Hadrian's Wall versus Antonine's Wall

Hadrian's Wall Walk

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In 2014, I walked the length of Hadrian's Wall with my sister-in-law, Karen. We walked the wall over 6 days and there was a lot to see. It was a truly memorable experience. After that, when I returned to live in Scotland 3 years later, it made sense to me that my next challenge should be to try to walk the length of Antonine's Wall. After all, it was closer to home and a much shorter walk - right!

I had visited Antonine's Wall before, mind you. As a teenage "Latin Lover" of the late 1970s we used to visit the site regularly each summer as a school outing, to engage in our annual battle of Picts v Romans - complete with bread sticks as swords (the team with the most 'crumbs' won) and home made SPQR banners - we even had an Asterix & Obelix mirror as a trophy. Ah, Mr A'Hara - you have a lot to answer for.

 An exploratory visit to Roughcastle Roman Fort in early 2017

I started to investigate the walk and made an exploratory trip to Roughcastle fort near the Falkirk Wheel. I quickly learned that the Scottish Roman Wall would be quite a different experience than its "elder brother" - Hadrian's Wall, further south. Undaunted, nevertheless, I decided that it was a matter of national pride to unearth this long, wide ditch of a "wall" in my native country. And so, here I am, nearly 3 years later, finally setting out "on the road" - albeit virtually for now.

New Year's Resolution Revisited

New Year's Resolution 2020 - Walk Antonine's Wall

Back on 1st January of this year, I decided that my walking challenge would be Antonine's Wall. I didn't get started straight away as I was waiting (1) for 'better weather' and (2) for lighter evenings, and (3) for nearby National Trust properties to open their doors (March mainly. All too soon, January became March and I was just getting started with my plans when the Coronavirus pandemic struck! Challenge shelved by lockdown for the foreseeable future.

Then, today (21st April) I stumbled upon a great idea from The Conqueror Virtual Challenges via Facebook - a virtual LEJOG (and some fantastic others, including the Grand Canyon, Hadrian's Wall, the Inca Trail and Route 66) challenge ... I very much fancied the LEJOG challenge but being under lockdown, it seemed highly unfeasible that I'd manage the proposed 90 miles a week for 3 months (completing in July 2020). Perhaps that's one for later in the year when present conditions may be a little more relaxed - and definitely one for the bicycle rather than walking.

It's not a bad garden so far as pacing back and forth goes, after all

BUT ... it got me to thinking - what if I was to do a small walking challenge, one I can do in my own back garden, in preparation for better days when I can actually get outside. The weather has been so sunny lately and I do need to get some exercise (especially with all these biscuits I've been eating with my coffee) ... so why not do a virtual Antonine's Wall walk? It's just under 40 miles, so won't be too onerous and it'll let me experience the walk before I go on a real world one. Could be fun and it's a good way of celebrating World Heritage Day which fell earlier this week (18th April) - yay - let's do it (as the fabulous Victoria Wood would've said). And how lovely to be able to get my old, trusty Garmin back on charge again!