The group will be met at Glasgow airport and drive through the Borders following the valley of the Tweed through Peebles and Kelso to Jedburgh where we will stop for lunch. From there, we will make our way south to Corbridge where we will spend the next 6 nights.

River Irthing

In the morning, we will visit the Roman Army Museum at Carvoran to get an introduction to life along the Wall. We will then head to Gilsland and follow the Wall across the River Irthing at Willowford, where the abutments of the original Roman bridge still survive, and on to the fort at Birdoswald. Excavations conducted there have shed a lot of light on its post-Roman history. After lunch, we will return to Gilsland to take a look at the Poltross Burn Milecastle.

Roman Bridge Abutment at Willowford

Today we will head east from Carvoran, following the Wall along the Walltown and Whinshields Crags to Once Brewed, a distance of about 10 kilometres. From there we will drive the short distance to the fort of Vindolanda, which pre-dates Hadrian’s Wall. There is a splendid museum on the site.

Peel Crags from Winshields

In the morning, we will head to Carrawburgh (Brocolitia) and visit the small temple of Mithras attached to the fort. We will also stop at Chesters (Cilurnum) to explore the fort and its well preserved bath house. In the afternoon we will return to Corbridge to visit the Roman town of Coriosopitum just north of the town to tour the site and its museum.

Mithraeum at Carrawburgh

Today we will walk the stretch of wall between Winshields Crags and the fort at Housesteads (Vercovicium), a distance of about 6 kilometres. The scenery is spectacular and there are a number of well-preserved milecastles and turrets along the way. The fort is particularly well-preserved and has been thoroughly studied by archaeologists. Weather permitting, we can bring packed lunches and picnic along the way.

Peel Crags. Milecastle 37

On Thursday, we will drive into Newcastle to visit the Roman forts at South Shields (Arbeia) with its reconstructed Roman gateway and Wallsend ((Segedunum), which has a reconstructed Roman Bathhouse. After lunch downtown, we can visit the Antiquities Museum at the University where there is a reconstruction of the Carrawburgh Mithraeum.

Reconstructed Gate at South Shields

On Friday, we will drive south, through Durham, where we can stop and visit the cathedral, and the North Yorkshire Moors, to Helmsley where we will visit the ruined Cistercian abbey at Rievaulx. The countryside is straight out of 'Heartbeat' with rolling hills and charming towns. We should arrive in York by late afternoon.

Durham Cathedral

We will spend the day exploring the city. Called Eboracum by the Romans, York was a major military fortress and town whose walls define the city even today. Parts of the original walls still survive and we can visit the remains of the Roman baths (conveniently located in the cellar of a pub). The remains of the Viking settlement were excavated in the Coppergate have been reconstructed at the Jorvik Viking Centre, which we will visit.

York. The Minster

Sunday will be kept fairly flexible, the Minster is open for services in the morning and evening and the public is, of course, welcome. A popular excursion is a trip to Castle Howard (TV's 'Brideshead') and if you wish, we can organize a visit in the afternoon.

North Yorkshire Moors

On Monday, we will make our way through the Yorkshire Dales (James Heriot country) to Ambleside at the head of Lake Windermere in the Lake District of Cumbria where we will spend the next two nights. Along the way we will be stopping at Fountains Abbey, a World Heritage site both for the ruins of its Cistercian abbey and for its 18th century Water Gardens. We can also stock up on cheese (or ice cream) at Wensleydale.

Fountains Abbey

We will spend the day touring the fells stopping to visit the Roman forts at Hardknott and the prehistoric stone circle at Swindale. There will be ample opportunity for a ramble in the hills, weather permitting. On our return, we will stop at the Roman fort of Galava, just outside of town.

Swindale Stone Circle

On Wednesday, we will drive north to Keswick where we will spend the next three nights. On the way, we will visit the beautifully situated stone circle at Castlerigg. The area around Keswick has a number of excellent public footpaths with varying distances and topography and we will make good use of them during our stay.

Buttermere

We will spend the day visiting some of the prehistoric monuments around the town of Penrith—the henges at Mayburgh and King Arthur's Round Table as well as the large stone circle known as Long Meg and her Daughters.

The Henge at Mayburgh

On Friday we will explore more of the Lake District by vehicle and by foot, heading through Borrowdale to Buttermere where there is a gentle 4 mile walk around the lake. Or, if we are feeling adventurous (and if the weather cooperates), we can make our way top of Skiddaw, which offers spectacular views of the area.

Farm near Coniston

We will head north past Carlisle and cross the border at Gretna. From there we will head to Moffat and then to Peebles where we will spend the night. Possible stops along the way include the Hermitage, the ruins of the castle where Mary Queen of Scots visited her wounded lover Bothwell or Traquair House, the home of the Earls of Bucchleuch.

Traquair House

Tour ends at Glasgow Airport.