Discover The Land of the Far Horizons – Rich in Ancient Roman History
Hadrians Wall – Housesteads to Birdoswald
We set out under the watchful eye of Matt, our Centurion and leader of the patrol, with Paul, a well-ranked legionary and historian, moving among the ranks to ensure the story of the Wall, the legions, and the land itself is never forgotten. Today we follow 12.5 miles of this northern frontier, stepping in the footsteps of Roman soldiers who once guarded the edge of the Empire.
Walk Description – Following the Legion
Our march begins at Housesteads Roman Fort, high on the Whin Sill. From this commanding vantage, Matt, our Centurion, surveys the land, keeping the patrol in order while Paul points out the clever use of natural defences — dark lakes like Crag Lough and Greenlee Lough, cliffs, and ditches that complemented the Wall’s stone.
We follow the Wall past milecastles and turrets, once manned by detachments of legionaries and auxiliaries. Each outpost tells a story of duty, vigilance, and the daily rhythm of Roman life on the frontier. We pass beneath Highshield Crags and along the edge of Crag Lough, each step connecting us to the men who marched here nearly two millennia ago.
At Sycamore Gap, the Wall dips sharply between two crags. The famous tree may be gone, but the spot retains its drama. We pause for a moment, respecting the poor tree that captured so many imaginations, and reflect on how this narrow gateway shaped the patrols and lives of those who walked the Wall before us.
Beyond the Gap, the Wall eases from the highest crags as we approach Great Chesters (Aesica), a cavalry fort where mounted troops once controlled the valleys. The land opens out, and distant Cumbrian mountains shimmer on the horizon, a reminder of how far the legions’ reach extended.
By late morning, we arrive at Walltown Crags, one of the Wall’s most dramatic surviving stretches, before a welcome pause for lunch at Walltown Visitor Centre, where soldiers of old would have rested, repaired kit, and shared news from other forts.
The afternoon brings gentler terrain as we head towards the River Irthing, where Paul explains the evidence of flooding, rebuilding, and realignment — a lesson in the adaptability of Rome’s frontier engineers. The sense of history deepens as the Wall winds across open skies and rolling ground, the patrol moving steadily under Matt’s careful leadership.
Finally, we reach Birdoswald Roman Fort (Banna), standing above the river crossing as a sentinel of the past. For a legionary, this would mark the end of the patrol; for us, it is the conclusion of a memorable journey along one of Britain’s greatest historic landscapes.
We rejoin the coach for the return journey to Barrow, carrying the memory of crags, lakes, mountains, and the disciplined footsteps of centuries of soldiers, led by our Centurion Matt and guided by the knowledge of Paul, our historian of the legions, through the Land of the Far Horizons.
Note. Participants may need to arrange transport back to Housesteads following the walk (Please email for any further guidance)
[Members receive 20% discount]
