Haltwhistle

Birdoswald: The only fort on the length of Hadrian's Wall set on the North side of a natural geological defence - the River Irthing. There are excellent sections of the Wall heading West towards Carlisle (on a clear day you can also see the Northern Fells of the Lake District). The Visitor and Education Centre based at Birdoswald gives an insight into the way of life of the population during Roman times and through the next 2000 years. The site has been occupied by a wide variety of people for most of its 1900 years. The walls are well preserved and the views over the Irthing and towards the Nine Nicks of Thirlwall are outstanding. Continuing East there is a turret and milecastle then a steep incline down and across the River Irthing to the remains of Willowford Bridge. The remains of this Roman Viaduct stand in the field below the ridge on which Birdoswald fort stands, and are now left high and dry as the river cut into the sides of Harrow Scar. It reveals a fascinating insight into how the builders of Hadrian's Wall tackled the problems of carrying Wall and traffic across such an unpredictable river. The surviving pier is 34' long and 7' wide. Having climbed up the hill alongside the Wall you pass through Willowford Farm which has one of the few remaining carved stones showing details of the Centurian responsible for building that section of the Wall. The long stretch of the Wall from beyond Birdoswald through Gilsland is particularly fine, and shows interesting techniques as the Romans adapted the width of the Wall (presumably to save money). Birdoswald is open daily from March to October. Times may vary. English Heritage membership qualifies for a discount off entry admission. For current prices and opening hours see Hadrian's Wall Tourism Partnership's Roman Forts and Museums leaflet. Visitors can wander around the site all year. An honesty box is available for visitors out of hours or out of season. At the other end of the village, the Poltross Burn Milecastle (no. 48) is probably the best example of a Milecastle on the Wall and was excavated in 1911. Built adjacent to where the Wall crosses Poltross Burn, this Milecastle is concealed behind the railway line built in Victorian times as it passed through the village of Gilsland. It is easily found on foot either by following the Hadrian's Wall National Trail signs or by parking close to the Station Hotel where you will also see signs. As you follow the line of Hadrian's Wall from Gilsland through the hamlet of Long Byre towards Greenhead, the ditch and vallum can easily be seen on the slopes leading to Carvoran fort and the Roman Army Museum. It is said that an astute farming family, the Carricks, were able to satisfy the antiquarian visitors of the 18th and early 19th centuries with inscribed stones ploughed up from this once enormous fort which dates from 80AD - to supplement an otherwise meagre income from farming in such an inhospitable spot!