The edge of the Empire

A much nicer morning today, with some sunshine replacing yesterday's rain.

After breakfast downstairs at the guest house we headed off to a place called Steel Rigg to start our day's walking along Hadrian's Wall. Our first leg involved a five mile circular walk, first following the Wall along an impressive escarpment...

...and then returning through farmland below the escarpment (and outside the Empire).

The Wall must have been just incredible when it was built, and it's a pity so little of it is still left. Luckily we got to walk along what is regarded as some of the most impressive and well-preserved stretches.

By the time we returned to Steel Rigg we were pretty hungry, and luckily there was a nearby pub from which you can see the Wall on the hill above (on the Empire side). The pub was at a place called Twice Brewed, which funnily enough is right next to Once Brewed.

Having recharged, we drove to Walltown (how apt) and walked another few miles of the wall. Here the surviving sections of the wall went over our heads, and you could really see how well constructed it was...

Another one off the bucket list!