Lake District, Hadrian's Wall, Yorksire Dales

Sept 17 and 18. If you have already seen Keswick, why not stay in the Torkshire countryside. Very easy to ramble around in a car (although I would vote for york, you dont have to do that), the various Abbey ruins are interesting as are the villages you will find

I love your plans! So fun! They only thing that I would personally reconsider is Hadrian's Wall. Unless you're a history buff or are really interested in seeing it, I felt it was kind of a let down. Go to Scotland and do something fun and Scottish!

Your best stop for Hadrian's Wall is Housestead's Roman Fort. It is the best-preserved part of the wall, with a small museum, and is about 45 miles west of Newcastle. Then travel west; two miles west of Housesteads, you will see a pub called Twice Brewed Pub and Hotel. Good place to stop for lunch for pub food, or lodging if you want. Your second stop should be Vindolanda, a Roman Fort just south of the wall, (not ON the wall; it's a good distance to the south of it) but with a better museum than Housesteads. The B6318 road parallels the wall, but do buy a detailed driving map of the area. The two forts are not far apart; maybe 8 miles. It is too bad you will be missing York. It is fantastic. But you have another equally interesting town near your home base of Stafford. That is Chester, possibly the best preserved walled city in Britain. A museum there houses many of the artifacts from the Roman Wall. The other town within a stone's throw of Stafford that you should see is Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury is a historic market town with the town centre having a largely unaltered medieval street plan. The town features over 660 historic listed buildings, including several examples of timber framing from the 15th and 16th century. It is amazing.

Here's the website for Hadrian's Wall Path, from National Trails. It is the best map of the wall, and from this site, you can also buy the English Heritage book about the wall. http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/index.asp?PageId=1 The site is full of information. Also, here is the Wikipedia article on the Path, and halfway through this article under "Map", you can download a map that you can zoom in and out on, and have a look around. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian%27s_Wall_Path I know you are not planning to walk the Hadrian's Wall Path, it's just that these are the best maps of the Wall available online, to help you plan your trip. Have a great time!

I just googled the following loop-it is 555 miles, not bad spread over four days. It covers most of what you want to see. ( I assume you do not need a "restful" four days, since you have time before and after to spend with your friends in Stafford and that you want to sample areas, not explore them in depth. If depth is what you want, you could spend all four of your days at one of these destinations!)........Day one, drive to Keswick /Lakes District and explore ........Day 2, drive to Melrose, explore the Scottish Border Abbeys, possibly go to St. Abbs Head or Lindisfarne Abbey.....Day 3, head towards York, stopping at Once Brewed and taking a brief (hour or so) walk on the wall. We were there last summer, the wall walk is a bit strenuous.....Day 4, visit Yorkminster and the Shambles, head back to Stafford. ......We haven't been to the Lakes District for several years, but we visited the days 2, 3, 4 sites last June.

I really enjoyed walking for a few hours along Hadrian's Wall - Housesteads to Vindolanda via Once Brewed. Vindolanda is amazing, and it's quite something to walk through the excavations and see what's going on. It'd be easy to park, then take the bus back to your car after a walk. There's nothing like feeling you've stepped back in time almost 2000 years.

We just returned from York, Durham, Edinburgh, Keswick and other northern places. You're on the right track! Some ideas: I vote for Hadrian's Wall instead of trying to get across the Scottish border. Save Scotland for another time when you can do it justice (Edinburgh, highlands etc.). Instead of backtracking to Keswick after the wall on the 18th, spend the night in Haltwhistle or Hexham or elsewhere near the wall. Even consider Durham, with its beautiful hilltop cathedral, or Richmond, which gives access to Swaledale and Wensleydale. I agree with Rebecca about Vindolanda (for the dig and museum, it's some distance from the wall) and Housesteads (for views and wall access). If time allows, York Minster and the old city (Shambles etc.) would be worthwhile -- maybe half a day. You can drive to a park-and-ride on the outskirts and take an easy bus to the center and back out. Pretty quick motorway back to Stafford. But I haven't been to Skipton so can't evaluate the tradeoffs. I agree about Chester -- good cathedral, great city wall walk all the way around.

I too am going to vote for Hadrian's Wall and I'm an avid fan of Scotland. I thought the wall was wonderful. I too enjoyed a shore walk along the wall. I also liked Housesteads. I stayed in Hexham which has a fun museum on the Border Rievers who were prevalent in the area from Roman times until James I/VI. (That should give you some notion of my Scottishnes. Queen Elizabeth II is really Queen Elizabeth II of England and Queen Elizabeth I of Scotland. ) BTW if you are looking for some mysteries, Peter Robinson writes excellent contemporary stories based in the Yorkshire Dales. Pam

Here is the web site for the Hadrian's Wall Country Bus: http://www.hadrians-wall.org/page.aspx//Journey/Getting-Around At the bottom of their page, click on "Free Publications". They will send you a brochure with a map of the wall. You may want to park your car and take a walk along the wall, and return to your car by this bus (as someone else here already suggested). The most stunning and beautiful parts of the wall are from Hexham to Haltwhistle, but there are many lovely parts of the wall.

Before you go, try to read at least one of James Herriot's books about being a vet on the Yorkshire Dales, delightful, All Creatures Great and Small, All things Bright and Beautiful and others. Enjoy.

Wow, so much good advice.
Right now I can say that I DO want to see a part of Hadrian's Wall. I've read all of Stephen R. Lawhead's fiction series, many of which include that wall (or allude to it). As for the rest of the time, I need to study your messages. I apologize, I've been distracted of late. Can't thank you enough. I'll be back with a revised itinerary for a once (or more) review. Linda...

OK, after reading and absorbing all the good ideas, I've finally come up with a plan that my husband, my English friend and her husband are all happy with :) The exact details like rooms, etc, aren't done, this is the plan: from Stafford to Skipton (Yorkshire Dales), Thirsk (Yorkshire Moors), and York...and points in between or close to that path. It's a loop of 6 hours, 310 miles which spread over 4 days and 3 nights will be easily do-able. Why not Edinburgh? Too far to do it justice. Why not Hadrian's Wall? Depend on where I find rooms, we could do a day's drive to it if we want. Comments? Ideas as to where to stay? I just put some things on my 'next trip to the UK' list and I'm OK with that. Thanks, Linda...

New plan looks good. You will love the Yoskshire Moors and area to wander through. Two villages not to miss: Hutton-Le-Hole (sloping village around a huge green sheep meadow with white bridges) and Thornton Dale (village wrapped around a little stream, the stream runs tgrough the village main streets and some people need bridges to get to their houses). Also look for the many ruined abbeys- even the ones you havent heard of are fascinating.

Brian, Both of those places sound delightful. I have seen all the episodes of "All Creatures Great and Small" but it's been a long time. I just ordered the DVD for Season 1. I also went through the Internet Movie Data Base (imdb.com) & did a search on 'filming locations', looking for anything filmed in the Yorkshire area. I just had to come to terms that there was no way I could squeeze everything in to the last few days I'll have there. It was actually a relief to finally make the decision. Also gives me lots to look forward to in future trips!!! Now all I have to do is to find accommodations. Thanks, Linda...

Places to see from All Creatures Great and Small.. James Wight's (aks James Herriot) actural office was at 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk...if you walk past it the St. Marys the actual church is there. From Leyburn...turn left at sign post for Grinton (very small rd (C106) to Reeth and follow signs to Langthwaite turn right into village, then turn around to return you will then pass over the bridge at the start of the show, then right 200 yards then turn left at sign post Low Row you will then pass thru the water splash that you see at the beginning of the show. Askrigg is where the house is that they used for the vet's surgery..you will see the market cross and the house is one the right. Askrigg is on C34 which is just down the road from Cstle Bolton. When you are on C34 watch for the signs for Aysgarth Falls from there you can get on A684 turn left as you enter West Witton the Wensleydale Heifer Pub will be on your left...James Wight (aka James Herriot) use to go there a lot. Then
a little farther on A684 is the village of Wensley, the church they used for the show is here.

Robin, EXCELLENT info, thanks so much. Linda...