Today
we started at Newtown near Brampton and immediately climbed gently up onto the
higher hills. This together with intermittent rain meant that it seemed like a
‘real’ days walking. One of the nice features of this walk is that dotted along
its length are honesty boxes full of snack bars and drinks for which a small
payment was required. It seemed that the children of the houses where they were
situated ran these as a hobby some extra pocket money ran.
We
also saw more walkers today, many of them European visitors including from
Spain and Germany. It is great that foreign visitors are exploring areas off
the traditional tourist trail. I hope that they return with some great
memories, if not of the very typically English weather.
The
examples of the wall became more striking, both linear sections and the
fortifications that were situated intermittently. Some were minor block
structures that housed a small number of soldiers, while other were more
substantial structures that were the bases for a substantial number of troops
who would be rushed to any sign of trouble. It was a well thought out and
clever system to maximise the Romans effectiveness over such a long border.
Ian
conjectured that the purpose of the Wall was actually to delay any attack,
providing a type of early warning so that the Romans could fall back and mop up
any trouble in conditions of their choosing. I think that one of the prime
purposes of the wall was to form a trade barrier levying tariffs on goods
particularly livestock being brought through the wall from the north.
Whatever
the purpose even from the ruined remnants it formed an impressive structure
built by a powerful empire. However the lesson for our times is of course how
temporary it all was as an effective military/trade barrier. It probably had an
effective life of less than 150 years.
Well
we finished just before the rain set in and for the first time I felt as though
I had done a proper day’s walking. Tomorrow promises a lot in terms of
interest, unfortunately the weather forecast is not so promising.
Today
we started at Newtown near Brampton and immediately climbed gently up onto the
higher hills. This together with intermittent rain meant that it seemed like a
‘real’ days walking. One of the nice features of this walk is that dotted along
its length are honesty boxes full of snack bars and drinks for which a small
payment was required. It seemed that the children of the houses where they were
situated ran these as a hobby some extra pocket money ran.
We
also saw more walkers today, many of them European visitors including from
Spain and Germany. It is great that foreign visitors are exploring areas off
the traditional tourist trail. I hope that they return with some great
memories, if not of the very typically English weather.
The
examples of the wall became more striking, both linear sections and the
fortifications that were situated intermittently. Some were minor block
structures that housed a small number of soldiers, while other were more
substantial structures that were the bases for a substantial number of troops
who would be rushed to any sign of trouble. It was a well thought out and
clever system to maximise the Romans effectiveness over such a long border.
Ian
conjectured that the purpose of the Wall was actually to delay any attack,
providing a type of early warning so that the Romans could fall back and mop up
any trouble in conditions of their choosing. I think that one of the prime
purposes of the wall was to form a trade barrier levying tariffs on goods
particularly livestock being brought through the wall from the north.
Whatever
the purpose even from the ruined remnants it formed an impressive structure
built by a powerful empire. However the lesson for our times is of course how
temporary it all was as an effective military/trade barrier. It probably had an
effective life of less than 150 years.
Well
we finished just before the rain set in and for the first time I felt as though
I had done a proper day’s walking. Tomorrow promises a lot in terms of
interest, unfortunately the weather forecast is not so promising.
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