Hadrian's Wall - Self-Guided Walk
Hadrian’s Wall is the finest surviving frontier work from any part of the classical Roman empire. Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail runs from coast to coast, between the tidal River Tyne at Newcastle in the east and the Solway Firth, west of Carlisle, alongside this magnificent ancient monument.
This trail is iconic and an ideal trail for your first walking holiday.
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Grade:
- Comfort: B&Bs & Inns (3*)
- Start/Finish: Newcastle-on-Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway
- Distance: Max: 15 miles / 24km per day
- Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Availability: April - October
- Altitude:
Arrive in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Stay overnight
A: Heddon-on-the-Wall to Chollerford (15 miles | 24km)
The day starts with a taxi transfer to Heddon-on-the-Wall
From Heddon-on-the-Wall, continue along the roadside path. Near to the end of the walk, you pass Heavenfields where Oswald King of Northumberland defeated the Welsh hordes in 633 AD. Continue into Chollerford with its handsome five-arched stone bridge from 1775. Or take footpaths down to the River Tyne to examine the foundation stones of the original Roman bridge which are well preserved.
Stay overnight in Chollerford. Luggage will be transferred.
B: Chollerford to Steel Rigg (12 miles I 19 km)
The Wall landscape begins to change now. Higher, wilder, unimproved pasture, expansive views, the Roman Vallum and north ditch is unmissable. From Wall-mile 35 the classic picture postcard “switchback” comes into view; take your time, it’s tougher than you might think. On a fine day there is little protection from the sun but enjoy the breeze against your face, if you are lucky you might catch the fragrance of wild thyme. Pause to reflect on the sheer achievement of the Roman engineers and builders, but also our Victorian forebears, so instrumental in establishing our interest in conservation. Not much has changed since the Victorian times.
Stay overnight in Steel Rigg. Luggage will be transferred.
C: Steel Rigg to Walton (16 miles I 26 km)
The Wall climbs to its highest point over Winshields Crags, before descending to the delightfully named Bogle Hole. Downsteps through Thorny Doors and up Cawfields Crags with excellent views onto the Pennines. The way passes by Great Chesters and Magnis (Roman forts), passing Greenhead, the ruin of Thirlwall Castle and in another mile or so crosses the Cumbria / Northumberland border on the River Irthing at Gilsand. View the Roman site called Birdoswald, where you can see the longest continuous remaining stretch of Hadrian's Wall
Stay overnight in Walton. Luggage will be transferred.
D: Walton to Carlisle (11.5 miles | 18.5km)
By now the lack of masonry won’t concern you. Spotting the humps and bumps in the ground; Vallum here, Wall ditch there, the buried Wall even, will be second nature. It’s all World Heritage Site, however, and just as important as the classic calendar shots of the Whin Sill. Being nearer to sea-level the gradients are gentle, the climate is also kinder and the occasional woodland a welcome diversion from the more open aspect of Northumberland. It all seems to go hand-in-hand with preparing you for the Solway estuary beyond Carlisle, because that is a section not to hurry.
Stay overnight in Carlisle. Luggage will be transferred.
E: Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway (14.5 miles | 23km)
With barely a gradient worth mentioning the walking should be comfortable today, but don’t hurry, enjoy the expansive vistas into Scotland as they come into view. Save for the welcome sounds of birdlife, the River Eden and Solway estuary marshes offer peace and solitude and a time to reflect on your journey as you near your destination, Bowness-on-Solway (or Trail’s-end as some have dubbed it). Segedunum to Maia, fort to fort, a Roman odyssey, but we hope that the landscape will have revealed to you some of its many other stories.
Stay overnight in Bowness-on-Solway. Luggage will be transferred.
Depart Bowness-on-Solway after breakfast
By Rail: Situated on the East Coast main line, Newcastle upon Tyne railway station is one of the busiest in Britain. London (Kings Cross) can be reached in 3 hours, and is easily accessible for other parts of the country too.
By Car: Newcastle upon Tyne is reached via the A1 and will take just over 5 hours from London.
-
- Accommodation at the stated category with breakfast
- Luggage Transfers
- Full Tour Pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS routes
- 24-hr emergency helpline
-
- Lunch, Dinner & Drinks
- Entrance to attractions
- Buses, Taxis and/or Ferries unless otherwise stated
- Tourist Taxes where applicable
Arrive in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Stay overnight
A: Heddon-on-the-Wall to Chollerford (15 miles | 24km)
The day starts with a taxi transfer to Heddon-on-the-Wall
From Heddon-on-the-Wall, continue along the roadside path. Near to the end of the walk, you pass Heavenfields where Oswald King of Northumberland defeated the Welsh hordes in 633 AD. Continue into Chollerford with its handsome five-arched stone bridge from 1775. Or take footpaths down to the River Tyne to examine the foundation stones of the original Roman bridge which are well preserved.
Stay overnight in Chollerford. Luggage will be transferred.
B: Chollerford to Steel Rigg (12 miles I 19 km)
The Wall landscape begins to change now. Higher, wilder, unimproved pasture, expansive views, the Roman Vallum and north ditch is unmissable. From Wall-mile 35 the classic picture postcard “switchback” comes into view; take your time, it’s tougher than you might think. On a fine day there is little protection from the sun but enjoy the breeze against your face, if you are lucky you might catch the fragrance of wild thyme. Pause to reflect on the sheer achievement of the Roman engineers and builders, but also our Victorian forebears, so instrumental in establishing our interest in conservation. Not much has changed since the Victorian times.
Stay overnight in Steel Rigg. Luggage will be transferred.
C: Steel Rigg to Walton (16 miles I 26 km)
The Wall climbs to its highest point over Winshields Crags, before descending to the delightfully named Bogle Hole. Downsteps through Thorny Doors and up Cawfields Crags with excellent views onto the Pennines. The way passes by Great Chesters and Magnis (Roman forts), passing Greenhead, the ruin of Thirlwall Castle and in another mile or so crosses the Cumbria / Northumberland border on the River Irthing at Gilsand. View the Roman site called Birdoswald, where you can see the longest continuous remaining stretch of Hadrian's Wall
Stay overnight in Walton. Luggage will be transferred.
D: Walton to Carlisle (11.5 miles | 18.5km)
By now the lack of masonry won’t concern you. Spotting the humps and bumps in the ground; Vallum here, Wall ditch there, the buried Wall even, will be second nature. It’s all World Heritage Site, however, and just as important as the classic calendar shots of the Whin Sill. Being nearer to sea-level the gradients are gentle, the climate is also kinder and the occasional woodland a welcome diversion from the more open aspect of Northumberland. It all seems to go hand-in-hand with preparing you for the Solway estuary beyond Carlisle, because that is a section not to hurry.
Stay overnight in Carlisle. Luggage will be transferred.
E: Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway (14.5 miles | 23km)
With barely a gradient worth mentioning the walking should be comfortable today, but don’t hurry, enjoy the expansive vistas into Scotland as they come into view. Save for the welcome sounds of birdlife, the River Eden and Solway estuary marshes offer peace and solitude and a time to reflect on your journey as you near your destination, Bowness-on-Solway (or Trail’s-end as some have dubbed it). Segedunum to Maia, fort to fort, a Roman odyssey, but we hope that the landscape will have revealed to you some of its many other stories.
Stay overnight in Bowness-on-Solway. Luggage will be transferred.
Depart Bowness-on-Solway after breakfast
By Rail: Situated on the East Coast main line, Newcastle upon Tyne railway station is one of the busiest in Britain. London (Kings Cross) can be reached in 3 hours, and is easily accessible for other parts of the country too.
By Car: Newcastle upon Tyne is reached via the A1 and will take just over 5 hours from London.
-
- Accommodation at the stated category with breakfast
- Luggage Transfers
- Full Tour Pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS routes
- 24-hr emergency helpline
-
- Lunch, Dinner & Drinks
- Entrance to attractions
- Buses, Taxis and/or Ferries unless otherwise stated
- Tourist Taxes where applicable