Solway AONB & Firth

Not only will you be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the Solway shoreline but you will be following the course of the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail, which starts (or finishes) at Bowness-on-Solway.

Morning:

Start your morning at RSPB Campfield Marsh. Comprised of salt marsh, peat bogs, farmland and grassland, the marsh offers excellent opportunities for bird watching and observing wildlife. It features a five-kilometre trail, the first 800 metres of which are wheelchair accessible (sorry, no accessible toilets though). Depending on the season you might see barnacle geese, lapwings, redshanks and snipes. RSPB Campfield Marsh is open dawn until dusk and while admission is free, donations are greatly appreciated.

From Campfield Marsh, head eats to Bowness-on-Solway. It was here that Maia, the second largest Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall was located. It was built to protect the important estuary crossing. The north wall is now long gone to the sea but the present day road follows the route of the east-west passage through the fort.

A few miles east is Port Carlisle where you can view the remains of the Carlisle Canal near the shore. Opened in 1823, the canal stretched nearly 11.5 miles to Carlisle until replaced with a rail line after 31 years.

For lunch pop into the Highland Laddie Inn in Glasson, a 300-year old pub built in part from stone from Hadrian’s Wall.

Afternoon:

After lunch, call in at Drumburgh to see the castle, another building incorporating stones from the Wall.

Travel on to Burgh by Sands, on the course of the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail, for a visit to St. Michael’s Church, where Edward I lay in state. Built in the 12th century on the site of Roman fort Aballava and using stones from the Wall and fort, St. Michael’s Church is a Grade I listed building. After your visit be sure to view the bronze statue of Edward I located on the village green, and the monument marking his death on July 7, 1307 at the end of the River Eden.

After a day of chasing down wildlife, missing Wall and medieval royalty, enjoy dinner at The Greyhound Inn in Burgh by Sands from 5pm to 8pm on Thursdays and all day Friday – Sunday.

...Maybe catch sight of fisherman using haaf nets in the Solway....