Rick Steves Says You Should Visit His Least Favorite Region In The UK For One Important Site

Travel journalist Rick Steves is famous for his love of Europe. Since the '80s, he has advocated independent travel across the continent, from finding unexpected ways to appreciate Europe's best sights to highlighting off-the-beaten-track destinations and lesser-known gems. Steves is the go-to writer for European explorations, and his love of the Old World shines through in his warm, detailed travel journals, videos, and advice. 

However, even Steves finds certain parts of Europe boring or not worth visiting. He often advises travelers to steer clear of some of the biggest names on the tourist trail, largely because they are overrated or filled with tacky, inauthentic attractions. In the UK, for example, he calls the charming southwest beach vacation destination of Cornwall "a minefield of tourist traps" and says "the British are masters at milking every conceivable tourist attraction for all it's worth". 

Nevertheless, Steves says that you should still visit the place he describes as the "dullest corner" of the British Isles, for one particular attraction, Hadrian's Wall. He says that although "southern Scotland [is] so boring that the Romans decided to block it off with Hadrian's Wall", this ancient fortification is worth making the journey for, or at least stopping at on your way through.

Hadrian's Wall is an extraordinary relic of the Ancient Roman world, a feat of logistics, construction, and defensive strategy that stands out as one of the most impressive archaeological sites from Roman Britain. It was built in AD 122, nearly 80 years after the Roman conquest of Britain, to defend the southern territories against raids and attacks from native British tribes in Scotland. It was a fascinatingly multicultural place, bringing soldiers and civilians from across the Roman Empire, including Syria, Romania, and North Africa. 

The wall runs an astonishing 73 miles from one coast of the UK to the other, dividing the country and once separating England from Scotland (the current border is now north of the wall. It starts on the Solway Firth on the west coast, the inlet that marks the border between England and Scotland, and runs past Carlisle through Cumbria and Northumberland before it reaches the east coast at Wallsend, to the north of the River Tyne and just east of Newcastle, one of Europe's best cities for nightlife. 

These days, a significant amount of the wall's 73 miles is just a low hump of moss-covered stone, but there are several amazing sites to visit along its length, guaranteed to give anyone interested in history goosebumps, according to Steves. If starting from Carlisle, Banks East Turret is the best-preserved site in the west, while Pike Hill Signal Tower offers glorious views over the Cumbrian landscape. In the east, starting at Newcastle, the remains of Benwell Roman Temple offer insight into Roman religion in Britain, while the Temple of Mithras at Carrawburgh Fort in Northumberland is one of the most interesting spots on the Wall.

The best way to get the most out of a visit to Hadrian's Wall is to follow one of the trails that run along specific sections, defined and interpreted by English Heritage, who look after the entire site and the various attractions along it. The most accessible route is the Corbridge Trail, which starts just outside Newcastle and winds its way through Heddon-on-the-Wall before taking in the sites within the city limits at Denton and Benwell. Another of the gentler options is Chesters Trail, along the north bank of the River Tyne, which lets you explore some of the most complete structures and fortifications along the Wall. 

For more adventurous travelers, the Birdoswald Trail is ideal for a full day out, boasting the longest continuous stretch of Roman wall that remains, as well as breathtaking views over rolling hills, and some exciting turrets, towers, and forts. The Housesteads Trail is the most remote and secluded option, taking in some of the least-visited but most spectacular sections of Hadrian's Wall. Here, the Wall is largely situated on high ridges (Winshields Wall, for example, is the highest point), which provides dramatic panoramas of some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK. 

As well as being an absolute paradise for history buffs and fans of the Roman Empire, Hadrian's Wall offers incredible experiences for nature lovers and outdoor explorers. Hadrian's Wall Path runs the length of the wall, from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. It's a rugged, muddy 84 miles of walking, and although the hiking is relatively easy, it is still a significant challenge.