Post by Arthur on Jan 9, 2011 12:56:35 GMT -6
Time and Distance Information
Travel in the period was slow, uncomfortable, and usually dangerous. Today we can travel around 55 miles in one hour. Back in the period, it would have taken a very fast horse over two days to travel the same distance. A few main roads in Europe had been paved with cobblestone by the Romans and remained during the period, but here in Britannia, very very few even thought about being paved. Roads were no more than dirt tracks that turned to mud in spring and winter.
Worse, travel in the period was very slow. However, most roads were made of dirt that turned into a river of mud when it rained. Even the best of paved roads were full of pot holes… Peasants “borrowed” stones from the road to patch up their homes. The potholes and mud restricted travel to walking, horses, and light two-wheeled carts. Most people walked because horses were very expensive and only the rich could afford them.
Men travelled on horseback (if they could afford a horse!). Ladies travelled in wagons, some covered in cloth. They must have been very uncomfortable on bumpy roads as they had no springs. Some goods were carried by pack horses (horses with bags loaded on their sides) and peasants pulled along two-wheeled carts full of hay and straw.
Any heavy loads were transported on the ocean or by river. Robbers abounded on both sea and land and robbed and killed the unwary. Only very desperate people traveled by night, when the robbers were the most active.
Most people didn’t travel at all. Common people sometimes lived their whole lives never traveling more than 10 miles from the place where they were born. The nobility were more mobile, usually moving from castle to castle throughout the course of the year to check on each of their properties.
On unpaved roads the weather can dramatically reduce potential travel time by miring the traveler in mud, etc. Travel time also drops dramatically when there's lots of elevation change or the terrain is unfamiliar. If you want to research this, you can find a gold-mine of material on modern-day sites dedicated to overland hikers. While their equipment is much better than that available in medieval times (especially footwear), the effects of trail conditions on speed remain the same.
• The average man, without pushing himself too hard, can travel approximately 15 - 20 miles per day over flat terrain on a clear day; 8-15 miles per day in rough terrain and inclement weather, depending upon age and physical strength.
• The average horse, without being broken down or pushed too hard, can travel approximately 30 - 40 miles per day over flat terrain on a clear dry day; 12 – 20 miles per day in rough terrain and inclement weather. The bigger the group, the slower the traveling. Speed of travel depends upon the slowest horse. Regarding the cavalry…45-50 miles per hour in the charge (attacking in short distances) and 25-35 miles per day whilst moving in formation (not attacking).
• Carriages and carts are slower as well as the horse has more of a burden. The bigger the party, the slower the traveling. Remember to adjust for different types of terrain as well; 5 – 15 miles per day in rough terrain and inclement weather.
• The average size ship in average conditions can travel approximately 60 - 75 miles per day. Adjust for weather.
• Keep in mind that people only traveled during the day and set up camp at night (unless they are being chased or have to make it to destination X in a certain amount of time.)
Selected Distances
*All distances are approximate measurements in miles and is mostly calculated using a straightline Point-to-Point ("as the crow flies") calculation. Terrain and weather conditions would add to most calculations.
BRITANNIA.......
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By Land.....
DISTANCE | FROM | Via | TO |
460 miles | Camelot | ..... | East Antoine’s Wall |
5295 miles | Camelot | ..... | West Antoine’s Wall |
40 miles | West to East | ..... | Length of Antoine’s Wall |
210 miles | Camelot | ..... | East Hadrian’s Wall |
195 miles | Camelot | ..... | West Hadrian’s Wall |
80 miles | West to East | ..... | Length of Hadrian’s Wall |
265 miles | East Hadrian’s Wall | ..... | East Antoine’s Wall |
100 miles | West Hadrian’s Wall | ..... | West Antoine’s Wall |
285 miles | East Antoine’s Wall | ..... | North Coast |
275 miles | West Antoine’s Wall | ..... | North Coast |
560 miles | Camelot | ..... | North Coast |
120 miles | Camelot | ..... | London |
160 miles | Camelot | ..... | Norwich |
60 miles | Camelot | ..... | Northampton |
100 miles | Camelot | ..... | Liverpool |
250 miles | Camelot | ..... | Truro |
380 miles | Camelot | ..... | Holy Head |
240 miles | Holy Head | ..... | Irish Coast |
By Sea.....
DISTANCE | FROM | Via | TO |
637 miles | Camelot | ..... | North Coast (Thurso) |
22 miles | North Coast (Thurso) | ..... | Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) |
660 miles | Camelot | ..... | Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) |
75 miles | Camelot | ..... | London |
200 miles | Camelot | ..... | Dover |
10 miles | Dover | ..... | Calais by sea |
610 miles | Camelot | ..... | Inverness |
155 miles | Camelot | ..... | Northampton |
310 miles | Liverpool | ..... | Dublin |
220 miles | Camelot | ..... | Truro |
105 miles | Holy Head | ..... | Irish Coast |
420 miles | Camelot | ..... | Newcastle |
540 miles | Camelot | ..... | Glasgow |
525 miles | Camelot | ..... | Oslo, Norway |
425 miles | Camelot | ..... | Paris, France |
1,055 miles | Camelot | ...... | Valencia, Espana |
965 miles | Camelot | ..... | Porto, Portugal |
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