Hadrian's Wall & Roman Britain 1-Day Tour from Edinburgh

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Enjoy a day spent discovering the highlights of Roman Britain and Hadrian’s Wall on this small group tour from Edinburgh. Journey through the heart of the Scottish Borders and 2,000 years of history to the last frontier of the mighty Roman Empire.

Highlights

Journey along the old Roman Dere Street
Discover the remains of Hadrian’s Wall
Explore Birdoswald, one of the best preserved Roman forts along the length of Hadrian’s Wall
Stop at the border town of Jedburgh to visit the remains of the Augustinian Abbey
Visit the village of Lanercost, the western gateway to Hadrian’s Wall
Stop at the scenic Carter Bar on the edge of the Cheviot Hills
Travel through the magnificent forests of Northumberland National Park
Stop at the Victorian spa town of Moffat

Description

On this 1-day tour from Edinburgh you travel south on the old Roman Dere Street that linked the supply ports on the south of England with the ancient city of York, and north past Hadrian’s Wall to the Roman settlements in Central Scotland. Your first stop on this tour will be in the border town of Jedburgh, a historic burgh that lies only 12 miles north of the Scotland-England border. Here you have time to take a short walk through the narrow streets that lead to the remains of the Augustinian Abbey, which has been a great symbol of power during its 900 year history. Continuing south you make a brief stop at scenic Carter Bar on the edge of the Cheviot Hills. This crossing point between Scotland and England runs close to the ancient Roman road and has formed the border between the 2 countries for the past 700 years. The tour continues through the magnificent forests of Northumberland National Park before turning west towards the remains of Hadrian’s Wall. You follow the road taking you along the south side of the wall, stopping at Steel Rigg where you come face-to-face with large sections of the wall’s remains. You have time to walk along the wall and experience the isolation that Roman foot soldiers would have experienced as they guarded their empire from the barbarians to the north. You continue your journey west along the wall towards the village of Lanercost, the western gateway to Hadrian’s Wall. After pausing for lunch you travel a short distance to Birdoswald, one of the best preserved of the 16 Roman forts along the length of Hadrian’s Wall. You have time to explore this fascinating site and further sections of the wall before you turn north for the return journey. Travelling through the Galloway hills, you stop in the Victorian spa town of Moffat before continuing through the Southern Uplands and Scottish Borders, and return to Edinburgh.

Includes

Transportation Experienced driver/guide
Meals and refreshments Entrance fees

Important Information

Return time: around 7:00 PM
A small group tour with a maximum of 16 passengers allows for a more personal service, time with the locals, more time off the bus, more time on the backroads, and just more of an authentic, friendly experience. The smaller groups allow you to meet people from all over the world and make friends for life
Time off the bus gives you opportunities to take nature walks. It is recommended to bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour
Minimum age to participate is 5 years
You're restricted to 14 kilograms (31lbs) of luggage per person on the tours. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus a small bag for onboard personal items