Hadrian`s Wall Part 2

We woke to a beautiful day and after a very good breakfast at the Centre of Britain Hotel, we set off for Housesteads Roman fort.

We decided to go here because we heard that it would take a whole day to visit Vindolanda.

Our aim was to walk some of the wall whether on it or beside it.

Vindolanda was built before the wall and some distance away.

We arrived at Housesteads before anyone else was around, so we had the whole fort to ourselves for at least half an hour. 

We made the long winding walk up the hill, bathed in sunshine.

There was a small museum at the top where we were very pleased to see a short film which reconstructed the fort in all its former glory. It was very useful to see before our exploration. 

I am not going into lots of history here .... it is easy enough to look it all up on line .... but lots of information caught my imagination.

Here are the Roman loos.

Positioned in the bottom corner, set some distance from the other buildings with deep channels for runaway rainwater thus flushing away the ordure.

I loved the fact that it was open plan and that sponges on sticks replaced loo paper. I am intruigued  to know if soldiers had their own personal sponge!!

 

Here are the barrack building bases. Eight hundred men were stationed here with one hundred per building, eight to a room.

Not much comfort here I would guess.

Unlike the commandant`s house which had underfloor heating.

This is actually the granary.

At the top we cut across the corner of the field and found a part of the wall that we could actually walk on. It stretched off into the trees with frightening drops on the right hand side.

 To appreciate the scale of this, you must look at the shadows of the trees. It must have been a ferocious and brave people who would even try to scale these heights.

We were thinking of the people on all sides as we walked.

Eventually we came out into the open where the wall was blocked off and the walk continued alongside.

  It was a long trek and we were ready for a break.

After retracing our steps we lunched at Twice Brewed, where I nearly fell asleep.

Twice Brewed is in the centre of this picture.

 We pinned our hometown on their map.

In the afternoon we drove a short distance to walk to the highest point on the wall, Whinshields, thus completing another 5 miles.

 We wended our weary way home through the flaming bracken

with the setting sun on our backs.

If you ever get the chance, do go to visit Hadrian`s Wall.

It is an incredible experience.

Hadrian`s Wall Part 1

We have just returned from a wonderful trip to see Hadrian`s Wall.

It was on my bucket list. 

And I am so glad I have seen it.

The Northumberland scenery is stunning 

and seems to go on for ever with 180 degree skies.

Our weather was brilliant. Not too cold, but best of all,

glorious sunshine.

The (obviously Roman) road stretches in a long undulating ribbon parallel to the wall. You can see the escarpment in the distance.

 The road signs said .... severe dips in the road.

On-coming traffic actually disappeared.

(not a good picture, I thought I was filming, but it gives some idea)

On arrival in Haltwhistle, we set off following the 

Haltwhistle Burn, a fast moving river tumbling over and around rocky gulleys.

The river has cut through successive deposits of limestone, shale, sandstone and coal, giving rise to associated industries such as quarrying, lime burning, brick, tile and pipe manufacture, coal mining and coke and coal gas production. 

The water power has run mills for corn and woollen manufactories.

As you walk alongside the burn it is possible to see the remains of some of these industrial buildings.

And in the tranquility of our surroundings, herons sweeping up before us, and ferns and lichens hanging from the trees, we tried hard to imagine what has gone before.

Our 5 mile trek took us around several hillsides, scuffling through bright autumn leaves, past Galloway cattle, across the Roman road and eventually within sight of the wall.

Here it is quite plain to see the rising escarpment which drops off steeply on the other side.

Also plain to see is the Vallum, a double ditch used as a kind of 

no-mans-land.

By this time it was beginning to get dark, so we made our way back to the Centre of Britain Hotel in Haltwhistle, where we stayed very comfortably for two nights.

 

More next time.

Golden Apples and Raspberry Delight

Well we have had our first frost. 

Luckily all my geraniums are all inside and the cuttings are taken.

Various fuchsias are inside and I am trying to save the osteospurnums that I grew from seed. 

Huge plants.

Fingers crossed.

Nothing has blackened yet which is just as well.

I have been trying to label all the dahlias whilst they are still in flower. Not an easy job as the growth is phenomenal.

Lots of changes at the garden and farm. 

A new raised bed is being built just outside the garden, alongside the fairy garden.

Cosmos continue to flower along with this incredible sunflower.

I must look up the name again.

 We cleared the aubergines from the polytunnel and cut back the jasmine. I am thinking it may soon have to be dug right out as its becoming a nuisance and for some reason never flowers.

 Tomatoes are still ripening so high that we can`t reach them.

 Tobacco plant and petunias have seeded themselves.

The last of the gladioli are inside now.

 If it wasn`t for the fact that I would want them in different places next year, I think they could be left in the ground.

I didn`t realise that we had so many.

 

Steve has covered more ground with old carpet which keeps the weeds down.

Likewise the raised bed where it is clear.

Nearly all the leaves are down in our little orchard.

And what a sight the crabapples are.

 

The bunnies were preferring to stay indoors today.

And tonight we had raspberries for our dinner,freshly picked from our own garden. 

Amazing. 

 

Fat Bottomed Girls

There is a predominance of orange and yellow in the 

autumn garden.

The deep mauves of the Michaelmus daisies have moved on

(and there`s plenty of them to thin out this season) 

We have been away for a week and are astonished to find so many tomatoes still ripening.

I have moved the special bits and pieces from the fairy garden for the winter. All the new planting is doing well.

Steve was spreading manure.

Tim asked us if we wanted more.

Yes please.

I have been trying to neaten the bed edges.

It`s not easy with the wire netting.

I`ve pulled up some sunflowers but these are going on and on.

The dahlias are amazing. Seven bunches for POPPS tomoroow, our local old folks project.

 

 

 

 

I forgot to pick the quince before we went away.

Blackbirds have been having a feast.

The pond has been very low with no rain for ages.

I filled it up a bit and began cutting round the edges.

Much to still give pleasure.

Including our fat-bottomed girls.

 If you came camping in the summer, you may remember them as little chicks.