Attractions and Places To See around Hethersgill - Top 20

At this small sacred monument, there are several reasons why cyclists should not pass by carelessly, but should linger for a moment: Firstly, the church, together with the surrounding cemetery and the 'Bewcastle Cross' standing on the grounds, form a very harmonious unit. Secondly, when contemplating this cross, one looks far back into history, as its creation is dated to the 7th or 8th century. Thirdly, however – and mainly (!) – the artistic design of the obelisk, which rises to about the lower eaves of the church roof, tapering slightly upwards, is extremely noteworthy ('Amy' and 'Joe' have already described this in their contributions). My personal conclusion: Although the actual cross, which once crowned the obelisk, has long been missing, it is still a noteworthy small sacred monument!

With its well-preserved sections of wall and nearby banks, turrets and a lime kiln, Hare Hill offers great insights into the Roman past. Along with the River Irthing crossing, this area must have been a veritable hive of Roman activity.

Along Lanercost Road near Banks in Cumbria, you'll find the well-preserved remains of Leahill Turret (51B), a Roman watchtower built around 122 AD as part of Hadrian's Wall. The tower was fully excavated and consolidated in 1958 and is still visible today to a height of approximately one meter. Leahill Turret served as a staging post between Milecastles 51 and 52, providing Roman soldiers with a strategic vantage point over the northern border region. Inside, traces of a raised platform against the north wall and a later shelter structure against the south wall are visible, suggesting reuse in the 4th century.

St Cuthbert Bewcastle Church stands on the foundations of a Roman fort and has roots dating back to the 13th century. Although the current building largely dates from the 18th and 19th centuries, parts of the east chancel are still medieval. The church exudes simplicity and tranquility, with a rectangular plan and a wooden gallery on the west side. Within the church, traces of the Border Reivers' turbulent history can be found, including gravestones bearing names like Armstrong and Routledge.

This impressive Augustinian priory, founded around 1169, is just a stone's throw from Hadrian's Wall. Its ruins tell stories of kings, wars, and pilgrims. King Edward I stayed here in 1306 during his final campaign against the Scots, and Robert the Bruce later attacked the monastery. The church ruins still stand tall, with a dramatic triple-arched structure. Built partly with stones from Hadrian's Wall, they include Roman inscriptions. Inside, you'll find the Lanercost Cross (1214) and the Lanercost Dossal, a work of art designed by William Morris.

The Bewcastle Cross. This 7th-century Anglo-Saxon cross is one of the oldest and most exquisite in Europe. It still stands in its original location in the church garden and is richly decorated with runes, wickerwork, and Christian iconography. On the west side, you see Christ, John the Baptist with the Lamb of God, and a falconer who may represent John the Evangelist. On the east side, a vine winds upward, populated by mythical and real animals—a symbol of the connection between creation and faith.

The northernmost border of the Roman Empire in the British Isles was secured against the Celtic tribes not subjugated by Rome by a massive structure: Hadrian's Wall, built in the 120s. An episode of the television series "Treasures of the Roman Empire" on German television is dedicated to this 117-kilometer-long border fortification. The film (available only in German) can be accessed in the ZDF media library via the following link =>> https://www.zdf.de/dokumentation/zdfinfo-doku/schaetze-des-roemischen-reichs--der-hadrianswall-100.html

There are several reasons why cyclists should not just pass by this small sacred monument, but rather pause for a moment: Firstly, the church, together with the surrounding cemetery and the "Bewcastle Cross" standing on the grounds, form a harmonious whole. Secondly, contemplating this cross takes one back a long way in history, as its construction is dated to the 7th or 8th century. Thirdly – and most importantly (!) – the artistic design of the obelisk, which rises to approximately the lower eaves of the church roof and tapers slightly towards the top, is extremely remarkable ('Amy' and 'Joe' have already described this in their posts). My personal conclusion: Although the actual cross that once crowned the obelisk has long been missing, it is still a remarkable small sacred monument!