The spectacular Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrates its 1900th anniversary in 2022, and ‘Hadrian’s Wall 1900’ is a year-long festival dedicated to this huge milestone.

Begun in AD122 in the reign of the emperor Hadrian, this impressive defensive fortification is the most important monument from Roman Britain.

It marked the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire, with many of the forts, milecastles and turrets still standing today.

It’s been confirmed that the ‘HW 1900’ Festival will launch on Hadrian’s birthday on Monday 24 January 2022, with a year-long programme, culminating with Saturnalia on 17-23 December next year.

The festival is being spearheaded by the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership, along with partners such as Cumbria Tourism locally.

Hundreds of events will take place along the full length of the wall to mark 1900 years since it was built – and there’s something for everyone to enjoy. That’s set to include contemporary artworks, family-friendly exhibitions and events, food festivals, and even a city of lights celebration in Carlisle.

Cumbrian businesses, groups and individuals along the wall are also being encouraged to get involved by submitting their own activities to the programme.

This vibrant celebration of Roman history will bring together locations spanning 73 miles, from the banks of the River Tyne in the east to the Solway Firth in the west, as well as continuing down the Cumbrian Coast to Ravenglass.

Some of the key locations along the Cumbrian sections of Hadrian’s Wall include Birdoswald Roman Fort, which is widely regarded as the best place to see the longest continuous stretch of the wall today.

Meanwhile, Senhouse Roman Museum in Maryport is Britain’s oldest private collection of Roman treasures and tells the little-known stories of life for ordinary people in Cumbria during the Roman occupation.

Tullie House also has a large collection of Roman artefacts, with displays including a full-height reconstruction of a section of Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman Frontier Gallery.

Down the Cumbrian coast, the remains of the Ravenglass Roman Fort are among the tallest surviving Roman structures in northern Britain, with walls standing almost 4 metres high.

A popular way to visit is on foot along the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail - a long-distance footpath running from coast to coast. For those who prefer two wheels, Hadrian's Cycleway also explores magnificent coastal views, breathtaking countryside and numerous Roman forts as it follows the route of this wall.

Keep an eye on Cumbria Tourism’s visitor facing website www.visitlakedistrict.com for more information about the ‘Hadrian’s Wall 1900’ festival as 2022 unfolds.

You can also find out more at: https://hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/.