Οι καλύτερες ποδηλατικές διαδρομές Stapleton

Οι καθημερινές επικοινωνίες κατά μήκος του Τείχους του Αδριανού θα γίνονταν με διάφορους τρόπους. Κανονικά, τα λεπτομερή μηνύματα θα μεταφέρονταν με άλογο. Ωστόσο, με τις επιβλητικές θέες που προσφέρει ο Πύργος Σήμανσης Pike, θα μπορούσε επίσης να επικοινωνήσει με παρακείμενους πυργίσκους είτε με καπνό είτε με αναμμένους φάρους χρησιμοποιώντας απλούς, προκαθορισμένους κώδικες. Υπάρχουν ενδείξεις ότι χρησιμοποιούσαν επίσης ένα σύστημα ακτίνων για τη μετάδοση μηνυμάτων χρησιμοποιώντας ένα σύστημα σηματοδότησης με ημιάτομο. Είναι κρίμα που γνωρίζουμε πολύ λίγα για το πώς λειτουργούσε το τελευταίο.

Λοιπόν, φτάσαμε σχεδόν στο τέλος της σημερινής μας πεζοπορίας στο Τείχος του Αδριανού και είχαμε λίγη κακοτυχία. Φανταστείτε να φτάνετε σε ένα από τα καλύτερα ρωμαϊκά φρούρια στο Τείχος του Αδριανού για να σας πουν ότι ήταν κλειστό επειδή ο άνεμος ήταν πολύ δυνατός και θα μπορούσε να μας ρίξει από το τείχος. Ένα μέρος για να επιστρέψουμε.

Award winning café in Gilsland. Closed on a Wednesday.

Along a quiet road west of Birdoswald Fort, you'll discover the Piper Sike Turret, a modest but historically significant structure from the early 2nd century. Also known as Turret 51A, this tower formed part of Hadrian's Wall and served as a lookout post for Roman soldiers guarding the northern border. Built around 122 AD, the tower is characteristic of the Turf Wall period, later replaced by stone. Inside, you'll find a raised platform against the north wall, likely used as a living space. Archaeological excavations have revealed cooking hearths and waste remains, suggesting brief but intensive occupation. The walls are still visible today, up to a height of approximately 0.8 meters.

Along Lanercost Road near Banks in Cumbria, you'll find the well-preserved remains of Leahill Turret (51B), a Roman watchtower built around 122 AD as part of Hadrian's Wall. The tower was fully excavated and consolidated in 1958 and is still visible today to a height of approximately one meter. Leahill Turret served as a staging post between Milecastles 51 and 52, providing Roman soldiers with a strategic vantage point over the northern border region. Inside, traces of a raised platform against the north wall and a later shelter structure against the south wall are visible, suggesting reuse in the 4th century.

A short climb away lies the remains of the Pike Hill Signal Tower, a 2nd-century Roman watchtower strategically located along Stanegate—the military road that preceded the construction of Hadrian's Wall. The tower was part of a network of signaling posts that allowed Roman troops to quickly communicate between forts and watchtowers. From this vantage point, you have a commanding view of the surrounding landscape. The tower's position, diagonally positioned relative to the Wall, demonstrates the ingenious design of Roman engineers, focused on maximum visibility and military coordination. During the construction of Hadrian's Wall, the tower was integrated between two turrets: 51B and 52A, near the fort of Banna (Birdoswald).

Banks East Turret, also known as Turret 52A, is one of the best-preserved watchtowers along the western section of Hadrian's Wall. Built around 122 AD on the orders of Emperor Hadrian, this tower was part of an ingenious network: two turrets stood between each milecastle, manned by a handful of soldiers who guarded the boundary. The tower is built of stone, even though the wall here was originally turf—a rare example of early Roman engineering. You'll find an impressive section of wall reaching 1.75 meters high at the tower itself. The site offers panoramic views of the southern landscape, while the northern terrain is higher—a strategic yet surprising choice.

Indeed, a lovely place to relax. Very hospitable and helpful staff. I can only recommend this place.