W

hen you think about it, walking along an old wall sounds a little bit bonkers – but of course we all know that this is no ordinary wall…

Built in AD122 on the orders of the Roman Emperor, Hadrian, the 73-mile long structure was built to keep the Celts out, and is the largest Ancient Monument in northern Europe.

It spans the peninsula between Wallsend in the east (near Newcastle upon Tyne) and Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast, and was a hive of activity in its heyday – peppered with forts, mile-castles and turrets, and occupied by soldiers and civilians from across the Roman Empire.

Thankfully it’s a lot more peaceful these days, with a coast-to-coast footpath running the length of its remains – passing through rugged moorland, salt marsh, market towns and thriving cities.

Whether you complete the whole lot in one go (it takes about seven days), tackle a section at a time (download the 'Walking in Hadrian's Wall Country' booklet from the National Trail website, which details 15 selected shorter walks) or just visit for the day, you’ll quickly realise that this is no ordinary wall.