A wet, murky and grey walk today, which we cut short because of how boggy & muddy it was - progress was very slow. The walk started from the National Trust visitor centre, and took the well-trodden path up to the Roman Fort. Entrance to the fort requires payment to the National Trust, and although I am a member and therefore could have gone in, as my two walking companions aren't and time was short, we didn't go in and instead skirted the outside.
The walk took us along the Roman Wall and up into a wood, largely made up of Larch Trees, where we stopped for lunch. The entire walk required much greater levels of concentration than usual, as each step was treacherous. As we walked alongside the wall we couldn't help but think about the harsh reality that the Roman settlers must have experienced, living in the fort with little protection from the powerful elements, toiling day after day to build the wall. The landscape here felt unwelcoming, intimidating and very bleak.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/7/18571396/9357260.jpg?1393849947)
The drive to and from Housesteads was for me as interesting as the walk itself, as we passed numerous surviving parts of the wall, as well as being able to see the remains of defensive ditches running along the sides of the road. The landscape we drove through was very dramatic in places, with numerous interesting geological features that Robin pointed out to me.
We've now categorised this walk as a summer walk - or at least, a walk not to be attempted after significant rainfall - and I hope to return there over the summer, as I imagine that in better weather the place will feel totally different.
We've now categorised this walk as a summer walk - or at least, a walk not to be attempted after significant rainfall - and I hope to return there over the summer, as I imagine that in better weather the place will feel totally different.