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Hadrian's Wall – Birdoswald Roman Fort loop from Brampton

Hadrian's Wall – Birdoswald Roman Fort loop from Brampton

Hard

5.0

(2)

riders

Hadrian's Wall – Birdoswald Roman Fort loop from Brampton

04:57

89.5km

1,190m

Road cycling

Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 15, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 7.33 km for 261 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

7.45 km

Pike Hill Signal Tower

Fort

11.8 km

Hadrian's Wall

Highlight • Historical Site

Hadrian's Wall was a 117 km long defensive wall built from 122 AD under Emperor Hadrian as the northwestern border of the Roman Empire. The wall ran from the Tyne to the Solway Firth, its central section following the natural ridge of the Whin Sill, a hard dolerite geological formation. This location offered Roman troops a tactical advantage: high ground with wide visibility and natural defenses. The wall served to control movement, delay incursions, and demonstrate Roman power.
Here, next to Birdoswald Fort, you'll find the longest remaining section of the historic wall.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

11.9 km

Birdoswald Roman Fort

Highlight • Historical Site

Birdoswald Roman Fort is the site of the longest surviving stretch of Hadrian's Wall. Managed by English Heritage, there's plenty to discover with exhibitions and lovely walking trails in the surroundings too. After a ramble, you can put your feet up in the rustic cafe and enjoy a slice of cake with a hot drink.

Tip by

21.0 km

Fellhill Plantation

Forest

21.7 km

Askerton Castle

Highlight • Castle

Askerton Castle is a rare example of a fortified medieval manor house, situated in remote north Cumbria, about three miles north of Hadrian's Wall. The original building was constructed around 1290 as an unfortified hall, but in the late 15th century, two battlemented towers—the Dacre Tower and the Dovecot Tower—were added by Thomas, Lord Dacre, as part of a border defense against the notorious Border Reivers.
In the 16th century, the complex was expanded with a stable block and additional wings for troop accommodation. A third tower on the northwest corner is believed to have been lost, possibly to fire, but traces of its stonework and staircases are still visible in the walls. The structure contains impressive oak beams, dated between 1494 and 1510, and shows clear stages of architectural evolution—from a simple hall to a military stronghold.
Although the castle is not open to the public, it is now part of the Askerton Castle Estate, an organic farm that produces beef, lamb, pork, and poultry. The building is a Grade I listed building, indicating its exceptional historical value.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

27.5 km

View of Bewcastle Castle

Highlight • Castle

View to Bewcastle Castle

Tip by

28.2 km

Bewcastle Cross in St Cuthbert's Churchyard

Highlight • Religious Site

The Bewcastle Cross. This 7th-century Anglo-Saxon cross is one of the oldest and most exquisite in Europe. It still stands in its original location in the church garden and is richly decorated with runes, wickerwork, and Christian iconography. On the west side, you see Christ, John the Baptist with the Lamb of God, and a falconer who may represent John the Evangelist. On the east side, a vine winds upward, populated by mythical and real animals—a symbol of the connection between creation and faith.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

28.3 km

Bewcastle Church and Cross

Highlight • Monument

St Cuthbert Bewcastle Church stands on the foundations of a Roman fort and has roots dating back to the 13th century. Although the current building largely dates from the 18th and 19th centuries, parts of the east chancel are still medieval. The church exudes simplicity and tranquility, with a rectangular plan and a wooden gallery on the west side. Within the church, traces of the Border Reivers' turbulent history can be found, including gravestones bearing names like Armstrong and Routledge.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

28.5 km

Ruins of Bewcastle Castle

Highlight • Castle

The ruins of Bewcastle Castle lie mysteriously tucked away in the northeastern corner of an old Roman fort in Cumbria. The original castle was built around 1092 on the foundations of the Fanum Cocidii fort and served as a border defense against Scottish incursions. Destroyed in 1173, it was rebuilt in the 14th century by John de Strivelyn, a general of King Edward III.
The castle had a square plan of 27 meters, surrounded by a dry moat that partially utilized Roman ditches. Within the walls were buildings surrounding a small courtyard, with a gatehouse added later. The walls are up to 9 meters high, with visible windows and fireplaces on the second floor.
Bewcastle Castle was strategically located on the Maiden Way, a Roman road leading to Hadrian's Wall, and played a role in conflicts with the notorious Border Reivers. Today the ruins are unstable and partly inaccessible, but they remain a powerful symbol of border defense and medieval architecture.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

43.1 km

England–Scotland Border

Highlight • Historical Site

52.4 km

Backburn Wood

Forest

89.5 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

84.7 km

3.32 km

884 m

625 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

57.8 km

30.4 km

1.02 km

354 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (210 m)

Lowest point (30 m)

Weather

Wednesday 22 July

22°C

11°C

11 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Hadrian's Wall – Birdoswald Roman Fort loop from Brampton

Hadrian's Wall

Birdoswald Roman Fort

Askerton Castle

View of Bewcastle Castle

Bewcastle Cross in St Cuthbert's Churchyard

Bewcastle Church and Cross

Ruins of Bewcastle Castle

England–Scotland Border

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