Hadrian's Coastal Route


Book Description

'Be part of history, walk a frontier lost for over fifteen hundred years.' The Western Hadrianic Frontier of the Roman Empire is little known by the general public. Until recently the frontier was viewed as merely a series of forts with a fluid means of defence and administration between them, and the public was understandably drawn to the physical remains of Hadrian's Wall crossing from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend. Archaeologists have always known different, and it is only now that they are beginning to shout from the rooftops that the Western Frontier is as important as the stones that cross the Pennines. Fortunately, through the efforts of a small band of archaeologists and Historic England, the public perception is changing. There is a wealth of magnificent and diverse scenery and amazing archaeology which rivals the better-known sites along the Hadrian's Wall. Walking the frontier offers opportunities for personal adventure and discovery. There is plenty of variety in the west; catch a train or bus, buy local produce, enjoy a beer and a good bed, but most of all enjoy the quest. This fully updated and illustrated guide offers the walker an insight into this relatively unknown world – one that still has much to reveal.




Hadrian's Wall Path


Book Description

The essential guidebook to walking the 135km (84 mile) Hadrian's Wall Path. One of the UK's most visited National Trails, it runs the length of the Roman Wall from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria to Wallsend, Newcastle. The trail is presented here in 10 stages, with suggestions for five and eight-day itineraries. It is suitable for beginners, although a reasonable level of fitness is required if doing it as a multi-day walk. The route is described both west to east and east to west, and the guidebook also features an extension through Newcastle to South Shields on the east coast. This guidebook contains a wealth of information on the history of the Wall, and a range of practical information for walkers, from accommodation and itinerary planning, to details on public transport and refreshments. A separate map booklet of 1:25,000 scale OS maps shows the full route. Clear step-by-step route descriptions in the guide are illustrated by 1:100,000 OS map extracts. The route description links together with the map booklet at each stage along the way, and the compact format is conveniently sized for slipping into a jacket pocket or the top of a rucksack.







Hadrian's Wall Path


Book Description

?Hadrians Wall Path runs for 86 miles from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend along the line of the Roman Wall completed in AD122 under the Emperor Hadrian. This National Trail crosses northern England from Irish Sea to North Sea and offers many chances to look at the forts, milecastles and interpretation centers within this UNESCO World Heritage Site. This guidebook contains all youll need to plan, and enjoy a classic weeks walking.




The Fight for Beauty


Book Description

We live in a world where the drive for economic growth is crowding out everything that can’t be given a monetary value. We’re stuck on a treadmill where only the material things in life gain traction and it’s getting harder to find space for the things that really matter but money can’t buy, including our future. Fiona Reynolds proposes a solution that is at once radical and simple – to inspire us through the beauty of the world around us. Delving into our past, examining landscapes, nature, farming and urbanisation, she shows how ideas about beauty have arisen and evolved, been shaped by public policy, been knocked back and inched forward until they arrived lost in the economically-driven spirit of today. A passionate, polemical call to arms, The Fight for Beauty presents an alternative path forward: one that, if adopted, could take us all to a better future.




Hadrian's Cycleway


Book Description

Guidebook to Hadrian’s Cycleway, a waymarked cycle route that traces what was the most northerly frontier of the Roman Empire. This 174-mile (280km) coast-to-coast route from Ravenglass in Cumbria to South Shields follows quiet roads and cycle paths and can be ridden by cyclists of all abilities. Suggested route takes three days with stages of 53–64 miles (85–103km) Also includes more leisurely four- and five-day options, a 100-mile (161km) two-day cycle tour along Hadrian’s Wall only, and an alternative stage that rides closer to the Wall than the official route Clear route descriptions with 1:100,000 mapping, city-centre detail maps and elevation profiles The main route is described from west-east, but includes descriptions for riding east-west Includes facilities listings, local history, travel to and from the start and finish, and advice on preparing your kit, bike and self for the adventure Highlights include Ravenglass, Whitehaven, Solway Coast and AONB, Carlisle Castle, Lanercost Priory, Hexham, Tyne Bridge, Roman forts of Birdoswald, Vindolanda, Housesteads, Chesters GPX files for all route variants available for download




Isle of Man Coastal Path


Book Description

Raad ny Foillan (The Way of the Gull) is a 98 mile footpath around the Isle of Man. The route description is set out as a circuit and split into stages, with the longest walk being 15.5 miles and the shortest being 7 miles. Any fast walkers may wish to complete two stages per day, while those progressing at a more leisurely pace may decide to amble along and take in the splendid attractions along the way. Two further walks described in this guidebook, the 23 mile Millennium Way, which follows the ancient route of the kings, from Ramsey to Castletown, and the 14 mile Herring Way, which takes a more traditional route from Peel to Castletown. Both these routes cross the hills of the island's interior and can be combined to make an interesting longer walk.




Walking in Northumberland


Book Description

A guidebook to 36 walks exploring Northumberland, including the national park, coast, North Pennines and Kielder. Route are graded by difficulty and cover a wide variety of terrain. The walks, accessible from bases such as Alnwick, Rothbury and Hexham, range from 7 to 22km (4–14 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–7 hours. 1:50,000 OS maps included for each walk Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket Notes on refreshments and public transport Local points of interest including Hadrian’s Wall Information on the region’s rich geology, history and wildlife




Cycling the Coast to Coast Route


Book Description

The 137-mile Coast to Coast Route (C2C) was the first national cycle route in Britain and has grown to become the most popular long-distance cycle ride in the country. Tackling the route over five days is a marvellous mini-adventure that should appeal to all sorts of cyclists. Every stage of the route, from Whitehaven on the west coast of Cumbria to Tynemouth in the east, is described by author Nicolas Mitchell, including fascinating accounts of its rich industrial heritage and details of the many opportunities to explore its glorious natural history. The guide includes route maps and elevation charts indicating the ascent and descent; full-colour and archive photographs of all the sights along the way; details listings of accommodation, places to eat and drink and local bike shops and finally, advice on how to prepare yourself and your bike for the trip. Fully illustrated with 75 colour photographs, 6 route maps and 6 elevation graphs.




Protecting the Roman Empire


Book Description

The Roman army enjoys an enviable reputation as an instrument of waging war, but as the modern world reminds us, an enduring victory requires far more than simply winning battles. When it came to suppressing counterinsurgencies, or deterring the depredations of bandits, the army frequently deployed small groups of infantry and cavalry based in fortlets. This remarkable installation type has never previously been studied in detail, and shows a new side to the Roman army. Rather than displaying the aggressive uniformity for which the Roman military is famous, individual fortlets were usually bespoke installations tailored to local needs. Examining fortlet use in north-west Europe helps explain the differing designs of the Empire's most famous artificial frontier systems: Hadrian's Wall, the Antonine Wall, and the Upper German and Raetian limites. The archaeological evidence is fully integrated with documentary sources, which disclose the gritty reality of life in a Roman fortlet.