Maiden Way

The Maiden Way (also known as Maidenway; Middle English: Maydengathe, Medieval Latin: Via Puellarum) was a Roman road in northern Britain, approximately 20 miles (32 km) long. It connected the Kirkby Thore (Bravoniacum) Roman Fort with Magnis (Carvoran) on Hadrian’s Wall, passing through Whitley (Epiacum) Roman Fort, located roughly midway between the two.

One of the earliest studies of the road was written by William Bainbridge and published in Archaeologia Aeliana in 1851, titled Account of the Roman Road, called the Maiden Way.

In 2016, LIDAR surveys conducted by the Environment Agency—primarily for flood risk and environmental management—revealed extensive subsurface archaeological features, including Roman roads. These findings suggested that the Maiden Way may have continued southward from Kirkby Thore to Low Borrowbridge Roman Fort, near Tebay.

Bravoniacum was a key point on the northern route linking Carlisle (Luguvalium) with York (Eburacum) and further south. Magnis stood on the Stanegate, a major Roman road just south of Hadrian’s Wall. The Maiden Way thus served as a strategic shortcut for moving troops and supplies to the central and eastern sections of the Wall. It also provided access to the important lead and silver mines near Epiacum.

Some accounts suggest that the Maiden Way extended eastward along the Stanegate to Birdoswald (Banna), then continued 7 miles (11 km) north to Brewcastle (Fanum Cocidi) Roman Fort, and further into Liddesdale. However, this extended zig-zag route is debated and not universally accepted as a continuous Roman road.

After the end of Roman rule in Britain, the Maiden Way continued to be used as a drovers’ road. The name may derive from Maiden Castle, a small Roman fortlet that guarded the Stainmore Pass, east of the fort at Brough (Verteris) Roman Fort.

Today, sections of the Pennine Way footpath follow the route of the Maiden Way, particularly across Lambley Common in Northumberland, running north–south above the west bank of the River South Tyne. Just north of this stretch, a modern minor road continues to follow the old Roman route west of Featherstone Castle.

Sites near Maiden Way

• Whitley (Epiacum) Roman Fort (2 km)
  Trajanic Auxiliary Fort (A.D. 98–117)
• Langwathby Moor Temporary Camp (18 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Fell End Temporary Camp (18 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Sunny Rigg 1 Temporary Camp (18 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Magnis (Carvoran) Vicus (18 km)
  Vicus
• Lees Hall Temporary Camp (18 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Glenwhelt Leazes Temporary Camp (18 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Sunny Rigg 2 Temporary Camp (18 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Chapel Rigg Camp (18 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Carvoran (Magnis / Magna) Roman Fort (18 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp, Stanegate Fort and Vicus