About Northumberland and Hadrian's Wall
On the very edge of the Roman Empire during the occupation of Britain, Northumberland’s renown began when the Emperor Hadrian in AD 122 ordered the construction of a wall from the Tyne to the Solway to separate the land of the Britons from the land of the Picts. Since this time, Northumberland has been referred to as the border county. The majority of the county is actually found to the North of the wall and therefore, it is a common mistake to believe that the wall itself denotes the border between England and Scotland.
Hadrian’s wall was originally 73 miles long and five meters high. Although the highest section of the wall now only measures 1 meter high it is nevertheless an impressive example of Roman engineering that should not be missed. There are also many remains of the forts and temples built by the Roman army that are still visible today, such as:
* Chesters Roman Fort Northumberland can also boast numerous thriving market towns (such as Hexham) with a rich history of the Border Reivers that should also interest history lovers. Click here to visit the official Hadrians Wall website. More recently Northumberland has gained renown for its unspoilt countryside and breathtaking views which seemingly spread as far as the eye can see, making it particularly attractive to walkers and cyclists.
* Corbridge Roman Site
* Roman Vindolanda
* Housteads