Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B632 and The vallum between the road to Garthside a

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B632

   East of Hexham, the Roman frontier crosses gentler country, a rolling landscape of fields, hedges and small woods north of the Tyne valley. Here the Wall itself has mostly disappeared, its stones long since recycled into farmhouses, field walls and the eighteenth-century Military Road that runs along its line. But the vallum, the broad ditch with mounds on either side that marked the southern edge of the military zone, survives in places as a clear earthwork across the fields, and walkers on the Hadrian's Wall Path follow it for miles. This section is part of the same World Heritage site as the dramatic crags further west.

   Read the complete Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B632 write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B632 is where the day begins. Next is Stone circle.

2. 2. Stone circle

   Long before the Romans built their wall across northern England, people were raising stones on these moors. Close to the line of Hadrian's Wall, in the hills north of Haydon Bridge and Haltwhistle, a small prehistoric stone circle stands in the rough grass, a few weathered boulders arranged in a ring, probably dating from the Bronze Age. Its exact purpose is unknown, but circles like this were often used for ceremonies or burials, and many have legends attached to them.

   Read the complete Stone circle write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Stone circle comes up about 27 km into the recorded legs. Next is The vallum between the road to Garthside a.

3. 3. The vallum between the road to Garthside a

   Brampton is a small red sandstone market town at the edge of the Pennines, and just north of it, where the land rises toward the Irthing valley, a stretch of the vallum runs across the fields near Garthside. The vallum, the great ditch and banks that ran south of Hadrian's Wall, is often clearer than the wall itself in this area, because the stone of the wall was carried off long ago to build farmhouses, churches and even a priory. It is part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site, and it is best seen in low light, when the earthworks cast long shadows.

   Read the complete The vallum between the road to Garthside a write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 57 km into the recorded legs you reach The vallum between the road to Garthside a. Next is back through Stone circle.

4. 4. back through Stone circle

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Stone circle write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Stone circle, late in the day. Next is Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B632.

5. 5. Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B632

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B632 write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B632. That is the ride.