ROMAN FRONTIER, WILD LANDSCAPES & LIVING HISTORY
Hadrian’s Wall Explorer
Three days discovering the extraordinary archaeology, landscapes and human stories of Britain’s greatest Roman frontier.
At a glance
2,000 years of history, written across the landscape
3 days / 2 nights
One carefully chosen base
Maximum 14 guests
Small by design
Hadrian’s Wall Country
Northumberland
April to October
Selected departures
Ideal for: Roman history, archaeology, spectacular landscapes and travellers curious about the people who once lived at the edge of an empire.
Freedom to discover differently
More than a wall
Hadrian’s Wall is one of Britain’s most remarkable historic landscapes – but its story reaches far beyond the stones that remain.
Over three carefully paced days, explore the dramatic central section of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Roman forts, settlements and milecastles sit within the wild landscapes of Northumberland.
From the extraordinary discoveries at Vindolanda to the commanding position of Housesteads and the Wall itself stretching across the Whin Sill, discover a frontier once inhabited by soldiers, families, traders and communities drawn from across the Roman Empire.
With expert interpretation throughout, this is not simply about what survives. It is about understanding the people who lived here, why Rome created this frontier and what life was really like at the northern edge of the Empire.
What makes it special
The Roman frontier, brought to life
Extraordinary archaeology
Explore some of the best-preserved Roman sites in Britain, including Vindolanda, Housesteads and Chesters, and discover what archaeology continues to reveal about life along the frontier.
Lives at the edge of Empire
Meet the soldiers, families, merchants and communities behind the ruins – people drawn from across an empire whose possessions, letters and everyday objects have survived for almost 2,000 years.
Walk through the landscape
Experience the Wall where it is at its most dramatic, following sections of its route across the Whin Sill and seeing how Roman engineering became part of Northumberland’s extraordinary landscape.
Carefully designed for you
Your journey, day by day
DAY 1
Hexham, Chesters & the Roman Frontier
Arrive in Hadrian’s Wall Country and begin your journey in the historic market town of Hexham before travelling north to Chesters Roman Fort.
Set beside the River North Tyne, Chesters provides the perfect introduction to the frontier: a substantial cavalry fort with remarkably preserved remains, including its bathhouse and commanding position beside the Wall.
With your guide, begin to piece together why Hadrian ordered this extraordinary frontier to be built and discover the military and civilian world that subsequently developed around it.
Continue to your hotel and settle in before joining your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner.
Included: Chesters Roman Fort, expert guiding, welcome dinner
DAY 2
Vindolanda & Life on the Frontier
Today takes you beyond emperors, armies and military strategy to discover the people who actually lived along the frontier.
Explore Vindolanda, where successive Roman forts and settlements have produced some of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in Britain. Its internationally significant collection – including writing tablets, shoes and everyday possessions – provides a remarkably personal window into life almost 2,000 years ago.
Continue to the Roman Army Museum to place these discoveries within the wider story of the soldiers stationed along Hadrian’s Wall and the vast empire from which they came.
There is time throughout the day to explore at a relaxed pace and to appreciate the landscape that surrounded these frontier communities.
Included: Vindolanda, Roman Army Museum, expert guiding
DAY 3
Housesteads & the Wild Wall
Spend your final day where Hadrian’s Wall and the Northumberland landscape come together at their most spectacular.
Visit Housesteads Roman Fort, dramatically positioned above the surrounding countryside and one of the best-preserved Roman forts in Britain.
Then experience the Wall itself. Around Steel Rigg and the central Whin Sill, the frontier follows the natural contours of the landscape through some of its most recognisable scenery.
Depending on conditions, enjoy a guided walk along a carefully selected section of the Wall, with alternatives available for those who prefer a gentler pace.
It is a fitting conclusion to the journey: standing within a landscape where the remains of Rome are still visible nearly two millennia after the frontier was built.
Your tour concludes later in the afternoon.
Included: Housesteads Roman Fort, guided Wall experience, expert guiding
The essentials taken care of
What's included in your journey
Included
- 2 nights’ accommodation in a carefully selected hotel
- Daily cooked breakfast
- Welcome dinner on Day 1
- Expert guiding throughout the journey
- Chesters Roman Fort
- Vindolanda
- Roman Army Museum
- Housesteads Roman Fort
- Guided Hadrian’s Wall experience
- Private transportation during the programme
- All applicable local taxes
Not included
- Travel to and from the tour
- Lunches unless specifically stated
- Dinner on Day 2
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Optional activities outside the programme
A comfortable base
Stay at the heart of Hadrian’s Wall Country
Rather than travelling back and forth from a city each day, your carefully selected accommodation places you within easy reach of the central section of Hadrian’s Wall.
Unpack once and spend the next three days immersed in Northumberland’s Roman landscape, returning each evening to a comfortable base surrounded by the countryside you have come to explore.
Choose your departure
Dates & prices
Departure
tbc
from
£poa
per person
Based on two guests sharing
Single supplement applies
Good to know
Before you travel
Activity level
Moderate. This journey includes walking at archaeological sites and over uneven ground. The Wall experience may include grass, stone paths, slopes and steps, but longer or more strenuous walking is not essential.
Getting here
The tour begins and ends in Hexham, which has direct rail connections with Newcastle and Carlisle and onward connections across the UK.
Group size
Maximum 14 guests, allowing us to travel comfortably and keep visits personal.
What to bring
Comfortable walking footwear and waterproof outerwear are strongly recommended. Conditions along Hadrian’s Wall can change quickly, even during the summer months.
READY TO DISCOVER THE FRONTIER?
Walk into 2,000 years of history
Join a small group and experience Hadrian’s Wall through its remarkable archaeology, dramatic landscapes and the people whose stories still survive here.