purplecat | Birdoswald Fort

Birdoswald was our first fort on the walk. We'd skipped viewing it last time because we reached it at the absolute low point in our walk, where it looked like B's knees were going to give out, I had terrible blisters and when we stopped in the tea room they gave us squirty cream with our scones and jam.

The tea room and visitor centre had been renovated in the intervening years (though we didn't risk the scones). There was a nice short film about Hadrian's wall as well as Lego models of turrets, milecastles, curtain wall and a Roman Bridge together with (albeit sketchy) instructions. I've photographed these, though I haven't yet built Hadrian's wall myself.

B stand next to what looks like a bit of Hadrian's Wall but is, in fact, the wall of a fort.

B stand next to what looks like a bit of Hadrian's Wall but is, in fact, the wall of a fort.

To be honest, the forts later in the walk have more to see, but we could still follow the outline of the fort's walls.

A grand victorian building with square tower amid trees. Low remains of walls just visible in front of it.

A grand victorian building with square tower amid trees. Low remains of walls just visible in front of it.

What Birdoswald does have is a 18th/19th century farmhouse (complete with mock tower) in the middle of it. I thought it was a youth hostel and had looking into booking us a night there, but it turned out to be more a holiday house kind of thing - easy enough to book if there are 10 of you wanting to stay for a week - less attractive if it is two of you wanting to stay for the night.

B standing next to some wall. He is hitting a large silver thing that looks a bit like a giant metal lyre with curved downward facing bowls where the strings would be. He is hitting it with a small red hammer attached to it with string.

B standing next to some wall. He is hitting a large silver thing that looks a bit like a giant metal lyre with curved downward facing bowls where the strings would be. He is hitting it with a small red hammer attached to it with string.

I think this was supposed to be some kind of Roman instrument. It was located at the far entrance of the fort.