Every time a regime builds a historic wall someone else comes along many years later and wants to turn it into a
bike route. The Berlin Wall, the Great Wall of China and the Iron Curtain have all had their
share of bicycle enthusiasts lobbying for heritage trails along their routes. Just recently, another famous wall
has been claimed by bicyclists: Hadrian’s Wall.
Stretching from one coast of present-day England to the other, the wall was built by the emperor Hadrian, ruler of
the Roman Empire from 117-138 AD. He built it to serve as the northernmost border of the empire, as well as to
prevent Scottish tribes from invading Britannia. Much of the wall remains today and in 1987 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As of this month, the region will once again witness foreign invaders. Dressed in their bright yellow jerseys
and black stretch pants, these modern day road warriors will be somewhat reminiscent of the ancient Scottish Picts who painted themselves blue
before going to battle.
The newly built “Hadrian’s Cycleway,”
which stretches 170 miles along the wall route, is now open for business. Although about 25% of is still unpaved,
it remains a superb trek through history. Make sure to bring your blue body paint to really make an impression on
the locals.