Hadrian’s Wall

Rory Todd

In anxious anticipation, we collected our dinner from an array of shops inside the train station, whether it be a Greggs’ sausage roll or a single Twix. Eventually, we were called to assemble and head onto the train, our destination the 73 mile behemoth of Roman defence: Hadrian’s wall. Though the arrival was late into the night, after a kip and a good hearty breakfast at the hostel, we were ready to head to a fortification so large in size it defended the centuries-old empire from barbaric invaders for decades.

Thankfully, it was quite close to where we stayed, and from there we braved the fierce northern elements as we walked along the Wall. An impressive sight to be sure. Though the ages and passing thieves had worn down its once proud height, it is an amazing feat of engineering nonetheless – the tall hills and steep drops made this a nightmare for Roman builders and for soldiers to maintain – and it was brought to life for us by the wide breadth of information provided to us by our teachers throughout our voyage.

A museum next, and there an informative 3D film detailing the gruelling life on the Wall and how a soldier might find comfort in the nearby fort of Vindolanda. Incredibly well preserved and vast in size, this World Heritage Site was our next destination alongside the accompanying museum. While it was undoubtedly interesting, time was against us so we were forced to rush through the next site – a sophisticated Roman latrine that had fortunately been cleaned after being uncovered – and soon to Newcastle station. Overall: a really fun trip. ❚