So, what did the Romans ever do for us? Hadrian’s wall for one. A masterpiece of construction, not only in its day but even now. Completed in six years, our little development of eight houses has, by the contractor’s own account, taken seventeen years. Seventeen years. No, we can’t believe it either. Actually we can, having watched the (very careful) progress. To quote our site manager “if a job’s worth doing it’s worth doing twice…” Like the Wall, everything carefully measured, fitted and painted. Not the Wall, obviously, although the Romans were notoriously flamboyant.
A couple of days in Northumberland in pretty good weather. Dryish underfoot, no rain, sunshine and no wind. Perfect walking weather from the car park at Steel Rigg east along the Wall and back across low level farmland. Day 2 saw Housesteads fort and Vindolanda. If you haven’t been then the findings from the excavations are simply staggering. Although the buildings don’t remain, as at Pompeii or Herculaneum, the written messages are fabulous. A birthday party invitation, 1800 years old.
We stayed at The Kirkstyle Inn. It could have been designed and furnished by us. We’ll be stealing some of the ideas. In the Good Food Guide and reviewed by Grace Dent – we’ll definitely be back. Great value, excellent food and wine. Just what the Drunken Duck used to be before its fall from grace…
Restaurant with rooms The Kirkstyle Inn
sleep | eat | enjoy 
Gosh that’s stunning!