There are forts and turrets, and museums full of wonderful glimpses into the Roman way of life, love and death.

This barrier, built on the order of the Emperor Hadrian, who visited Britain in AD 122, is about 73 miles long and snakes up hill and down dale, from windswept peak to sun-dappled valley.

It was built to separate the Roman empire from those the Romans considered 'barbarians' beyond.

Running between Bowness on the Solway to Wallsend on the River Tyne, the wall was a mixture of a frontier control and military defence.

Protected gates or milecastles dot the walls at intervals. Forts were added along the wall line too. Soldiers from all the legions in Britain took a turn at building to contribute to this major engineering feat.

The wall was occupied for around 300 years. This meant that the barracks and buildings were redesigned over the decades and many of the buildings are on top of older ones, which makes it an intriguing puzzle for archeologists.

Seeing the wall and its legacy is a major undertaking for even the most enthusiastic and fit tourist, but there is an easier way to see many of the best bits (and have a relaxing hotel break into the bargain).

Hilton are offering great value Discovery Weekends based at their Newcastle Gateshead hotel.

The sites visited on this tour all have good examples of one of the main types of Roman building – bath house, barracks, granary, sunken strong room, latrines, headquarters and commanding officers house.

The aim is to show the best examples of each at different sites and bring the people who lived, worked and served there to life.

Archeologists Julian Richards (Meet The Ancestors) and Mark Corney (Time Team) are the perfect people to do this and have worked long and hard to create an interesting itinerary.

Having these two knowledgeable, approachable and enthusiastic archeologists to explain things is a great bonus and adds a lot of enjoyment.

The programme started with a Saturday visit to Arbeia Roman Fort at South Shields, Chesters Roman Fort and Carrawburgh, with a Sunday visit to Housesteads Fort and Vindolanda.

At Arbeia Fort, South Shields, the West Gate has been rebuilt, as has part of the barrack block and officer's house.

Walking up to the site, which overlooks the mouth of the River Tyne, the gate towers before you, giving an idea of the impression these invaders must have had on the local populus. Seagulls fly above, their shadows flitting over the remains.

Chesters Fort is in a lovely setting, in parkland laid out by the Clayton family. A museum was built here over a hundred years ago to house the collections made by members of the family. The sweep of the river passes the well preserved bath house – similar to a sauna.

The museum at Chesters is wonderfully atmospheric, without a computer touch screen in sight.




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