THE ROMAN WALL IN NORTH BRITAIN. 



265 



Any active and venturesome person can walk for long distances 

 on the top of the Wall without having to descend on the ground. 



About six miles west of Hexham we come to Haydon Bridge, 

 which I believe gets its name from the bridge, which here crosses the 

 South Tyne and originally was supposed to have been built by 

 Hadrian. 



Starting either from here or Bardon-Mill, the next railway station, 

 we have the most convenient points for visiting what is un- 

 doubtedly the most perfect and interesting parts of the Wall. 



The Wall is on high ground, sometimes running along the edge 

 of precipitous cliffs, and affording magnificent views of the sur- 

 rounding country. Just beyond the Wall to the North lie the 

 Northumberland lakes of Broomlee, Grindon and Craig Lough and 

 Greenlee. 



Lying on the slope to the south of the Wall is the extensive camp 

 known as Borcovicus," which has already been referred to by the 

 lecturer, and is I think, without doubt, the most perfect example 

 of the stations which still remain in connection with the Wall. 



From this neighbourhood on a clear day the views are simply 

 magnificent, and probably unequalled in any other part of this country. 



Looking away beyond the Wall we see the Cheviot Hills ; to the 

 right we see Simonside and the hills around Rothbury. 



Looking to the South we see " Langley Castle," celebrated in 

 our history in connection with the ill-fated Earls of Derwentwater. 



It was purchased from Greenwich Hospital " (?) by the late 

 Mr. Cadwalader Bates, a well-known north country antiquarian, 

 who undertook its restoration, but did not live to see it completed. 

 His body now lies buried in the castle grounds. Beyond the castle, 

 in the far distance, we may see Crossfell and Skiddaw. 



The Wall proceeds west across very undulating country, passing 

 several interesting " Stations," which I have not time to allude to, 

 until it reaches Winshields, and attains its greatest elevation, 

 passing over ground which is 1230 feet above sea level. 



Several of the stations in this district bear suggestive names, such 

 as Milking Gap, Cats Stairs, Bloody Gap, etc. 



Further west it passes over the " Nine -nicks of Thirl well," being 

 then not far from Gilsland, where it passes over the border into 

 Cumberland. 



