Hadrian's Wall (3/8)

 

In August 2009 we walked the full length of the Hadrian's Wall footpath from Wallsend in Newcastle on the east coast of England to Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast, a distance of 84 miles.

  

 

 

 

 

Chesters (Cilurnum) is one of the most extensive forts along the wall and includes a museum with a range of Roman artefacts mostly excavated two centuries ago by local landowner John Clayton. Had he not bought up and preserved sections of the wall much of it would not exist today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each mile along the wall was marked by a Milecastle where the sentries could prepare a meal, rest or shelter. Here I am at Milecastle 29 just west of Chesters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Temple of Mithras outside the Carrawburgh (Brocolitia) Fort. Worship of Mithras (a cult originating in Persia) and the Sun God was popular with the Romans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark is resting after the rain shower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here the wall rises well above the road. The picture shows me roughly half way between the Temple of Mithras and the cluster of trees at Sewing Shields in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here I am coming out of the wooded area of Sewingshields.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the sunlit water of Broomlee Lough, set against the gloom of the moorland - a stone's throw away from Sewingshields Crags. This was among the highpoints, literal and metaphorical, of the walk.

 

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