Jedburgh Abbey

On our journey south we travel along the route of Dere Street, Roman Road and we’ll stop at the Border town of Jedburgh to visit the remains of the 12th century Abbey which was a key site during the times of William Wallace and Henry VIII.

Mary Queen of Scots towerhouse

We will also see the house where Mary Queen of Scots recuperated from illness in 1566 and hear about the turbulent history of the Scottish Borders and the deep history of unrest between Scotland and England. Hadrian’s wall and the Roman influence on Scotland plays an important role in Scottish history as do the Border towns and their Abbeys, like Jedburgh.

Carter Bar border post

Our next stop is at Carter Bar on the Scottish/English border, nowadays a great view point but was the scene off the last full-scale battle between the two nations in 1575.

Hardian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall, a 73-mile defence, is the most impressive example of Roman ingenuity in Britain. It kept the hostile Barbarians at bay for almost 300 years and was patrolled by the Roman army who were garrisoned in mile castles along its length.

The wall was built to aid the Romans in defending their northern border with Caledonia (Scotland as they knew it). Although the Romans attempted to occupy central and southern Caledonia for around 100 years, they never truly conquered the inhabitants or “The Barbarians”, as they knew them.

Follow in the footsteps of Roman Soldiers and Scottish raiders as we walk along a section of Hadrian’s Wall. The wall was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Vindolanda Roman Fort and Museum

Explore the active archaeological digs and the world-class museum, home to the famous Vindolanda Writing Tablets, which offer an extraordinary glimpse into daily Roman life.

The fort, Vindolanda, is arguably the most impressive Roman remain along the wall. We will get a feel for Roman life in Britannia, and the Museum has an amazing array of artifacts including the Vindolanda tablets, a set of wooden leaf-tablets that were, at the time of their discovery, the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain as well as a pair of 2000 year old boxing gloves! The immense scale of Vindolanda and Hadrian’s wall is mind-blowing.

After the fall of Roman Rule in the 5th century, Hadrian’s Wall was no longer a functioning military frontier but forts like Vindolanda continued to be occupied by local populations for a time. Archaeological evidence shows that life continued in these communities long after the Roman army had gone.

Melrose, Scottish Borders

On the route back to Edinburgh, if time permits, we have the option of a stop in another Scottish border town, Melrose, where the Abbey hides the heart of King Robert The Bruce and legends of ghost sightings abound.

This private tour is not just a trip to a historical monument; it is a personalised and immersive expedition into the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire, offering a truly unique and memorable experience.