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Birdoswald Bed and Breakfast on Hadrian's Wall Cumbria

Birdoswald Roman Fort is about 20 minutes walk away from our bed and breakfast accommodation in Gilsland and is well worth a visit if you are looking to see some of the old Hadrian's Wall sites. It is commonly described as one of the most impressive locations of any of the Roman Forts along the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site. It sits high above the River Irthing, overlooking the valley and has a fort, turret and milecastle ruins as well as being on one of the longest unbroken stretches of Hadrian's Wall (which you can actually see from some of our bed and breakfast rooms).

History of Birdoswald Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall

Birdoswald Fort was an important site for the Romans as it provided a strong defensive position. At its peak the fort would have held up to 1,000 Roman Soldiers, emphasising how important this strategic position was to them. Archaeologists have been able to learn a lot about Roman military life through their excavations here over the past century or so. They have discovered outer protective walls, four gateways as well as food storage buildings and various workshops.

The site has however not always been just ruins. After the Roman occupation, the Birdoswald site was built on with a large hall being constructed over the granaries. Later in the 16th century a medieval tower house was built and most recently a farmhouse occupied the area before it was dug up.

The English Heritage Site of Birdoswald on Hadrian's Wall

Birdoswald Roman site is free to enter for English Heritage members and has a useful visitors' centre which features a host of information about the Birdoswald site, its occupants and their history as well as general Hadrian's Wall information. There is a small tea room for refreshments after looking round, as well as the obligatory gift shop to get some souvenirs.

Visit Birdoswald and Hadrian's Wall from Tantallon House

More information about the site, including opening times and prices is available on the English Heritage website. We also have brochures and other sources of information about Birdoswald at our bed and breakfast. We are happy to help you find out more about this great section of Hadrian's Wall.