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You are here: Home > Things to Do > Birdoswald Roman Fort

Birdoswald Roman Fort

Site at Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria
  • Site at Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria
  • Children Playing at Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria
  • Family Viewing Signage and Exhibit at Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria
  • Family Looking out over Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria
  • Site at Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria
  • Family Exploring the Exhibition at Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria
  • Aerial View of the Site at Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria
  • Site at Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria
  • Visitors Walking a Dog at Birdoswald Roman Fort near Brampton, Cumbria

Type:Roman Remains

Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria, CA8 7DD

Add Birdoswald Roman Fort to your Itinerary

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Tel016977 47602

About

Birdoswald stands high above a meander in the River Irthing, in one of the most picturesque settings on Hadrian's Wall. A Roman fort, turret and milecastle can all be seen on this excellent stretch of the Wall.

With probably the best preserved defences of any Wall fort, this was an important base for some 1,000 Roman soldiers, succeeding an earlier fort of turf and timber. The section of Wall to the east, also of stone replacing turf, is the longest continuous stretch visible today.

Archaeological discoveries over the past 150 years have revealed a great deal about Roman military life at Birdoswald. Three of the four main gateways of the fort have been unearthed, as have the outside walls, two granary buildings, workshops and a unique drill hall.

People continued to live at Birdoswald after the Roman withdrawal. In the 5thC a large timber hall was built over the collapsed Roman granaries, perhaps for a local British chieftain. Later, a medieval tower house was raised here, replaced in the 16thC by a fortified 'bastle' farmhouse designed to protect its inhabitants from the notorious 'Border Reivers'. Later still in more peaceful times, a farmhouse stood there.

The Birdoswald Visitor Centre provides a good introduction to Hadrian's Wall with lots of hands-on fun and games for big and little kids alike. Discover the intriguing story of Birdoswald and the people who have lived there over the past 2,000 years, and take a quiz to work out what role you would have played in the Roman army. The rustic café serves a variety of refreshments indoors or on picnic table outside. Peckish walkers, cyclists and passers-by are welcome too.

If you would like to stay within the walls of the fort, there is a 39 bed residential centre, which can be booked for groups. It provides a great base for exploring this and other sites on the Wall, and is an excellent educational resource.

If you would like to find out more about staying at Birdoswald, please call 01697 747602 for a residential pack.

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Opening Times

Weekends Only (6 Nov 2023 - 23 Dec 2023)
DayTimes
Monday - FridayClosed
Saturday - Sunday10:00 - 16:00
Christmas - CLOSED (24 Dec 2023 - 25 Dec 2023)
DayTimes
Sunday - MondayClosed
Open Daily (26 Dec 2023 - 1 Jan 2024)
DayTimes
Monday - Sunday10:00 - 16:00
Weekends Only (2 Jan 2024 - 9 Feb 2024)
DayTimes
Monday - FridayClosed
Saturday - Sunday10:00 - 16:00
Open Daily (10 Feb 2024 - 18 Feb 2024)
DayTimes
Monday - Sunday10:00 - 16:00
Weds - Sun (19 Feb 2024 - 28 Mar 2024)
DayTimes
Monday - TuesdayClosed
Wednesday - Sunday10:00 - 16:00
Open Daily (1 Apr 2024 - 29 Oct 2024)
DayTimes
Monday - Sunday10:00 - 17:00
Open Daily (30 Oct 2024 - 5 Nov 2024)
DayTimes

Guide Prices

Free for English Heritage members
Adult Up to £12.50
Child (5-17 years) Up to £7.50
Concession tool-tip Up to £11.00
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) Up to £32.50
Family (1 adult, up to 3 children) Up to £20.00
See website for full pricing information

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Disabled access
  • Disabled toilets

Booking & Payment Details

  • Credit cards accepted (no fee)

Catering

  • On-site catering
  • On-site light refreshments
  • Picnic site

Children

  • Baby changing facilities
  • Children welcome

Groups

  • Education/study area
  • Facilities for educational visits

Meeting, Conference & Wedding Facilities

  • Facilities for conferencing
  • Facilities for corporate hospitality

Parking

  • Free Parking

Property Facilities

  • Dogs Accepted
  • Gift shop
  • Public toilets

Site Features

  • English Heritage Property
  • Regional Tourist Board Member

Target Markets

  • Accepts groups
  • Coach parties accepted

Access Information

Entrance

Entrance is well lit
Ramp to entrance

Public Areas

Baby changing facilities
Contrast markings on clear surfaces such as glass doors
Good contrast between the floor and walls
Hearing loop installed in public areas
Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift:
From the entrance to reception / ticket area
To a specially adapted public toilet suitable for wheelchair users
To the gift shop
Lift equipped with raised floor numbers or braille numbers or letters
Lift equipped with verbal floor announcements

Food

Good contrast between the floor and walls
High chairs for children
Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift to cafeteria
Restaurant / cafe provide meals for visitors with special dietary requirements:
Sugar free (diabetic)
Vegetarian
Seating suitable for wheelchair users, ie moveable and good height for person sitting in a wheelchair

Parking

Designated parking for guests with disabilities
Within 50 metres approx. of entrance
Drop-off point for guests outside entrance
The route from the parking area to the entrance:
Is flat (i.e. without steps)
The surface of the car park and pathway leading to entrance:
is solid

General

Audible alarm system
Displays at suitable height for wheelchair users / children
Effective lighting for visually impaired visitors
Good colour/tonal contrast for visually impaired visitors
Hearing loop system
Routes/pathways suitable for wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility
Seating available for visitors with limited mobility

This information is self-assessed; therefore we accept no liability for its accuracy. Please contact the venue for further information.

Tripadvisor

Awards

  • Other AwardsSelf-assessed Accessibility Information Self-assessed Accessibility Information
  • Visit EnglandVistEngland VAQAS Gold VistEngland VAQAS Gold 2018
  • Cumbria AwardsMember of Cumbria Tourism Member of Cumbria Tourism 2016
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EHHadriansWall

Map & Directions

Map Link

Click here to view map

Road Directions

Signposted from A69, 2 miles west of Gilsland, 8 miles east of Brampton.

Public Transport Directions

Accessible by Public Transport via Brampton

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