Hadrian's Wall on England-Scotland Borders Awaits Hiking Lovers

In this July 3, 2018 photo, a stretch of Hadrian's Wall cuts
through the northern English countryside, near Birdoswald Fort,
Cumbria. (AP Photo/Jerry Harmer)
In this July 3, 2018 photo, a stretch of Hadrian's Wall cuts through the northern English countryside, near Birdoswald Fort, Cumbria. (AP Photo/Jerry Harmer)
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Hadrian's Wall on England-Scotland Borders Awaits Hiking Lovers

In this July 3, 2018 photo, a stretch of Hadrian's Wall cuts
through the northern English countryside, near Birdoswald Fort,
Cumbria. (AP Photo/Jerry Harmer)
In this July 3, 2018 photo, a stretch of Hadrian's Wall cuts through the northern English countryside, near Birdoswald Fort, Cumbria. (AP Photo/Jerry Harmer)

The Hadrian's Wall is one of many remains of fortifications built by the Roman Empire after invading Britain in the second century A.D.

The wall's original structure stretched over 73 mile (117 kilometers) within the English countryside, near the borders between modern Scotland and England. It extends in the west and the east, from Wallsend and Newcastle to the River Tame in the East.

The Roman soldiers constructed it in six years starting from the eastern side. The wall is enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered a popular tourist landmark. It was originally built upon the orders of Emperor Hadrian in 122 A.D. to support thousands of troops deployed to watch the borders with Scotland.

Hiking lovers can walk this path in both directions, and those who have time can start their hike from Carlisle in Solway Firth, a water outlet that separates Scotland and England.

Experts suggest the best hiking route is the one extending from Carlisle or Haltwhistle to Corbridge. Hikers who take it would need three to five days to reach Newcastle, according to the German News Agency.

On the path's sides, hikers would see green pastures, rocky hills, and some grey rural houses that appear on their way. They would also enjoy a soothing scene of cattle pasturing under the trees. Haltwhistle, which marks the middle of the itinerary, is a 700-year-old town that still features ancient rural houses known as "Bastle" that are open to the public. These houses were constructed by locals in the 16th and 17th centuries amid constant threats by the soldiers dominating England and Scotland.

It is thought that the Hadrian's Wall was the inspiration behind the famous ice wall separating the seven fictional kingdoms from the wild lands beyond in George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones.

The great appeal to walk along the Hadrian's Wall is partly attributed to the banners spread along the road, in addition to the scenery that accompanies the hikers during their trip, and not to the wall itself. The itinerary extends between the hills and valleys, and passes by fields full of cattle, animals, and flowers.



At Thai Zoo, Wide-eyed Golden Tigresses Become Social Media Stars

Rare golden tigresses Ava and Luna lie in a cage at Chiang Mai Night Safari, in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Warodom Nimmanahaeminda
Rare golden tigresses Ava and Luna lie in a cage at Chiang Mai Night Safari, in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Warodom Nimmanahaeminda
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At Thai Zoo, Wide-eyed Golden Tigresses Become Social Media Stars

Rare golden tigresses Ava and Luna lie in a cage at Chiang Mai Night Safari, in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Warodom Nimmanahaeminda
Rare golden tigresses Ava and Luna lie in a cage at Chiang Mai Night Safari, in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Warodom Nimmanahaeminda

Rare golden tigresses with cream-colored coats and wide eyes at a zoo in northern Thailand have become internet sensations, after luring massive crowds to shows where they have been trained to perform tricks.
Unusually colored Bengal tigers like siblings Ava and Luna, both 3 years old, are found only in animal breeding centers or zoos rather than in the wild, said Patcharee Pipatwongchai, the tiger trainer at Chiang Mai's Night Safari.
The twin sisters, born in captivity, made their debut at the zoo in June and became a sensation after they were featured on its social media platforms, Reuters reported.
They draw sellout crowds at the zoo's 500-seat arena at shows four days a week, where they perform tricks alongside their trainer.
"Seeing this tiger, I think it's incredibly intelligent and capable of delivering surprising performances like this, I’m happy that Chiang Mai has such smart animals as a key attraction," said visitor Wirunya Punyokit from Chiang Mai.
The animals' rare pigmentation results from recessive genes, the Thai National Parks website said, which give them thick, pale gold fur and legs and faint orange stripes.
Prior to the tigresses, another Thai zoo south of capital Bangkok drew thousands of visitors with another internet animal sensation, a baby hippo called Moo Deng.