Hadrian's Wall does not simply stop at the Solway. Beyond Bowness, the Romans extended their frontier down the Cumbrian coast with a chain of milefortlets and towers, watching the shore against raiders crossing from what is now south-west Scotland. Rise How tower 25a is one of them, on the low cliffs just south of Maryport near Flimby, part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage site. Little is visible above ground, but standing here and looking out over the water, you can see why they bothered.
On a clear day, the hills of Dumfries and Galloway, including Criffel, rise across the Solway Firth, and the Isle of Man floats on the horizon to the west. Behind you, inland, the fells of the Lake District crowd the skyline, with Skiddaw and the north-western fells closest. The coast itself is a mix of low cliffs, shingle beaches, dunes and the remains of old industry: coal mines, ironworks and harbours that once made this a busy coast.
Maryport, just north, was built in the eighteenth century as a coal port and named after the wife of the landowner who developed it. Before that, the Romans had a large fort here, Alauna, and the Senhouse Roman Museum, beside the fort site, has one of the finest collections of Roman altars in Britain, many found buried in pits near the fort. The town also has a maritime museum and a harbour with colourful boats.
The riding along this coast is a mixed bag. The A596 between Workington and Maryport is busy with traffic, but the minor roads along the coast and inland towards the Lake District are more fun, with bends, hills and views. A short ride east takes you into the Lakes, with famous passes like Honister, Newlands and Whinlatter, steep, narrow and spectacular, though busy in summer. The weather can be wild, with wind and rain sweeping in off the sea, so be prepared.
Maryport, under two kilometres away, has fuel, shops and restaurants. Workington, a few kilometres south, is a larger town with more options. Grab a bag of fish and chips and eat them on the harbour wall, watching the sun sink over the Solway; on a good evening, it is as fine a view as any in the north of England.