Only a few days after we returned from London, we were on the move again, this time we went just a little way over the border into Northumberland.
For the last couple of years I have been promising Lily we would visit Hadrian's Wall but for various reasons it just didn't happen. I think mainly I had been waiting for spell of decent weather, so that we could go camping. With this seeming more and more unlikely, I booked us into a Youth Hostel instead, still hoping the weather gods would be kind to us, so that we could at least enjoy a nice walk.
The Youth Hostel is attached to a visitor centre and it's really lovely. Modern and spotlessly clean, it contained everything we needed and more.
After a short stop on the way, to meet up with a friend, we arrived late in the afternoon, but still an hour earlier than our checking in time. This worked out well, as we left the car at the visitor centre and walked up to Winshield Craggs, which is the highest point on the wall and on a completely clear day you can see for miles. Our view was still pleasant, however, and the many flying ants at the summit thought so too! Thankfully they didn't bother us, but we made a hasty retreat back to the hostel and ordered our evening meal. Fish and chips for Lily, vegetable lasagne and a glass of wine for me :)
After a good night's sleep - I got the bottom bunk - and a rather tasty cooked breakfast, we checked out of the hostel, and headed east, in the opposite direction to the previous day. Again the path took us alongside the wall, but this time passing Milecastle 39 and then on towards Sycamore Gap.
Many years ago we took my mum for a short walk along the wall, living in Somerset, she was so pleased to make the journey, it's a beautiful area.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been around twelve years since my previous visit. i would love to walk the full length of the wall. X
DeleteBelated birthday wishes Jules and what a lovely adventure you had with Lily at Hadrian's Wall. Wonderful photos xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. X
DeleteThe Hadrian's Wall visitor centres really capture the imagination. I like Vindolanda, but it's quite a price to go in.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't visit any of the forts on this occasion. Perhaps we will if we visit again. Xx
DeleteWell please accept best wishes for the year ahead. I hope that it is a happy and healthy one for you. I enjoyed seeing your pictures of the wall. I've only ever walked a short distance of it many many years ago. I don't recall it being so manicured where I was.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Graham. The area we visited is a lovely section of the wall, although I would quite like to see more of it. X
DeleteThat was a fascinating trip - I'm glad the weather held for you. Where I grew up (a small town just outside Glasgow) there was a portion of a Roman wall, the name escapes me, that we would visit. Not as spectacular as your visit, but interesting nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteWould that be The Antonine Wall? There are so many fascinating places to visit. X
DeleteStunning photos! I mentioned Hadrian’s Wall on my blog, a couple of days ago, as I’ve been reading a book about The Romans. I walked on the wall when I was very young. I think it was near to Housesteads. Quite an experience!
ReplyDeleteI hope that you had a lovely birthday! 🎂🍰🎂🍰🎂😁
Thank you, Sal. I remember visiting Housesteads once, on a school trip. X
DeleteBeautiful!!!! I simply love your photos, my friend. And Happy Belated Birthday to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Billie Jo. X
DeleteHappy belated birthday! What a lovely way to spend your birthday, visiting Hadrian's Wall and enjoying some cake! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bless. It was a lovely surprise to discover that we would be driving past the bakery on our way home. X
DeleteSounds like a brilliant few days in a beautiful part of the country. I love sycamore gap. B x
ReplyDeleteSycamore Gap was beautiful, and it was lovely and quiet while we were there. X
DeleteBelated birthday wishes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely few days away, lovely photographs.
I especially like how the tree is looking in photographs six and eight.
Enjoy the rest of these August days.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. I didn't realise until I got home, that the second photograph of the tree is almost identical to one that featured on our information guide. X
DeleteWhat gorgeous photos! I love that you can see such a distance in so many of them. Beautiful!! Happy Belated Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julia. Xx
DeleteA very belated happy birthday, x
ReplyDeleteAges since I went to that area but you are right, it is lovely and there are some splendid views.
Did Hartside look sad now that the old cafe has gone?
Thank you, Jayne.
DeleteI didn't realise there had been a cafe at Hartside. X
My first visit to Hadrian's Wall was on a school trip, we stayed in Northumberland, it must have been around February time, I remember there was snow on the ground. You seem to have done so much this summer, lots of lovely memories made.
ReplyDeleteI imagine most people's first experiences of the wall would have been on a school trip :) I think Lily probably would have visited with school a couple of years ago, but the lockdowns threw a spanner in the works.
DeleteI think it has still been a lovely summer, in spite of the weather. X
Happy Birthday to you, dear Jules! What stunning photos, I'm glad you nd Lilly had a fabulous trip. xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vix. X
DeleteI always enjoy your blog and your photos. I particularly enjoyed this one having been to Hadrians Wall and stayed at the same Youth Centre very many years ago. I got there by train and bus. I enjoyed Housesteads and Vindolanda. The room I was in was for two, and later in the evening -it was a rainy and chill day - a young woman arrived who had been hiking a section of the wall. I also met an Australian woman staying there who was a Minister and we had a drink together at the pub Twice Brewed, not sure if that is still there. Happy memories. Jean/Winnipeg.
ReplyDeleteThank you, that's very kind of you to say. Yes, the pub is still there!
DeleteThe hostel looked to be quite new, so it my have been different to the one you stayed in, but the atmosphere was very similar. There were people staying there who had travelled far and wide. Xx
Ahh I think I know the hostel you stayed at, it does look rather nice. And Sycamore Gap looking beautiful up there. I do like the bakery at Melmerby too. X
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I was a little disappointed that they had sold out of my favourite carrot cake :)
DeleteThink I'm in love with that tree! Belated Birthday Wishes. xx
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely tree :) Thank you, Jackie. Xx
DeleteYou captured the Robin Hood Prince of Thieves tree Jules! (funny that go from the cliffs of Dover to Nottingham via Hadrian's wall 'eh! ;) x
ReplyDeleteI'll have to take your word for it Lulu. I've never seen the film. Xx
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