Hadrian’s Wall – The start

Well today we finally started the walk, the happy band of eight walkers made it to Bowness on Solway. Although this is the start of the walk there is absolutely no sign of any stonework. However the views on all sides were superb, in the north across the Solway Firth to the Southern Uplands of Scotland, and to the south the mountains of the northern Lakes including Scafell Pike. As you can imagine from this description the weather was excellent for walking, in the mid-teens with a gentle wind and no sign of rain.

The start area is in a sense the land that time forgot, not only the link with Hadrian’s Wall but evidence of a later industrial revolution in the derelict harbour works at Port Carlisle. From there a canal once ran into Carlisle until the railway superseded it. This was in turn short-lived, closing in 1932. The old railway line offered an excellent walking path although we had to be aware of the herds of cows and their leavings.

The walk is an excellent opportunity to catch-up in depth with old friends. The conversation ranged far and wide, I am now an expert on many new things.

Lunch was taken at a small picnic table overlooking the estuary. Never has a Botham’s pork pie gone down so well. Fully refreshed we set-off again but were temporarily waylaid by the Greyhound Pub in Burgh-by-Sands. It was however at the demand of the ladies amongst us who needed the loo. The pub was adjacent to a statue of Edward I, who died here, presumably while waiting to invade Scotland. He was known as the hammer of the Scots, however I could not get a symbolic pose of the one Scotsman in the party underneath the statue. I cannot imagine why.

All in all it was a steady introduction to the walk as there were no climbs and the walking was easy under foot. Tomorrow is a similar day thereafter the climbing will start and perhaps we will see the remnants of the wall.

Tonight we visited a local pub for a typical pub meal and some ale. All had a good evening.

Don't forget to follow on Twitter at #

wallwalk.