Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

THE VALLUM
Along several portions of the trail, the Vallum is the only evidence of the wall’s
existence that remains. The Romans dug this earthwork, essentially a big ditch with
mounds on either side, along the whole length of the wall’s south side. In most
places, the ditch is about 20ft (6m) wide, while the mounds rise up to 7ft (2m) high.
Though the exact purpose of the Vallum remains unclear, many believe it provided
a southern military boundary that allowed greater defence of the wall.
“To walk Hadrian’s Wall is to make a stride-by-stride journey through
lands that seem untamed by the march of history”
© Olimpio Fantuz | 4Corners
Northumberland’s Sycamore Gap
On my final day, I spend hours crossing suburban pavements before reaching
the Shields Ferry; the seven-minute boat ride across the Tyne is the only non-footbased
transport I take on the whole journey. Then, a final bewildering walk up the
busy, pub-lined high street in the seaside suburb of South Shields.
Seawater. A glint off a wave, a shimmering grey undulation. I pound up over a