Walking the Wall

I have dreamed of walking portions of Hadrian's Wall for some time now. There is an almost mythical appeal about it for me. I knew some parts of it are challenging, but that quite a bit of it is slight undulating inclines and declines. My husband and I do a bit of day hiking from time to time, such as climbing Cadillac in Maine and some of the Shawangunk Range in upstate New York. Nothing could have prepared me for this four hour journey! While on a map the distance from the Walltown Crags to Steel Rigg isn't long, the topography of the land makes it very challenging at times, with almost vertical climbs and steep slippery downhill scrambles. The view makes it all worthwhile, though! Here are a few images from our journey.

Our journey began at the Walltown Crags.

Up and over we go!

What goes up...

 

...must come down. Jennie, my friend and travel companion makes her way down one of the many "hills."

 

Several sections of the hike require walking through farm property. Can you guess where the builders of this centuries old farmhouse got the stone to build with? Look closely and you'll see the signature square-cut blocks from the wall.

 

The cows did not look amused, so we steered clear of them!

This farm sits on top of the mostly unexcavated Aesica Fort.

 

This altar from the fort sits at the entrance to the farm. Fellow walkers have left coins as offerings.

One of the most spectacular sights along the wall. I was thrilled when I realized we didn't have to climb it! This is an old quarry.

 

This is one of the best and highest preserved sections of the wall.

Everywhere you look there are clues to the past, but the land hides many secrets beneath.

As I learned on the dig, you must look for "the humps and bumps" in the landscape. The vallum (the ditch around a fort) is unmistakable

 

Jennie taking what we call a "panting break" on a steep uphill climb.

Truth be told, I'm taking a break, too, insisting we stop for a photo!

Another climb ahead!

 

Another break to look back at our latest accomplishment. A lovely straight stretch of wall, too.

These low bits are jokingly referred to as "Hadrian's Shelf."

 

Up again!

 

Yikes! This time horses are waiting for us. I wonder what they think of all the walkers?

At the very top we had to go on all fours to negotiate a very craggy and muddy bit.

 

A light mist waiting for us at the top, but it was absolutely worth it when we reached the highest point.

 

Our four hour walk at an end with so much wall ahead of us. Another time, perhaps.

 

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