Great days out in Hadrian’s Wall Country

Family days out for less than a fiver are up for grabs in Hadrian’s Wall Country this February half term holiday (13-23 February 2009) to help people beat the credit crunch.

With 14 major Roman sites, forts and museums, the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail, Hadrian’s Cycleway and a range of historic towns and villages to explore, there’s something to suit every taste and budget in Hadrian’s Wall Country.

The Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site, spans the north of England from Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coast to South Shields in the North East, taking in the Border City of Carlisle and the cosmopolitan NewcastleGateshead.

Taking a half term break in Hadrian’s Wall Country on a budget couldn’t be easier, thanks to the official Hadrian’s Wall Country website - hadrians-wall.org – which is full of great value ideas on what to see and do.

Highlights of where to visit for less than £5 in Hadrian’s Wall Country include the Roman Army Museum, Senhouse Roman Museum, Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum and Housesteads Roman Fort. There’s also plenty to see for absolutely free:

The Roman Army Museum, Greenhead, Walltown, Cumbria

The Roman Army Museum at Greenhead, near Walltown, includes an Eagle’s Eye film of an inspiring, virtually reconstructed aerial view of Hadrian’s Wall, plus real-life treasures from nearby Roman Vindolanda and fantastic replicas.

Admission: adults £4.20; children £2.50

Joint ticket with the nearby Roman Vindolanda are available.

Web - vindolanda.com

Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum, Wallsend

The Wall’s most excavated fort is a must-see. Its spectacular reconstructions include a bath house and a section of the Wall, original Wall, computer-generated history tour and a 35-metre-high viewing tower.

Admission: adults £3.95; children aged 16 years and under are admitted free of charge.

Web - twmuseums.org.uk/segedunum

Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport

Senhouse Roman Museum includes the largest group of Roman military altar stones and inscriptions from any site in Britain as well as unique examples of Romano-British religious sculpture. The collection is the oldest in the country and is of international importance. Visitors can climb the observation tower for a clear view of the site, which a recent geophysical survey revealed to have been one of the largest and best preserved in the north of England. The Museum is dramatically sited on the cliffs overlooking the harbour at Maryport and the Solway Firth.

Admission: adults £3; children £1

Web - senhousemuseum.co.uk

Housesteads Roman Fort, Bardon Mill

The best-preserved fort on the Wall with magnificent ruins. Features include a multi-seated latrine, hospital, museum and spectacular views.

Admission: adults £4.40; children £2.30

Web - english-heritage.org.uk/housesteads & nationaltrust.org.uk

‘Robin Hood’s Tree’, Sycamore Gap, near Once Brewed

Sycamore Gap, a section of the Wall between two crests just west of Milecastle 38, is locally known as ‘Robin Hood’s Tree’ for its use in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner. It is also the site of the tallest piece of surviving Wall.

Take a two mile walk from the Once Brewed Northumberland National Park Visitor Centre along the Wall to the tree, which is popular with families and young children for picnics. The tree can be seen from the B6318 (Military Road) and both the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail and the Pennine Way National Trail are also close by.

Admission: Free

Web - english-heritage.org.uk & nationaltrust.org.uk

Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, near Bardon Mill

The Allen Banks and Staward Gorge Estate is set on the steep valley sides of the river Allen. It is the largest area of ancient woodland in Northumberland and the most northerly habitat of dormice in Britain. People can explore the woods and see what wildlife they can spot on this gentle two and a half mile riverside walk, including red squirrels, roe deer, bats and otters. On a hill within Staward Wood are the remains of a medieval pele tower.

Admission: Free

Web - nationaltrust.org.uk

Hadrian's Wall, Britain's longest monument, was built in AD122 by the Roman army on the orders of the emperor Hadrian. It is 73 miles (or 80 Roman miles) long and was once 15 feet high and up to 10 feet thick. Today the surviving masonry of the Wall is only a small part of the visible archaeology, which also includes earthworks, milecastles, turrets and forts.

For more information about Hadrian’s Wall Country and to plan your February half term itinerary, visit hadrians-wall.org.