Chapter 7 - Hadrian's Wall (UK): Managing the visitor experience at the Roman frontier

Abstract

In 1996, English Heritage published the Hadrian's Wall Management Plan in an attempt to provide a clear objective and vision for the future of the Hadrian's Wall Military Zone – the elaborate northernmost defence frontier of the Roman Empire. At 73 miles (117 km) in length the line of the Wall runs from coast to coast through the urban areas of Newcastle and Carlisle and the open countryside of Northumbria and Cumbria. Multiple use, ownership and responsibility render management of this World Heritage Site a complex task. There exists a network of sites – both paid-entry and free – where visitors can learn about and/or gain access to the Wall and its associated remains. Visits to paid-entry sites have, over the past twenty years, been in decline, with a corresponding increase in visits to free sites creating visitor management challenges. The most spectacular remains of the Wall and its fortification can be found in the central section, which, correspondingly, attracts the most visitors and has suffered most from visitor pressure. A cooperative and sustainable approach to visitor management is necessary for the future protection and enjoyment of the Wall. Visitor experience must thus be carefully managed in order to minimize harmful impacts at free sites, while maximizing enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of the resource through adequate and appropriate access and interpretation.