Hadrian's Wall was built in the second century AD by soldiers of the Roman Empire who left their mark in many places throughout the land they called Britannia, including the wonderfully preserved Roman baths in the city of Bath. You will find remnants of the ancient Roman walls around the city of York and even right in London. But Hadrian's Wall England is the most extensive vestige of Roman rule in all of the UK.

Like the Great Wall of China, remnants of Hadrian's Wall snake through the countryside. It was built by the Romans to protect its southern Empire from invading "barbarians" from the north. Along the route of this ancient wall, there are archeological excavations that have uncovered a treasure of artifacts. Numerous museums and sites appear along the route, and it is possible to see the wall and its treasures in many places.

Hadrian's Wall England is part of what UNESCO refers to as the Frontiers of the Roman Empire. As the Empire expanded at the turn of the first millennium, walls were built across Germany and then across England and Northern Ireland. This was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Nonetheless, a good portion of about 87 miles (140 kilometers) of the wall is unprotected as it makes its way across the country. Along the way are stone built walls, forts, fortresses, ditches, watchtowers, garrisons, and civilian villages and settlements.

UK Map

Portions of Hadrian's Wall are active archeological sites. Some have been reconstructed. Other stretches are in ruins. It is one of the outstanding examples of the defensive techniques of a military sector and the military strategy of Rome. It also provides a unique picture of day-to-day and military life during that period. The northernmost portion of the wall is the Antonine Wall. It cuts across Scotland for about 40 miles from roughly Glasgow to the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh. This is the northernmost point of what is called the Roman Limes.

Hadrian's Wall England is to south of the Antonine Wall and is longer. It is a bit south of what is the current boundary between England and Scotland. It stretches from approximately Carlisle on the west coast to Newcastle on the east coast, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. In 2003, a National Trail was established along this route, and this is one of the most popular hiking paths in the nation. Walkers are asked to hike only during the summer to preserve the fragile site.

A unique way to enjoy a ramble along the wall's route is to stay in traditional local pubs and charming bed and breakfast inns as you go along. En route, you can see several excavated forts, military and civilian residences, temples, and a number of smaller forts. The majority of the major ruins and excavations have small museums with some of the more important artifacts. You can choose from a wide variety of accommodations in towns, small villages, and in the countryside. There are caravan camping sites, cheap hostels, pubs, and charming bed and breakfast inns. If you're not up for walking the entire length, there are good roads (the A69 and B6318) that follow the course of the wall.