Back in the summer of 2006, we spent a couple of weeks in Scotland, combining vacation with a business trip of my husband’s. During our week in Edinburgh, where we loved our self-catering apartment whose kitchen window looked out (up to) Edinburgh Castle, the girls and I took one day to make a crazy journey down to England. I managed getting two kids and two car seats to the airport via the bus, navigating, driving on the left, shifting with my left hand and an infinite number of roundabouts — I still don’t know how I did it. But the memories of that day were worth it!
Our first stop was Alnwick Castle, where many scenes from the first few Harry Potter movies were filmed. While that was an awesome adventure, it was our subsequent stop that has left me dreaming. While I was preparing for the trip to Scotland, Camille had expressed a wish to visit Vindolanda. Her Latin curriculum at the time was based on some excavations that had been done in Vindolanda, and she thought it would be really fun to get to go there and see it for herself.
While Camille loved seeing Vindolanda (and Chloe loved the ice cream — she was barely four and didn’t quite get the historical significance), the highlight of the day for me was climbing up the big hill across from the Roman Army Museum to walk along Hadrian’s Wall Walk. I loved it! What I learned is that Hadrian’s Wall is a popular trekking route, stretching across England from shore to shore.
Ever since then, one of the items on my “bucket list” has been to go on a Hadrian’s Wall Walk form sea to sea. I keep putting it off as other trips come up, and, now, Chloe is almost old enough to make the trek. I look forward to returning to England and making the 84-mile walk with my two girls!
This is an entry for Mondays are For Dreaming at Mother of All Trips.
Great post! I’m so pleased to read that you enjoyed your time in Scotland (my home).Lucky you staying right beside the castle!
Well, you’re one up on me – I’ve never been to Hadrian’s Wall – shame on me. Don’t you find that you often don’t visit the places that are right on your doorstep? I’ll definitely go some day.
I walked the wall last summer. Can definitely recommend it as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. There are plenty of great B&Bs, hostels, and pubs along the entire route. Parts of it were tougher than I expected, but my pack was overly heavy. There are services that will transport your pack, or luggage, from one B&B to the next, so you can walk the wall without a heavy load on your back. The one day we walked nearly 18 miles, I wished I could’ve shed my pack!
I’m taking my kids there in about 5 years, to share with them the experiences I had last summer. Not sure we’ll walk the whole thing, but a good chunk of it.
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I am TOTALLY down with this dream. My oldest would love an adventure like that some day – it has all the things he loves: history, action, and being outdoors.
When we were planning our England trip for this past summer we talked about getting up north to walk part of the wall, but made the decision to stay to the southwest instead. I don’t regret that, but like you this is on my list for sure. Absolutely love that last photo!
Very cool! I hope you’re able to do it someday. I spent a few days in Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain a few years ago and very much admired the many people making the pilgrimmage there.