Challenge yourself to complete this famous 24-mile section of Hadrian’s Wall in 2 days. Starting at Lanercost Priory to the east of Carlisle, it includes the very best gems of the wall, including Great Chesters Fort, the imposing Steel Rigg, the iconic Sycamore Gap (where Robin Hood Prince of Thieves was filmed), the vast Housesteads Fort and many, many milescastles finally finishing in Chollerford.
84 miles in length Hadrian’s Wall traverses from Bowness on Solway on the West coast of England through beautiful countryside and historic cities to Segedunum Fort on the East coast of England. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, it is the best-preserved frontier of the Roman Empire. Building began in 122 AD during the reign of emperor Hadrian and included the stone base of the wall, forts every five miles, a military road, defensive ditches and milecastles. Astoundingly, a significant proportion of the wall still stands and you can clearly gain a sense of what it must have been like for the Roman Legionnaires to be stationed in this far-flung corner of the Roman Empire.
The trail is well signposted and despite the fact that it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern England, it retains a real sense of quiet wilderness. Take time out of your itinerary to visit a Roman Fort and one of the excellent museums such as Chesters Museum near Chollerford or simply sit on Steel Crag and admire the fantastic views and quiet solitude.