Birdoswald
You may like to begin by strolling further on down the farm track from The Hollies until you reach the very pretty River Irthing. If you follow the river eastwards you can plan your route to take you to Birdoswald Roman Fort, the best preserved of all the 15 forts along Hadrian’s Wall dating from the second to the fifth centuries. The view from the south west corner of the site into the wooded gorge of the River Irthing gives you a really good understanding about how well situated the fort was for protecting the river crossing. Pottery found south of the fort shows the presence of people from the Netherlands, North Africa and Romania, which would have made it a cosmopolitan site of its time. The café menu at Birdoswald Roman Fort uniquely has a Roman-style burger made from a 1,500 year-old Roman recipe. After lunch, you may like to continue further eastwards towards Gilsland walking along Hadrian’s Wall. The path takes you steeply downhill to the River Irthing crossing over the river on the modern day Willowford bridge and continuing on you quickly come to the remains of the now ruined Willowford Roman Bridge, much further inland as the river has slowly migrated Westwards since the original bridge was built 1,900 years ago. While open daily much of the year, our experience has been that Birdoswald Roman Fort is open on Saturdays during the winter months. You can find the route for this walk from Ordinance Survey Explorer Map OL43.
LOCATION MAP
A happier, more sustainable focus remains at the heart of The Hollies holiday home experience. Delightfully comfortable sofas hand-made in North Yorkshire are accompanied by numerous locally crafted throws and pillows, giving you an utterly homely feel.
Expect magical scenery and rare sights of birds, badgers, hares & deer. With its secluded location, The Hollies gives you the space to relax and slow down as you watch the sun go down.
Getaway and reconnect with your friends and family and escape to The Hollies for an unforgettable stay. Enjoy exhilarating walks along Hadrian’s Wall and be inspired by the intimate beauty of the Cumbrian countryside.
Organic and natural materials of our beds and mattresses at The Hollies creates a wonderfully comfortable night’s sleep. You can choose from an emperor, super-king or king size bed depending on which bedroom you prefer, each with their own beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
Immerse yourself in horizons of serene beauty and fresh clean air where you can look up at the dark night skies filled with twinkling stars and the occasional aura of the Cumbrian Northern Lights.
With our team of local craftspeople The Hollies has been lovingly renovated creating an especially unique holiday location. You may like an in-depth guided tour of the rich human heritage and ancient history of this land, tailored for you and your party.
