If you’re a history buff, you’ll love a trip to Northumberland as the county is teeming with ancient ruins. But the great thing about staying in a holiday cottage in Northumbria is that there are so many interesting sites to see, it isn’t just budding historians that will be fascinated by the attractions.
For our guide on what historical sites you can visit in Northumberland, read on.
Hadrian’s Wall
This is the most famous ancient attraction in Northumberland, and with good reason. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is 2,000 years old and is the biggest construction the Romans built in the UK during their reign.
Emperor Hadrian gave the order to build the 73-mile wall to define the border between England and Scotland, and it begins in Wallsend, North Tyneside, in the east, finishing in Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria, in the west.
Modern technology has meant we are used to seeing huge constructions and futuristic architecture, so visiting Hadrian’s Wall will be a stark reminder of the country’s long history. It took eight years to finish the entire wall between 122-130 AD and, all these years later, it is still one of the most popular places in Britain to visit!
There are many locations you can see ancient ruins, but Northumberland is home to most of the wall, and coming here will enable you to see a number of other Roman sites.
Roman forts
As well as Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland is home to five out of eight Roman fortifications along the wall. One of these is Vindolanda Chesterholm, an ancient town that housed residents for more than 400 years from 85 AD. While visiting the wall is amazing, here you are able to learn more about how Romans lived during their time here. You can walk around bath houses and ruins and take a look at the small remnants in the museum.
Housesteads Roman Fort is another place you should visit, as it was once a base for more than 800 soldiers. If you’ve ever wanted to see ancient toilets and barracks, this is the place to do so as it is the most complete fortress in the whole of Britain.
Other sites you could visit are Poltross Burn milecastle, one of the best milecastles along the wall, and Carrawburgh, Temple of Mithras.
Time to relax
Being able to walk through Northumberland’s beautiful countryside is the relaxing part of the trip. You could simply stretch your legs and try to discover some ancient forts and ruins in the picturesque countryside yourself. You might find lots of remains that tell you a little bit more about how the Romans lived 2,000 years ago.
Of course, one of the best parts of a fun staycation is enjoying the trip to the pub at the end of the day for some delicious hot grub and a cold pint. Luckily, there are several pubs along Hadrian’s Wall so you’ll have plenty to choose from – and you won’t have to travel far when you fancy having a refreshing drink or a traditional Northumberland dish, which will, no doubt, be music to your ears.
Tuck into fish and chips (I don’t know anyone who can resist these!), some game that you’ve probably not had before like snipe or woodcock, or if you head out in the morning and want something to give you fuel for the rest of the day, try a Northumberland breakfast. This is much like a typical English breakfast, but also includes the likes of black pudding, white pudding, smoked cod and oysters!
