Traveling to the UK

[Marcus Cassius LegioXIV]

Hey I'll be in the UK from about August-October this year and I need some help on things to see and do. First I'd like to know what are some real good sites to see related to the Roman period "I'm walking Hadrian's wall in June, but I'll just stay in that area for a couple weeks along the wall" and I wanted to know if there are any good Roman era events going on through Aug-Oct, Early or Late period, not picky. Also I wanted to know about any living history places/museums of any era worth going to at all while I'm over there. Thanks

[Peroni]

Have a look at our group's website at the events listings.

Maybe there's one you could attend and meet up? We'll be at Corbridge on the 26th-27th August! It's generally a big event with mutiple Roman groups in attendance, including cavalry.

http://www.romanarmy.net/events.htm

Go to the Clayton Museum at Chesters, also the Roman army museum at Housesteads.
And don't forget the Mithraeum at Carrawburgh! (Batavian altars! :wink: )

Newcastle (Tyne Museum) well worth a visit,

[Franklin]

So are you only looking at sites along the wall? Because of course there are major collections at York, London, Bath, Caerleon, blah, blah, blah, ad infinitum.

If you are strictly looking at the wall I can personally recommend Vindolanda and Birdoswald. Of those two Vindolanda has the much larger collection, including of course the famous writing tablets.

Neither, I think, is terribly accessible to public transportation though. And you might have some trouble renting a car as a minor.

I've also heard that Housesteads is pretty breath-taking.

[Marcus Cassius LegioXIV]

No, just the Wall area in June, but August-Oct. is open for the UK and thanks for the help already, keep it coming! Thanks

[Mithras]

Actually, you will find that Vindolanda fort is on a special bus route to accomadate visitors, which runs through the winter too.

Fantastic place to vistit.

Neither, I think, is terribly accessible to public transportation though. And you might have some trouble renting a car as a minor.

I've also heard that Housesteads is pretty breath-taking.

[Peroni]

Neither, I think, is terribly accessible to public transportation though. And you might have some trouble renting a car as a minor.

Contrary to popoular belief, the UK has a pretty good public transport system! Excoursions are run regularly by many operators.

As for being a 'minor' the legal age to drive in the UK is 17 years. If you have a full license, you should be fine.

[Tarbicus]

Check with hire car companies in the UK first. Some have a minimum age of 21 and you have to have held a full license for at least 1 year. You may also have to pay a daily surcharge for insurance purposes.

[Graham Sumner]

Hi

There is a train service from Carlisle to Newcastle and a regular bus service too. There is also a cycle route along the wall and Solway coast to the Roman fort at Ravenglass. In summertime there is a special Hadrian's Wall bus service which links the major wall sites and Vindolanda. If you stayed somewhere like Haltwhistle or Hexham you could use the local travel services quite easily or walk to some sites like Vindolanda if you are feeling more energetic.

Both Carlisle and Newcastle have museums with Roman collections. Wallsend or Segedunum Museum is also in the Newcastle district and has an interesting Museum and reconstructed Bath-House and just over the river Tyne is South Shields with reconstructions of a gateway, barrack block and commanders house. South Shields or Arbeia is also the home of Quinta the re-enactment society who give regular displays there. All these places have websites. In September 1-2 The Ermine Street Guard will be at Arbeia and at Birdoswald on May 27-28.

Contact details for events and travel:
Hadrian's Wall information line 01434 322002 or their website www.hadrians-wall.org
Public transport:
Traveline 0870 2608
National Rail enquires 08457 484950
www.cycleroutes.org

Hope this helps.

Graham.

[John Conyard]

The Wall is very special.

But I would also try and catch Middlewich Roman Festival in Cheshire 15/16 September, and the August Bank Holiday Late Roman show by the seaside at Sewerby Hall, East Yorkshire, on the 26/27 August.

[Franklin]

Check with hire car companies in the UK first. Some have a minimum age of 21 and you have to have held a full license for at least 1 year. You may also have to pay a daily surcharge for insurance purposes.

That's what I was referring to. Most places won't rent (hire!) to persons under 21 (I've even seen 24), or if they do they tack on exorbitant insurance fees.

And Adrian, trust me, I've traveled the length and breadth of your fair country using only public transportation and I agree it's top notch. I just seemed to remember Vindolanda and Birdoswald both being fairly off the beaten path.

Compare that to Alabama where I grew up, where there was no public transportation anywhere, to anything.

[mcbishop]

I just seemed to remember Vindolanda and Birdoswald both being fairly off the beaten path.

Both of these are now on the route of the AD122 (ahem!) bus route. There is a timetable linked here but note that the 2007 one has not yet been published (it is only January and the thing does not start running until April), so you'll need to check back for the new one, but the bus even has a bike rack on the back if you want to vary your mode of transport. The Hadrian's Wall bus used to be a grotty old coach in the old days but now it is a swish modern affair. I've used it when doing my original recce trip to get out from Newcastle station to Harlow Hill (not really doable with any other form of transport except the 'two-car trick') so I could walk back to Wallsend. Note that only one a day does the whole Wall from Wallsend to Bowness (am) and Bowness to Wallsend (pm), all the others running between Hexham (which you can reach by bus or train from Newcastle) and Carlisle (which is on what is jokingly called 'the main west coast line'). If you catch the train from Newcastle, why not stop off at Corbridge for a brisk 20-minute walk to The Best Roman Site in the Entire World (oh hang on... I might be biased there ;-)?

Mike Bishop

[Crispvs]

A few years ago, when I was very short of funds, I put my ten speed bike on the train up to Newcastle upon Tyne and spent the next ten days cycling around various sites along the wall. If you wanted to stay somewhere central to use as a base for a day or two I would recommend Hexham. However, it may be worth noting that there is a cycle shop in Haltwistle, as I found to my great relief after my valve ruptured and I found myself without any spare inner tubes (which turned out to still be lying on my bed at home). The Hadrian's Wall bus is good, but as it only runs four times a day (unless it has become more frequent recently) a bicycle is a good piece of equipment for extending what you can do with your time. Incidentally, by bike the trip to the 'best Roman site in the entire world' is about five minutes of cycling through very nice surroundings before suddenly coming apon a narrow side road which suddenly appears out of nowhere which is marked with a brown sign pointing to 'Corbridge Roman Site'.

Crispvs

[mcbishop]

Incidentally, by bike the trip to the 'best Roman site in the entire world' is about five minutes of cycling through very nice surroundings before suddenly coming apon a narrow side road which suddenly appears out of nowhere which is marked with a brown sign pointing to 'Corbridge Roman Site'.

And here's the route ;-)

Mike Bishop

[madoc]

http://www.vicus.org.uk/

Here is we are this year.

Shame you are doing the wall earlier in June as we'll be doing it in August and finishing off with a big roman meal in the dining room, of the reconstructed commander's house at Arbeia.

[Peroni]

Madoc,
See you at the Lunt!

Probably Cliveden too.