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.
No comments:
Post a Comment