Hadrian's Wall: Walk Two of the Great Munro Challenge

With the recent Easter holiday came another chance to train for the Great Munro Challenge. Hadrian's Wall presented an interesting challenge: not a level walk, but not a steep one either. The wall -- a World Heritage site -- skims over fault lines that extend the width of Northern England. It is a remnant of the Roman Empire, built to defend its far-reaching lands from feisty clans north of the border.

Image belongs to Kelsey Morse

Our walk was on a bit of wall in Northumberland -- near Housesteads, a large fort sitting atop some of the most dramatic fluctuations in the fault line. We walked uphill from parking lot to museum to wall; a suitable warm-up for myself and the boyfriend. At the top, we met a particularly angry northern wind, who felt like testing its strength against my less than steely frame.

Image belongs to Kelsey Morse

At this point, I acquainted myself with the wall. I noted its uniformity and strength, despite 200 years of gale-force winds that put these to shame. All my sympathies lay with the low-ranking military men who patrolled this wall way before Thermafleece existed. What remains of the wall would block a gust, if only they came from one direction.

Image belongs to Kelsey Morse

We walked along from Housesteads until we hit our first dip. Our path quickly resembled a lackluster carnival ride: down a little and straight back up again. Needless to say, we were panting at the top of each hill. And the next, and the next.

Image belongs to Kelsey Morse

We followed along cliff edges, freshwater lochs and tiny patches of forest with knobby trees thrashed about by the wind. At one high point, I saw a group of birds suspended midair against the wind. Wings spread, but motionless; simply surfing the gusts as they came.

Sycamore Gap - Image belongs to Kelsey Morse

By this time, my heart thumped in spurts. We made it just beyond the famed Sycamore Gap then turned back to finish our four-mile trek along this cross-country wall. At the end we took our jelly legs for a warm English pint, happy to have seen a classic bit of history and landscape. Happy it was over, too.

Image belongs to Kelsey Morse

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