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Today was scheduled as a “rest day”, so we get to stay in the same B&B for two nights.
There’s a Roman Fort and village that started 40 years before Hadrian started his wall and lasted at least 300 years. It’s called Vindolanda, and it’s a museum and active archaeological site. It’s also not too far from Once Brewed.
We took a bus from Bridge House (our B&B Which is 2 miles from Once Brewed) directly to Vindolanda. It was raining lightly when we arrived. Really interesting site and extremely interesting museum. Also excellent carrot cake, though Dolly’s Cafe in Roslin still reigns supreme in that department.
I’m going to put in the pictures and leave it up to DH to explain what they are.
The fort had high walls and a main gate. Inside, there were only soldiers often living with their families. The fort had between 500 and 1,000 military personnel on site. Along the outside walls was a small village where the necessary shops and services were to be found. Just to the right of the gaggle of people below are the large pavers leading through the main gate.
Under floor heating for the baths…
Because of the lack of oxygen etc. they have over 5000 Roman leather shoes from this site.
Even the horses had fine garb.
At Vindolanda, one commanding officer had ordered all his papers burned as the fort changed command. This was not well done and many of his very personal papers have survived, and are now read by thousands. Oh dear.
We finished at Vindolanda by noon and had decided that, even though it was a day off, we would walk the wall between Once Brewed and our B&B, so as to not have to backtrack tomorrow morning.
We walked up the road, back onto the trail, and off we go!
It was all uphill and we quickly came to the highest point on the wall. They say on a clear day you can see the Irish Sea from here. We’ll never know. We visited with Irish, Flemish and Australian people today.
Then up and down for the next two and a half hours in on-and-off light rain. After Milecastle 42 and Cawfields Quarry we got off the trail and went into the Milecastle Inn to make reservations for dinner.
Milecastle 42.
Cawfields Quarry.
The Milecastle Inn.
FYI we each got our first blister today, and we blame the rain. DH took this photo of a chicken that had just crossed the road. He’s not sure why. Interestingly, it was an intersection.
Keep smiling.
Wandering 