Hadrian's Wall Map 2010

Hadrian's Wall Country, Cumbria

One epic adventure

Experience Britain’s greatest Roman monument: 2,000 years in the making. Staggering in its planning; masterful in its execution; awe-inspiring in its scale. There can only be one historic monument in Britain that truly lives up to all this (dare we say) hype. And that’s Hadrian’sWall: our Roman Frontier.

Let’s deal with the figures which are somewhat staggering for a small island nation. Around 150 miles of World Heritage Site from South Shields to Ravenglass, including 73 miles - or 80 Roman ones, if you prefer - of Wall (of course, not all standing now - the passing millennia have taken their toll). There were once over 30 forts on the Frontier, including 16 along the line of the Wall itself alongside coastal, outpost and supply forts. Not to mention around 80 milecastles and 160 turrets, a ditch to the north and the great defensive Vallum earthwork to the south.

The creation of this colossal feat of engineering was a mammoth project; just imagine trying to plan and implement the ultimate in frontier control in today’s world.

Incredibly, it only took three Legions not much more than six years in all.
The result? 300 years of supremacy and 2,000 years of indelible legacy. Magnificent.

What on earth drove Hadrian in the first place? Well, until the 1st century AD frontiers weren’t needed - Rome had set out to rule the known world. By the time Hadrian got north in AD122, things had changed. Hadrian consolidated the Roman Frontier, both along natural features (like coasts and rivers) and by establishing man-made borders, of which the Wall is the foremost and best known.

A feature of frontiers, though, is their constant change. Hadrian’s successor was later to establish yet another frontier, the Antonine Wall, 100 miles to the north - perhaps the ultimate one-upmanship! Yet, the ebb and flow of the frontier saw Hadrian’s Wall revived, triumphant, after only 20 years of disuse. Things didn’t stop there: the Frontier continued to evolve as later emperors led powerful expeditions to the north. Today, in recognition of the Roman Empire’s enduring power and significance, the
UNESCO ‘Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site’ includes our Wall and the German ‘Limes’ Frontier too.

So there it was. And here it is. A stunning ‘necklace’ of Wall and forts across the north of England: Rome’s border control and line of military defence. At its height, the Wall would have been a busy, noisy, multi-cultural zone occupied by soldiers - and civilians - from all over the Roman Empire. Beyond lay the so-called ‘barbarians’: behind lay the civilised world.

Family fun
Sometimes it’s a challenge to keep the juniors occupied. There’s that balance isn’t there between keeping them interested, keeping yourselves interested and everybody enjoying themselves. It’s tricky. Hopefully the following suggestions will keep everyone happy, adults included.

Hands off our Romans
The opposite is true actually. There are places where hands-on is greatly encouraged. Take Arbeia where children of all ages can get their hands dirty excavating in Time Quest (after goggling at the reconstructions). At nearby Segedunum (take the Metro between the two, it’s a lot more fun), there’s an interactive virtual tour and an amazing Roman Baths reconstruction (imagine the ducks needed here!) Over in Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum, Centurion Quintus Petronius will tell you all about how to join the Roman Army and the Eagle Eye film soars skywards. Kids can
become the Roman Army’s latest recruits with special family events at Corbridge, Chesters, Housesteads and Birdoswald. See english-heritage.org.uk/events for more details.

For tales of bloodshed and violence, whiz to Rheged for the Discovering Cumbria exhibition or call in to Carlisle Castle for fearsome dungeons.

Getting them outside
Whilst doing loads of walking might be an issue, there are lots of short options, perhaps with a focal point that catches the imagination, such as the famous tree of Sycamore Gap – also known as Robin Hood’s tree when he was Prince of Thieves.

Pop into Once Brewed National Park Centre and get the family face-to-face with raw nature. If your brood are very good at the ‘let’s be quiet‘ game, they may get lucky and see a rare red squirrel. Or hire a bike and get some pedal power going. There are many do-in-a-day cycle trips to choose.

Railway Children
Train-mad boys will just love the Stephenson Railway Museum at North Shields. And a great day out would be riding on the Hadrian’s Wall Country Line. It’s not Roman but no-one will mind at all.

Visit website: www.hadrians-wall.org

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