Hi

is anyone else camping? i think i may be a glutton for punishment as everyone else appears to be staying in plush BnBs, however, being a cheap student i feel the need to save as much money as possible :) Any one have any suggestions for how to make my life easier/ more comfortable?

Roxi

Hi roxi, welcome to the site! There are two campsites that get frequently recommended. The closest is the Winshields Farm campsite. It's literally -right- on the edge of the B6318, the "Military Road," so it can be crazy loud if you pitch your tent too close to the road. But it's cheap, a very easy 2-minute walk to the Twice Brewed pub, and thus walkable to Vindolanda and back if you like that kind of thing. And folks say it's clean & safe. Phone # 01434 344243.

There's another one about a mile farther west called Hadrian's Wall Caravan and Camp Site. Set back on a small side road, it's definitely quieter roadwise. Tends to be a bit more crowded from what people say, and it's just far enough that it wouldn't be a pleasant thing to walk or ride a bicycle to and from each day... unless you're mad. But still, worth a look. They have a Web site: www.romanwallcamping.co.uk, and their # is 01434 320495.

Enjoy!

im at the hadrian's wall one, but im going to drive up - hopefully theres enough parking space on site. it looks quite nice, got showers and mild luxuries but i have a feeling im going to be relying on a mixture of pub food, the chippy and the indian as the idea of cooking on a trangia every night is kinda unappealing hehe

roxi

Hi Roxi,

The Hadrian's Wall campsite is pretty good if you're talking about the one just off the military road towards Melkridge. I stayed there a few weeks ago while I was digging at Vindolanda, it was a very nice site, friendly owners. I was in the Bunk Barn which was very comfortable, if not a bit cold but i'll blame the weather of early April for that, at £10 a night I thought it was well worth it for the luxury of the communal area with sofa's, small kitchen and TV. Facilities are good, showers are brilliant, there was plenty of room for parking while I was there - they've even got a sauna, costs a bit though! I don't drive, I had my bike with me so biked to Vindolanda on a few mornings (about 3 miles that I really wish I could have driven instead of biking in the mornings and after digging!!) I managed to blag a lift off fellow diggers most of the time. The Mile Castle Inn is about a mile down the military road from the campsite while the Twice Brewed Inn is about 2 miles heading towards Vindolanda, again I wished I had a car! The food at both is very good, if not a bit pricey, if you like real ales then there's plenty to try!

Hope that helps,
Ben

awesome thanks for the help. you would have been pretty brave had you have camped in april - hope you didnt get snowed on :P wow having a sauna's pretty flashy, might have to use that after a hard weeks digging :)!! Ill probably end up leaving the car when i go to the pub anyway - it would be wrong of me not to drink as an archaeologist after all!

Roxi