Tuesday 14th August 2018

Day 3: Wall to Housesteads

Day 3 and we were beginning the feel the aches and pains everywhere, but we continued on. A couple minutes after setting off we came across a sign to Brunton Turret. It was slightly of the walk but we thought it was worth it to see some more of the wall. After seeing a tremendous bit of well kept wall and turret we re joined the official path and continued on into Chollerford. Once in the village of Chollerford we passed over the Chollerford bridge which was a spectacular bridge with several arches crossing over the River Tyne. We then carried on for a short while along the pavement up a small hill to our third stamp at the entrance to Chester’s Fort.

After all collecting our stamps we continued along the pavement passing several houses and road men placing cats eyes into the ground. Then after a long walk up a hill we stopped for a quick rest. After being re fuelled we carried on along through fields, which had cows in and fields which had been freshly mowed by a man who is in charge of keeping the walk accessible and fixes anything broken such as stiles and gates. It was then fields after fields. But finally after walking for a 2 and a half days we came across long stretches of the wall. They were so well kept you could see where the Romans had gone from a wide wall to a thinner wall. The only downside to this was it was up hill from there.

At the top of the hill, we had slowly climbed there was a a monument which my brother could not resist climbing on. After that we stopped under a tree for lunch as it had slightly begun to drizzle. After lunch, and when the rain and almost past, we carried on with slightly wet bums.

After a long stretch of walk we came across a temple which was called Brocolitia. We walked down passed the car park to the ruins for the temple. And then crossed the marshy ground on stepping stones back to the path.

We then made our way up to Sewing Shields wood which we walked through, and once we made it out the other side, we had a splendid view of the wall running into the far distant and the view of near by villages. As we continued along the top of the hill by the wall, we spotted in the distant a large lake which when the sun shone on it was spectacular. After continuing for some time we can across another monument which we could not help but to stand on top of After the monument it was downhill for the most part.

As we came close to our destination for today we could see the Roman fort of Housestreads (Vercovicium) but unfortunately it was at the top of a hill. So we passed under, what remains of an arch and continued the final stretch up the hill. Once we reached the top of the hill there was an amazing view and we had finished today’s section of the walk. However there was then a long walk down to the car park where our pick up point was. Along the walk down we stopped at the visitor centre of Housesteads and picked up a second stamp for today. Then we did the last stretch down to the car park. Luckily the pick up cars we there when we arrived so we quickly used the facilities and got into the warm cars and headed back to the bunk house.

17.94km / 11.14 Miles