Hadrian's Wall, Lands End

You've made it to Hadrian's Wall - congratulations!

As any proud Scot will tell you, the Romans never made it there. Although there were settlements over the border and even a few successful spats with Pictish tribes, Scotland never became part of the Roman Empire.

What did worry the Roman outposts in the north of the country, however, was the real possibility that those tribes might successfully take territory back and repel their armies. Defeat to a Roman general was unthinkable, and construction on Hadrian's Wall began in 122AD so that the Roman armies based at the far north edge of the territory could control who came in and out of Empire territory.

Every Roman mile (not quite as far as a modern mile), there was a milecastle - a fortified manned post for extra security. With a wall that was fifteen feet high and ten feet thick, getting through was difficult. Unsurprisingly, it was so well built that much of it still stands today.

If you fancy a further challenge, there are many walks and hikes along the 73 miles of wall, and hiking holidays that take in the full distance are a popular break for the keen walker.