Vindolanda Roman Fort

Vindolanda provides a wonderful opportunity to experience Britannia’s origins first- hand, taking visitors back almost 2,000 years. This Roman fortress predates the world famous and, conveniently nearby, Hadrian’s Wall by almost half a century. Together they stand as testaments of a great change in the Roman conquest of Britain whereby the borders between Scotland and England were first drawn up and fortified.

The Romans first arrived on the British Isles around AD 40 and occupied much of the land until at least AD 410. That makes Vindolanda one of the earliest settlements and indicates the rapid Roman expansion northward towards Caledonia (Scotland). However, the northern conquest was soon abandoned as the Caledonians refused to be occupied. Instead, the Emperor Hadrian commissioned a great wall to be built from coast to coast in order to protect and solidify the Roman territory now known as Britannia. Vindolanda became a vital part of maintaining and protecting the wall and its importance is reflected in the sheer size of the settlement.

There have been numerous important discoveries unearthed at the site and the visitor centre stands out as an incredible curation of ancient British artefacts. Many Roman ruins remain along the road which runs parallel to Hadrian’s wall but Vindolanda features some of the most expansive and complete infrastructure found on the British Isles. Explore the vast network of streets and walk where the Romans walked. See how they commanded the water ways and manipulated their environment to better suit their needs. And, most importantly, look out from the watch towers and join the Roman guards who kept their eyes peeled for marauding Scots!

The visitor facilities cater to the whole family and make for a memorable experience which everyone can enjoy. Hadrian’s Wall and the now world famous Sycamore Gap are in close proximity. Vindolanda adds incredible value to any tour of the Scottish and English border.