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Hadrian's Wall, Vindolanda, Housteads, Sewing Shields, Brocolita fort, Northumberland.
 [16.6 km]  Tue 07 Jun 2016
OS Grid ref: NY 76740 66376
Lat/Long: 54.991425, -02.365064

A clear drive along the M6, off at Carlisle then A69 to Greenhead then B6318 to about a mile short of Chesters Fort. There was a large area by the road to park and also a bus stop. My plan was to catch the bus to Vindolanda and walk back along the wall.
A sunny walk along the wall to the bus stop
I was early and the bus was due about 09:25am meaning my bus pass wasn’t valid as it doesn’t start till 09:30. I didn’t mind paying but as I had almost an hour to wait I decided to walk west to the next bus stop. I walked up the road over the summit and down to where the wall is visible down to my right. It was here that I camped with Charlie on Sun 24th July 1977 when we were walking the wall from east to west.
Site of our July 1977 camp
There were intermittent lengths of low wall remaining as I climbed to the trig post on the hill summit. Further on the original vallum ditch is unfinished due to hard rock and many large boulders were lying around. The path through the fields eventually crossed the road from north to south and I walked the last stretch to the car park at Brocolita Fort. The whole place was deserted in the warm sunshine.
The AD122 arrives at Vindolanda
I didn’t have long to wait at the bus stop when the AD122 bus arrived. It’s a lovely way to number the bus as AD122 is when Emperor Hadrian commanded the wall to be built. The time was 09:31 and my senior bus pass had just become valid. I was the only passenger but when we reached Housteads Fort bus stop a few more passengers got on.
My bus ticket was timed at 09:31

Vindolanda
Roman Milepost

Distant view of Vindolanda
The bus continued to the Roman fort and settlement site at Vindolanda where I got off. The site is very active with excavations going on. I called briefly at the visitors centre but didn’t have time for a full visit so continued on my way. Along the lane I could see excavators (people not machines) at work over the wall. The map shows a minor path along Stangate but there was nothing to see on the ground. Through a field of nervous cows I reached the shelter of another field and up to the magnificent Crindledykes Limekiln. It is a grade II listed structure.

Crindledykes Limekiln
Crindledykes Limekiln drawing
I was now walking on the road and continued to the main B6318 where I crossed over to follow a path up the hill, passing another limekiln and up to Hadrian’s Wall at Cuddy’s Crag. I now had excellent views to the north as I continued east. There were also lots of other walkers out enjoying the wall in the sunshine.
Along the wall
The approach to Housteads was along the top of part of the wall through an avenue of trees. The fort area is fenced off as there is an entry fee.
Wall through the trees

Housteads
Leaving Housteads

The Ermine Street Guard at Housteads 1977

The Ermine Street Guard at Housteads 1977
The Ermine Street Guard at Housteads 1977

Gatehouse below Housteads
The gatehouse in Roman times
I continued along the path at the base of the wall and up to the trees at the other end of the valley. After King’s Wicket I was on a length of the wall I hadn’t visited since 1977 with Charlie. It was easy and interesting walking. Through some trees at Sewingshields Crags I was out into open countryside with a long uninterrupted view into the distance.
Trig post by the wall
After the path diverted round the property at Carrow I crossed the B6318 again and along a path into the field to the excavated Mithraeum Temple.
Mithraeum Temple.
There were some statues within the walls but they looked like replicas. The path took me up to the car park for Brocilita where I’d originally caught the bus. I returned to the car by the same route except for the final half mile when I followed the official path. Even though I’d had warm sunshine there was a lot of rumbling thunder away to the east.
Mithraeum Temple.
It was interesting reading my diary about our 1977 walk along the wall, almost 39 years ago. We stopped for lunch on day two at the pub at Port Gate. We had Hamburger, chips, peas and tomatoes and the cost was just 65p.
The unfinished ditch east of Brocolita
Further west at Birdoswald Fort the entry charge was 10p. Housteads and Chesters Forts were 30p entry charge.
On the drive home I had heavy rain along parts of the M6 in Cumbria.
Large stone with cuts ready for splitting the stone