Hadrian’s Wall Guide to the Visible Remains
Walk up the hill from the Housesteads car park keeping west of the fort. You now have to pay to visit the fort, which is highly recommended particularly if you follow the guide found HERE
This is one of the best walks in the North of England, with magnificent views north and south of the Wall
The Wall leaves Housesteads through a small wood; 30 years ago you could walk on the Wall here now there is a fence to stop you. After about a quarter of a mile, you see Milecastle 37.
Milecastle 37
Milecastle 37 is a short axis milestone measuring 50ft by 57ft. It has been excavated 4 times and as you can is well preserved
The milecastle has been partly reconstructed and consolidated and is now in the care of English Heritage. The wall achieves a maximum height of over 6ft internally, and the single barrack block in the east half survives to 3ft high
The diagram illustrates what it would have looked like.
A re-used corner of a Hadrianic dedication slab was found in 1853,
Two altars inscribed to Cocidius and Jupiter were found at the foot of the precipice, and behind the milecastle respectively. The Northgate was rebuilt and at one time was blocked. Several archstones have been replaced
Just after this Milecastle, the Pennine Way heads North. Before you reach Milecastle 38 are glorious views of Crag Lough from Hotbank Crags.
Milecastle 38
MC38 is situated just south of Hotbank Farm in Milking Gap. Little remains of the milecastle except rubble walls outlined by robber trenches (dug to extract the facing stone) It was a short axis milecastle similar to MC37. Pottery finds indicated occupation in the 4th century.
In the milecastle was found the joint inscription bearing the names of the emperor Hadrian and Governor Nepos, (governor of Britain in AD122) indicating that the milecastle was built by the 2nd Legion in 120s AD. Up to then, the Wall was thought to have been built by Emperor Severus 80 years later. This inscription can be found in the Hancock Museum in Newcastle and seen HERE
The Wall climbs Highshield Crags with the Lough below, and then down into Sycamore Gap,( which is even more famous since the tree was criminally felled ) and up again. From the top, you get the classic view of Hotbank Farm and Crag Lough to the East.
Over the hill, and it’s steep and down into Castle Nap and MC 39.
Milecastle 39
MC39 is a long axis mile castle measuring 62ft by 51ft; it is out of position possibly to fill this gap in the cliffs. To the south is the Roman Military Way, which could only be used by pack animals as it climbs in and out of the gaps. Again it had been subject to alteration during the Roman period.
The north gateway was narrowed; the milecastle appears to have been occupied until the late 4th century. The milecastle is now consolidated and the walls are up to 6ft high. It has been excavated 3 times. The initial intention was that these forts would garrison 16 to 32 soldiers.
Little is known of the earliest internal buildings, though those in the west were of timber. Later there were stone buildings against the wall.
Over Peel Crag and Steel Rigg come into view with Windshields behind. The descent from Peel Crags is demanding, but it can be avoided by descending to a track south of the Wall.
At the bottom of the dip look over the wall to see Peel Gap Tower, which is an extra tower built shortly after the Wall was completed, because the cliffs hid the view to the north. As you climb up to Steel Rigg look east to see Peel Crags, which you have just come down
Cross the road and start to ascend the Windshield Crags. The path is on the Wall. Just before the top is the remains of MC40
Milecastle 40
There is not much to see but you can identify rubble under the grass. It was a long axis milecastle measuring 60ft north south and 49ft east west. Again the milecastle was modified this time in the late 2nd century. Nothing is known about the interior.
It’s on a 1 in ten slope and the Wall turns 15 degrees to the north.
Shortly after the milecastle, you reach the top of the Winshields 1230ft above sea level which is the highest point on the Wall. Down the Windshields into the deep valley of Lodham Slack, than up to the summit of the next ridge and then the gentle slope to MC 41.
Milecastle 41
MC 41 is located to the east of Caw Gap and is of the short axis type. The milecastle can be seen as turf-covered banks outlined by robber trenches. A cottage, long removed, occupied the site and was built from, the materials of milecastle 41
It appears to be positioned so that it is in sight of Haltwhistle Burn Fortlet on the Stanegate.
The next gap is Bogle Hole and then comes Cow Gap where the road is crossed. Up the hill and follow the impressive wall remains.
Milecastle 42
MC42 is situated on a steep south facing slope, 30ft south of Cawfields Crags, and looks over Hole Gap to the west. It is on a well preserved section of Hadrian’s Wall. It is a short axis milecastle and measures 63ft by 49ft with walls 8ft thick and 4/5 ft. high
It was excavated in 1848 by John Clayton and again in 1935. Clayton found 2 inscribed stones, one recording the building of the structure under Hadrian and Nepos and the other a tombstone.