In AD 122 Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a wall across northern England to hold back the advancing Barbarians. Despite the depredations of the centuries, it remains the largest ancient monument in northern Europe and the best way to appreciate it, and the ruggedly beautiful countryside around it, is to walk it, following in the footsteps of the Legionnaires.

Hadrian's Wall Path begins at Segedunum Fort, the most easterly outpost on Hadrian's Wall , which stands on the banks of the River Tyne at Wallsend. After exploring the fort's buildings, including the commanding officer's house and headquarters, hospital and legionnaire's barracks, the trail runs along the banks of the Tyne to Heddon-on-the-Wall, where a fine section of Wall remains. The trail continues past Corstopitum Fort, which pre-dates the Wall and stands a couple of miles behind it, to the impressive remains of Brunton Turret. Situated on the outskirts of Corbridge, a delightful village steeped in history, Corstopitum stands on what was, in Roman times, the main road from York to Scotland . The extensive remains include huge granaries, barracks and an enigmatic building that may have been the town Forum. On reaching Chollerford the trail passes the extensive remains of a series of Roman bridges over the Tyne before arriving at the cavalry fort of Cilurnum. Here outstanding remains include an ornate headquarters building, commanding officer's house, barracks and the military bath-house nestling against the bank of the river.

Soon after passing Brocolita, with its temple dedicated to the sun God Mithras, the trail arrives at the most dramatic stretch of the Wall where it snakes over an undulating ridge above sheer cliffs and lonely lakes. As well as the wall itself, the trail passes milecastles, turrets, Saxon burial cists, medieval shielings, a Roman bridge and the ruin of a medieval castle as well as the impressive forts of Housesteads, with its remarkable latrines and hospital; Vindolanda with its superb bathhouse and large mamsio or inn for travellers and Birdoswald with its fine gateways and granaries. Beyond Birdoswold the trail continues past Pike Hill Signal Tower , with distant views of the mountains of the Lake District , to Haytongate, where a track leads down to the picturesque ruin of Lanercost Priory, which was built from stone plundered from the Wall. From here the trail meanders through quiet farmland to Carlisle , a city dominated by its magnificent Norman castle, before following the River Eden through sleepy hamlets to the village of Bowness-on-Solway on the shores of the Solway Firth .