Multi-Day Roman Tour

Explore The Extraordinary Roman Legacy Along The Northern Frontier Of The Ancient Roman Empire

Having once been the northern frontier of the Roman Empire, the North East of England holds an extraordinary legacy shaped by soldiers, settlers and distant cultures. This story reaches from Carlisle, the command centre during the campaigns of Emperor Septimius Severus, to the western stretches of Hadrian’s Wall. The journey begins with the remarkable Roman collection at Tully House Museum before moving east to Birdoswald Roman Fort, once home to a thousand-strong unit.

As the wall cuts through dramatic landscapes, its central section reveals Housesteads, the most complete Roman fort in Britain, and Vindolanda, where decades of excavations have uncovered vivid details of everyday life and military organisation. Continuing eastward, the final chapter of the experience unfolds in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where the Great North Museum showcases many of the wall’s most important archaeological finds. The route then leads to Segedunum Roman Fort at Wallsend and finally to Arbeia.

This comprehensive journey offers a unique perspective on how Rome defended its northernmost borders against the tribes of the north. By visiting these strategic locations, participants gain insight into the logistical challenges and daily realities faced by the soldiers stationed along the wall. The tour highlights the engineering prowess of the Romans and the enduring impact their presence had on the landscape and the local population throughout the centuries of occupation.

The tour concludes by reflecting on the vast network of supply bases and forts that once supported the military operations across the region. From the mouth of the River Tyne to the rugged hills of the west, the legacy of the Roman Empire remains visible in the ruins and artifacts preserved today. This experience is essential for anyone looking to understand the historical depth and strategic importance of the northern frontier in Roman Britain.