Carlisle - Brampton - Hadrian's Wall drive

A drive which includes Cumbria’s capital city Carlisle, Hadrian’s Wall and the attractive Irthing valley. The area has a fascinating history and plenty of associated interests, the highlight being some of the best preserved Roman remains in the country. 46 miles.

Carlisle

Distance: 0 miles
Location: Carlisle, Castle car park
Coordinates: N 54.89652, W 2.94328

Capital of Cumbria and the only city within the county, historic Carlisle is an interesting place to explore with a turbulent past. A settlement was established in Roman times at this important crossing of the River Eden and Hadrian’s Wall. During the Middle Ages, the border settlement frequently passed from English to Scottish rule as the two countries fought for control.

The impressive Carlisle Castle is over 900 years old and has been the focal point of many historic battles. It is now open to the public and includes the Cumbria Museum of Military Life. Across the road is the interesting Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery which tells more of the local history. Further towards the city centre are some wonderful attractions including Carlisle Cathedral, Guildhall Museum, St Cuthbert’s Church and the old West Walls. The city centre itself has some attractive buildings and a good pedestrianized shopping area. Castle car park is pay and display, adjacent to the castle and only a few minutes walk from the city centre.

Rickerby Park, Carlisle

Distance: 1.2 miles
Location: Rickerby Park, Carlisle
Coordinates: N 54.90417, W 2.92775

Rickerby Park is an attractive open parkland area near to Carlisle centre and alongside the meandering River Eden. There are a number of footpaths across the park and along the river which provide a pleasant stroll. Following the river upstream from the car park, you soon reach a footbridge which takes you back towards the city centre and a circular walk is possible returning over Eden Bridge and through the adjacent gardens. Free car park with adjacent picnic tables but no other facilities.

Solway Aviation Museum

Distance: 8.7 miles
Location: Solway Aviation Museum
Coordinates: N 54.94352, W 2.80572

The fascinating and quirky Solway Aviation Museum is located within the grounds of Carlisle Airport. The museum is run by enthusiastic volunteers and contains some interesting displays mostly relating to post war aviation developments. Outside, the main attraction is the impressive Vulcan Bomber and guided tours of the cockpit are available at certain times. Nearby are various other old aircraft, some of which you can enter and you are free to wonder between them. Inside the old airbase buildings are various rooms, displays and a wealth of aviation artefacts from aircraft engines to ejector seats. The museum is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday Monday between April and October. Admission fee applies, with parking, gift shop, refreshments and toilets also available.

Brampton

Distance: 13.3 miles
Location: Brampton, Market Place
Coordinates: N 54.94224, W 2.73432

Surrounded by some wonderful countryside and attractions, the small and pretty market town of Brampton has a long history and a number of interests for visitors. Much of the town dates from the Middle Ages during which time it was subject to frequent border raids and unrest. Evidence of earlier Norman occupation is highlighted by the huge motte earthwork just outside the town centre. At the heart of the town is the cobbled Market Place where a market is held every Wednesday. Overlooking this is the impressive octagonal Moot Hall, complete with old iron stocks, which now houses the Tourist Information Centre. Nearby is St Martin’s Church which contains some wonderful stained glass windows. The town itself has some interesting old sandstone buildings, cobbled streets and a good selection of shops, pubs and cafes. Free disk car parking in the town centre and public toilets nearby.

Lanercost Priory

Distance: 17.1 miles
Location: Lanercost Priory
Coordinates: N 54.96542, W 2.69728

Lanercost Priory is an impressive old monastery founded by Augustinian monks in the 12th century. Constructed using stone from nearby Hadrian’s Wall, it is probably the best preserved Cumbrian monastery although not as large as Furness Abbey. The Priory has had a troubled history being in the firing line of border raids in the Middle Ages and eventually was dissolved under Henry VIII in the 16th century. Part of the Priory has since been maintained as the local Parish church and this is free to visit. Adjacent, the remainder of the Priory is partly ruined but well worth visiting along with the old monastic buildings.

There are also some pleasant grounds with free entry where you will find a gift shop, restaurant, picnic area and toilet facilities. A footpath leads from here across the fields to the attractive River Irthing and the nearby historic road bridge. English Heritage property, free admission to Priory ruin for members, otherwise admission fee applies. Open daily from Easter to November and February school holidays, weekends at other times. Free car parking.

Banks East Turret

Distance: 18.8 miles
Location: Banks East Turret
Coordinates: N 54.97548, W 2.66510

Banks East Turret was a small fortification on Hadrian’s Wall, probably in use from when the Wall was built around AD122 to when the Romans left in the fourth century. Hadrian’s Wall consisted of many fortifications along its length, primarily at the main Forts such as Birdoswald but also every mile there was a milecastle and between the milecastles were two equally spaced turrets. The turrets were small stone watchtowers allowing observation of the surrounding Wall. Much of the Wall and building stonework has been taken for other construction over the years but the lower Walls remain here and it is an interesting place to explore with fabulous views across the Irthing valley and away towards Lakeland mountains. This turret is numbered 52a because it was the first turret west of milecastle 52, that being approx 52 Roman miles from the eastern end of the Wall.

If you follow the footpath east from Banks East Turret for approx 100m you will find Pike Hill Signal Tower which again has some lower remains to explore. This predated Hadrian’s Wall by a few decades and was used to protect the Stanegate which was the nearby Roman Road running from Corbridge to Carlisle. Due to its important position it was later incorporated into the Wall. Free car parking and free entry to local Roman ruins but no facilities.

Birdoswald Roman Fort

Distance: 21.7 miles
Location: Birdoswald Roman Fort
Coordinates: N 54.99155, W 2.60092

Birdoswald Roman Fort was one of 16 major forts along the length of Hadrian’s Wall and is also one of the best preserved. This may have been the base for around 1000 Roman soldiers who protected the Wall. Although far from complete, archaeology has revealed much of the original layout and it is well worth exploring. The Fort is in a great position, set high above the River Irthing, with spectacular views and one of the best preserved sections of stone Wall to the east and various milecastles and turrets nearby. The Wall along this stretch was originally turf construction and that can also be seen at the Fort. There is an interesting visitor centre which tells the story of the Fort, including its use following Roman occupation.

English Heritage property, free admission for members, otherwise admission fee applies. Open daily from Easter to November and February school holidays, Wednesday to Sunday in March and weekends at other times. Cafe, gift shop and toilets on site. Pay and display parking.

Gilsland

Distance: 23.6 miles
Location: Gilsland, village car park
Coordinates: N 54.98924, W 2.57952

The village of Gilsland straddles the Cumbria/Northumbria county boundary in a pretty and remote location within the Irthing valley. The village is home to the House of Meg tea rooms, the Samson Inn, the Bridge Inn and the nearby historic Gilsland Spa but the main attraction again is Hadrian’s Wall which runs immediately to the south. Behind the village car park, a short footpath bears left across the field and railway to Poltross Burn milecastle 48 which is one of the best preserved structures on the Wall. Only the lower structure remains but you can still see the route through the Wall that was a feature of the milecastles. A short circular walk through the village is possible if you continue on the footpath beyond the milecastle.

In the opposite direction from the car park, a good footpath follows an interesting section of ruined Wall which includes the remains of Willowford turrets 48a and 48b, overlooking the River Irthing. The path then descends to the river and the remains of Willowford Bridge which was the old Roman bridge across the river. Over the river, the footpath climbs to Harrows Scar milecastle 49 and along the substantial section of Wall leading to Birdoswald Fort. Free car parking and free entry to local Roman ruins.

Talkin Tarn Country Park

Distance: 33.2 miles
Location: Talkin Tarn Country Park
Coordinates: N 54.92408, W 2.71355

Talkin Tarn is a popular but quite well hidden country park, the main attraction being the glacial tarn set amongst meadows and woodland with some lovely distant views. The circular tarn has a well made footpath around it which makes an enjoyable 1.3 mile level stroll. The views can be fully appreciated from the many benches along the way and there is plenty of birdlife to admire. The tarn is popular for boating and you can sometimes hire a rowing boat to appreciate the surroundings from the water. Near the car park is the renovated boathouse which overlooks the tarn and houses a tea room and gift shop with adjacent play area and toilets. Open daily all year. Pay and display car park.

Gelt Woods

Distance: 34.9 miles
Location: Gelt Woods, Middle Gelt Bridge
Coordinates: N 54.90867, W 2.73075

The picturesque Gelt Woods follow the cascading River Gelt through a deep sandstone ravine and provide a lovely walk along the river. A reasonable but sometimes muddy footpath follows an undulating linear route through the woods, approx 1.8 miles from Middle Gelt Bridge to Low Gelt Bridge. The woods are also famous for a historic Roman quarry, overlooking the river, from which stone for Hadrian’s Wall was carved out nearly two thousand years ago. The quarry cliff face is found approx 1 mile from the parking area and the chisel marks can still be seen today. An inscription made during Roman times can also still be seen in the quarry face although it is difficult to find and reach. The public footpath leads downstream from the parking area. Free roadside car parking but no other facilities.

Wetheral

Distance: 40.5 miles
Location: Wetheral, village green
Coordinates: N 54.88235, W 2.83356

Wetheral is a pleasant village set high above the River Eden with a number of attractions for visitors. The village became affluent when the Carlisle-Newcastle railway was built and there are some wonderful properties from that era. There is free parking around the large village green and a stroll around the village is well worthwhile. The Posting Pot cafe adjacent to the village shop, the Crown Hotel and Fantails restaurant can provide refreshments. No public toilets.

A suggested short walk, visiting the majority of local attractions, leads from the village green past the village shop to the pretty railway station. Detour across the impressive railway viaduct, high above the River Eden, giving good views. Return to the station and down the 99 steps to the river. Turn right along the lane and soon a footpath on the right takes you to the attractive Holy Trinity Church. Back towards the river another footpath leads upstream to the Eden Benchmark bench sculpture and continues past the imposing Corby Castle with its cascading waterfall on the opposite side of the river. Continue to Wetheral Woods and St Constantine’s caves, hewn out of the sandstone rock, overlooking the river. Head back across the fields to visit Wetheral Priory Gatehouse, the only remaining part of the historic Wetheral Priory and open daily with free entry. Continue along the lane and return to the village green.

Carlisle

Distance: 46.6 miles
Location: Carlisle, Castle car park
Coordinates: N 54.89652, W 2.94328

Return to start point.