“What a worthy winner,” comments our expert John Craven. “Hadrian’s Wall has been part of our cultural heritage and definitive landscape for almost 2,000 years and it’s good to know our readers, like me, regard it as one of this nation’s great treasures.”
It’s easy to see why Hadrian’s Wall would win Heritage Site of the Year, or indeed Heritage Site of the past two millenia.
This historic marvel stretches 73 miles from the Solway Firth to Wallsend, and was built by the Romans at the behest of Emperor Hadrian, with constructing commencing in 122AD. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, a significant portion of the stone wall still stands, offering a fascinating insight into the life of the legions and Roman military strategy. Not only can visitors admire the world-class archeology, the area also offers spectacular landscapes and vibrant wildlife – and great pubs.
Runner up: Whitby
Photo credit: iStock
This seaside town is much loved and deservedly so. On the coast of North Yorkshire, Whitby boasts blue-flag beaches, fish and chips, Captain Cook and, of course, its haunting Benedictine Abbey framed against the skyline. Small wonder the dramatic setting inspired Bran Stoker’s Dracula– as a result, the town now hosts a biannual Goth festival.
www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/whitby
