trans-national Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site.
Today, a significant portion of the wall still stands, along with many of its forts, milecastles and turrets. This impressive defensive fortification in northern England is today the most important monument of Roman Britain.
Places to visit along Hadrian’s Wall
There are plenty of places to visit along Hadrian’s Wall, including Roman forts, interesting museums, and the historic city of Carlisle.
Visit the Roman Army Museum, located next to the Roman Fort at Magna near Brampton, for interactive activities and a deeper insight into the wall’s history. Further west, you’ll come across Roman forts including Birdoswald Roman Fort and Banks Turret which offer insight into life on the wall.
Just a stone’s throw from Hadrian’s Wall, the city of Carlisle offers plenty to see and do. Enjoy its vibrant blend of new and old, with historic sites and attractions alongside modern eateries and shops. Carlisle Cathedral has stood for over 900 years, while there are also interesting galleries and museums as well as the impressive Carlisle Castle.
At the end of Hadrian’s Wall, the village of Bowness on Solway overlooks the Solway Coast: a National Landscape home to a rich variety of nature and wildlife, as well as spectacular sunsets. Bowness on Solway also marks the western end of the long distance walking route, the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail.
Along the Cumbrian Coast you’ll find Roman forts and museums telling the story of the Romans. The Senhouse Roman Museum in Maryport is home to an internationally significant Roman collection housed in a Victorian Naval Battery adjacent to a Roman fort. There’s also The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven which focuses on local maritime history, including a section on the Romans. Further south, see the remains of Hardknott Roman Fort on the formidable Hardknott Pass, and visit the village of Ravenglass: once the second most important Roman port on Britain’s west coast. Today you can explore the remains of a Roman bath house - which, at almost 4 metres high, are among the tallest Roman structures surviving in northern Britain.
FAQs
Where does Hadrian’s Wall start?
Hadrian’s Wall runs from Wallsend on the River Tyne to Bowness on Solway on the west coast in Cumbria.
Can you visit Hadrian's Wall from Carlisle?
Yes - in fact, the Frontiers of the Roman Empire UNESCO World Heritage Site runs right through Carlisle! Both in the city and nearby there are plenty of Roman sites to visit, including forts and museums. You can travel by car, foot, bike and public transport.
How long is Hadrian’s Wall?
Hadrian’s Wall is 73 miles long from coast to coast.
Can you walk along Hadrian’s Wall?
Yes! A popular way to explore Hadrian’s Wall is on foot along the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail - a long-distance footpath running from coast to coast.
Can you cycle along Hadrian’s Wall?
The long distance Hadrian's Cycleway - Route 72 is a 170 mile cycle route which follows Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman frontier from Ravenglass in Cumbria to South Shields in Tyne & Wear.
Is Hadrian’s Wall a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, Hadrian’s Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inscribed in 1987, it is today part of the trans-national Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site which runs from Ravenglass to South Shields in England, before continuing across Germany.
Is Hadrian’s Wall in the Lake District?
The curtain wall of Hadrian’s Wall runs across north Cumbria, however is not in the Lake District National Park. However, the village of Ravenglass stands in the Lake District National Park and marks one end of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site.
Did you know?
Did you know? Hadrian’s Wall was the main area of operations for the ‘Border Reivers,’ raiders along the Anglo-Scottish border from the late 13th century to the beginning of the 17th century. Their ballads and their words are now common in the English language such as “bereave” and “blackmail. Greenmail was the proper rent you paid, blackmail was “protection money”! Presidents Andrew Jackson, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon are all descendants of border reivers, as was Neil Armstrong, who visited the area the year after he walked on the moon
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