The quiet village of Roadhead is surrounded by lovely countryside near the market town of Brampton, an ideal base for exploring Hadrian’s Wall. Brampton boasts a rich and colourful history going back to the Roman occupation, Border raiders from Scotland and the Jacobite uprisings, plus bonnie Prince Charlie established his headquarters in one of the old buildings in Brampton. In the centre of the town is Moot Hall, which was built in 1817, and now houses the Tourist Information Centre, and there is a large motte to the east of the town, which is 135 feet high and has the statue of the 7th Earl of Carlisle on it. A few miles outside Brampton is Talkin Tarn Country Park. It covers 120 acres of farmland and woodland, 65 of which make up the Tarn, a 10,000 year old glacial lake, fed by underwater springs. Two miles away is Gelt Woods, which is an ancient woodland and RSPB nature reserve and has the River Gelt running through it. Brampton is a wonderful base for exploring this historic and scenic area.
