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Northumberland has been a border territory for almost 2,000 years. The Romans occupied Britain from the middle of the 1st century to the beginning of the 5th century and for much of this time Northumberland was the very edge of their mighty empire. It was in AD 122 that the Emperor Hadrian ordered the building of a wall across the country from the Tyne to the Solway to separate the land of the Britons from the land of the Picts. Now officially recognised as a World Heritage Site, the remains of the central section of the Wall still snake their way across the whinstone cliff on which it was built. There are also many forts, museums, temples and other remains, the most important of which are described below.

The "Hadrian's Wall Visitor Guide" is an introductory leaflet to all the attractions of the Wall. It is available free of charge from Hexham Tourist Information Centre. A video - "Edge of Empire" - about the wall and its history is available from the Northumberland On-Line Giftshop. Also available are books and walk leaflets about the Wall. More detailed information about the Wall and its construction can be obtained by visiting the official Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site Website.

A curiosity about the Wall is that it is often used as an alternative term for the Scottish border - "The other side of Hadrian's Wall" being used (especially by people from the south of England) to mean Scotland. In fact, 90% of the English county of Northumberland is north of the Wall and at no point over its entire length does the Wall separate the two countries. The tribe of people known as "Scots" did not come to Britain (from Ireland) until hundreds of years after the Romans had left the country. In Roman times, the area now called Scotland was populated by "Picts".

Hadrian's Wall When it was built in stone, the Wall was some 73 miles long and 5 metres high. It was one of the Roman Empire's greatest feats of engineering. Today, the best remaining sections of the Wall in Northumberland are only 1 metre high but they are still very impressive. They may be accessed from signposted car parks off the B6318, Military Road, which runs parallel to the A69, Newcastle to Carlisle, Highway. There are good car parks close to the Wall at Housesteads, Steel Rigg, Cawfields and Walltown. A year round "Hadrian's Wall Bus" connects all the major sites to the main town of Hexham. For more information on the bus route and timetable, contact the Hexham Tourist Infomation Centre. Other sections of the Wall are in the neighbouring counties of Cumbria and Tyne & Wear.

Taking Care of the Wall Hadrian's Wall is officially recognised as a World Heritage Site. Its historic and cultural importance is immeasurable. Therefore, please look after it on your visit by observing the following guidelines: * Please don't walk on the Wall. It is easily damaged. * Please don't dislodge or remove any part of the Wall. * Please take your litter home. * Please respect the local farmers' land and property. * Please keep your dog on a lead - especially if stock is present. Chesters Roman Fort (English Heritage) Off the B6318 in Northumberland was built to guard the Roman bridge which carried Hadrian’s Wall over the River North Tyne. It has the best preserved remains of a cavalry fort in Britain. Explore the foundations of the headquarters building and amble through the well-preserved commandant’s house. Discover the complex of rooms in the bath house which offered customers hot, cold or steam baths. Restored to its Victorian glory, the highly distinctive on-site museum displays an amazing collection of Roman finds retrieved by the local antiquarian John Clayton. These include important early archaeological discoveries relating to the central section of the Wall.