The Nine Nicks of Thirlwall

You get this view from the roadside on the approach to Cawfields, a pleasant lakeside park just off the B6318 Greenhead to Chollerford road, aka The Military Road. Grabbed this shot this morning on the way to the Lake District.

Well actually there's only 7 'Nicks" left now because quarrying in the late 1800's took away two. These ridges carry the Roman Wall. Prized for their hardwearing qualities Whinstone outcrops were plundered for road chippings and a section of Hadrian's Wall went too! The Romans generally used limestone and at a place called Limestone Corner there are piles of abandoned Whinstone blocks where the limestone seam ran out. It's tough stuff.

The impressions below the Wall route are of the Vallum, a series of mounds and ditches giving security for those south of the Wall. The Romans had enemies on both sides!