It’s ages since I ran along Hadrian’s Wall. My previous blog, supervet-sarah (so called for when I turned 50 and was categorised as a ‘supervet’ in races: soon I shall be ‘vintage’) describes several runs along Hadrian’s Wall, many for miles: from Carlisle back to Brampton for example. I have since then run from Walltown Crags home (something I must do again before too long) but generally over the past few years my local runs have been relatively short.
So when I was offered a socially-distanced lift along the wall to wherever I wanted, I accepted the offer and decided I’d run from Poltross Burn back home. This takes in some of my favourite bits of the wall, and during the 8 miles or so I stopped plenty of times for photos. Rather than write a lot, I’m going to upload the photos here and hope that you can enjoy a virtual tour of the wall as much as I enjoyed running it.
Poltross Burn milecastle. Roman soldiers would have slept in those dormitories. I wonder if they made the floor level or if it sloped and they all rolled downhill during the night?The wall at Willowford – one of the longest stretches of continuous wall. I started a video at this point but didn’t press the right button, so there’s a gap now and no photos of the fab. Roman bridge abutments at the bottom of the hill
However there is one of this lovely modern bridge over the river Irthing. Look how low the water is though: we really need some rain
Big picture window in the cafe at Birdoswald – I wished it had been open to pick up a take away cappuccino! – and lovely apple blossom in the ‘orchard’Wide open skies and views for miles, just past Birdoswald. I felt so free – and still had not seen a single other person
Years ago when I ran along Hadrian’s Wall a lot as training for Kielder marathon, these woods – Combcrag Woods – were boggy to say the least. A friend told me a few days later about a walk down the hill through the woods, to the river – I’ll try it out some day.
Turrets, lovely stone cottages (probably built from bits of the wall), tiny little gates – and my favourites, black lambs
Piper Sike turret (amazing views); Banks East (ditto) and Hare Hill – the latter has the highest remaining piece of wall (and even so c.1.5m lower nowadays than it would have been). It’s also where I held a torch when Hadrian’s Wall was lit up in 2009: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ItBWuaVVE Stunning views from the top of Hare Hill, above Haytongate Farm, over to Blencathra and the Lake District fells
Down the hill towards and past Lanercost Priory – another site of defence, conflict etc. – both Edward I and Robert the Bruce made it their HQ at different times. The priory is of a very similar design to Brinkburn Priory in Northumberland, with similarly stunning acoustics (I have sung at Lanercost and was hoping to sing at Brinkburn this summer)
The final couple of miles back home through lovely Quarry Beck woods and then Ridge woods: views this time over towards Scotland.It won’t be long before we’ll be able to pick cherries from the park near home.
I actually visited Hadrian’s Wall in 1974, dragged there by my mother who said I had to see it. We had a rip roaring fight at the site. That is the only memory I have of the place, so I was delighted to see what it really looks like!
That made me laugh! Do you know which bit you went to (it’s about 60 miles in total). Just in case you’re interested in an alternative view of the Romans, it’s worth reading Terry Jones’ ‘Barbarians’ – he points out that the Celts, Greeks etc. were in some cases rather more advanced than the Romans. The Romans were good at organising themselves though, and at then nicking other people’s ideas!
runningin3time 
I actually visited Hadrian’s Wall in 1974, dragged there by my mother who said I had to see it. We had a rip roaring fight at the site. That is the only memory I have of the place, so I was delighted to see what it really looks like!
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That made me laugh! Do you know which bit you went to (it’s about 60 miles in total). Just in case you’re interested in an alternative view of the Romans, it’s worth reading Terry Jones’ ‘Barbarians’ – he points out that the Celts, Greeks etc. were in some cases rather more advanced than the Romans. The Romans were good at organising themselves though, and at then nicking other people’s ideas!
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I really have blanked the whole ordeal out of my mind. I just remember being urged(pushed) to climb a hill and see the wall.
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