Hardknott Roman Fort ***
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Description:
The incredible surroundings and the vast remains of Hardknott Fort (Mediobogdum) make this a definite 3-star 'must-do'!
It must have been one of the most isolated and remote Roman outposts in the UK.
The roman road, ran from the coastal fort at Ravenglass (Glannaventa) up the Eskdale Valley to Hardknott Fort before continuing over the Hardknott and Wynose passes towards the other forts at Ambleside (Galava) and Kendal beyond.
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The fort was built between AD120 and AD138 during the reign of Emperor Hadrian and appears to have been occupied initially only briefly before being re-occupied probably in the late 2nd century. It housed a cohort of 500 men, the fourth Cohort of Dalmatians, infantry soldiers from Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Living at 815ft above sea level, they guarded the Roman road between Ambleside and Ravenglass from invasion by the Scots and Brigantes. The fort is 375 feet square, and covers an area of around 2 and three quarter acres. The fort was sacked in 197AD.