Coast to coast

As we reported in the Spring 2010 edition of walk, Saturday saw an unprecedented event across the north of England, as a thousand volunteers lit beacons along the length of Hadrian’s Wall. At the time, we could only show you a computer generated mock-up of what it might look like – as it’s never been attempted before!

According to organisers, more than 25,000 people turned out to witness the spectacular event along the 84-mile Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail, which recreated the lights that once shone from  Roman turrets and milecastles stationed along the length of the Wall.

“Working in partnership with local people, we’ve done something really quite extraordinary to bring to life Britain’s longest and greatest World Heritage Site,” says Linda Tuttiett, Chief Executive of organisers Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd. “It’s something that many of us will remember for a long time.”

4,000 people witnessed the first beacon being lit at Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend, where a procession of Roman soldiers escorted a torch to light the first beacon at the fort at 5.45pm, which was followed by a fireworks finale. The line of light ended at the Wall’s most westerly point at Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria, with the last beacon being fired just after 7pm, marked by Roman re-enactors firing burning arrows into the air.

For more information about walking in Hadrian’s Wall Country visit www.hadrians-wall.org

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