Hadrian’s Wall Path
Highlights:
Largest surviving Roman artefact
The Roman fort of Housesteads
Northumberland National Park
Carlisle’s castle and cathedral
Brief:
⏱ Duration: 6 - 8 Days
🗺 Distance: 135 km
⛰ Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
🗓 Best Time: March - Nov
🛏 Accomm: Bed & Breakfast; hotels
Walk Overview
Hadrian’s Wall Path is one of the UK’s 16 specially protected ‘National Trails’. The Path was only opened as a National Trail in 2002. Prior to that, walkers wanting to trace the route of Hadrian’s Wall were forced to cover significant distances on roads. Happily, that’s a thing of the past now.
Hadrian’s Wall Path is a remarkable walk because it has so many different points of appeal. In particular, of course, it provides a tangible insight into the geopolitics of the 2nd century AD when the lawlessness on the northern extreme of the Roman Empire prompted Emperor Hadrian to order the construction of the wall and associated forts, gatehouses and watch-turrets. It was a massive undertaking, involving thousands of engineers, stonemasons and labourers.
Hadrian’s Wall is the largest surviving Roman artefact. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and there are a number of museums and interpretive sites along the way. It lends itself to a walking route because, for defensive purposes, it followed the natural ridge lines. To bolster its effectiveness, a ditch (or vallum) was dug on the northern side of the wall and in many areas that ditch is still clearly discernible. As you walk along ridge-edge ramparts, peering north over the vallum, it’s not hard to transform yourself into a legionnaire charged with holding back the barbarians!
The other points of appeal of the Hadrian’s Wall Path are of the scenic and cultural type:
The trail passes through diverse terrain. There are stretches of classic English countryside featuring lush pastures separated by stonewalls and pockets of woodland. Those areas contrast with the path's 35 kilometre stretch through the Northumberland National Park where the trail passes through elevated wilderness moorlands and climbs a number of small hills or "crags".
From a social or cultural perspective, the walk delivers city features of Newcastle Upon Tyne, attractive villages of Once Brewed, Gilsland and Banks (amongst others), the fascinating medieval border town of Carlisle (with its red-stone castle, old city walls and cathedral) and the tranquil Bowness-on-Solway. Bowness is located in a region designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Finally, one of the reasons the Romans chose to locate the wall where they did was that this is the narrowest part of North England. So, for those seeking a "coast to coast" experience (without having to walk the 300 kilometres of the "Coast to Coast" path) this walk has that added attraction.
Hadrian’s Wall Path can be undertaken from east to west or vice versa. Traditionally, it's walked from east to west, in which case the start is near Newcastle at the appropriately named Wallsend. The walk finishes on the Solway Firth (an Irish Sea inlet) at Bowness-on-Solway. Bowness is in northern Cumbria so the Lake District is not far to the south.
The complete walk covers 135 kilometres (84 miles) and generally takes between six and eight days of walking. Your total trip duration then depends on whether you incorporate rest days into the walk and, if so, how many.
Assistance and further information:
For assistance in walking all or part of Hadrian’s Wall Path, click the button below.
For more information on walking in Northumberland, click the button below.
For a Walk Travel Advisory Blog description of walking Hadrian’s Wall Path, click the button below.
A seven day itinerary for Hadrian’s Wall Path is described below.
Itinerary
Hadrian’s Wall Path takes about 6-8 days to complete. An itinerary completing the entire trail in 7 days is shown below.
Day 1
Wallsend to Heddon-on-the-Wall
Distance: 24 km
Time: 7 hours
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2
Heddon-on-the-Wall to Chollerford
Distance: 25 km
Time: 7.5 hours
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 3
Chollerford to Once Brewed
Distance: 19 km
Time: 5.5 hours
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 4
Once Brewed to Gilsland
Distance: 13 km
Time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 5
Gilsland to Walton
Distance: 13 km
Time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 6
Walton to Carlisle
Distance: 18.5 km
Time: 5.5 hours
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 7
Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway
Distance: 23 km
Time: 6.5 hours
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Walk Options
Guided
There are a limited number of tour operators offering part or all of Hadrian’s Wall Path as a guided trip. You can choose to do the entire 135 kilometres (84 miles) walk or opt for shorter versions. The tour operators that offer the full walk generally follow an itinerary along the lines of that described above.
Tour operators that offer guided trips generally operate on the basis of scheduled departure dates during the walking season.
Some guided tour operators offer accommodation at one central base (usually spacious and comfortable) and walkers are transferred to a section of the walk each day. Others utilise the available accommodation along the route, meaning the accommodation is more variable.
Typically, the package offered by the guided tour operators includes:
8 Day tour with professional guides, 7 days of walking
7 Nights accommodation
All meals
Transfers between the track and the accommodation (where applicable)
Assisted self-guided
A substantial number of tour operators offer Hadrian’s Wall Path as a self-guided trip.
Typically, the service includes:
Track notes, maps and information pack
Accommodation, usually with ensuites (the range and quantity of accommodation available in some villages is limited; also, the basic package offered by some tour operators might not always extend to ensuites)
Luggage transport between accommodation (and sometimes, where necessary, vehicle transfers between track and accommodation)
Breakfasts and optional packed lunches
24/7 Support
The duration of the self-guided options varies depending upon how far you wish to walk each day. Accommodation options range from comfortable through to luxury, again depending upon the size of the village or town and the purchased package.
Independent
There are camping grounds along the route that make camping on most nights a possibility. It’s also quite feasible to book accommodation along the route yourself and, if you require luggage transfers, to arrange that independently.
For those considering this option, it’s worth noting that the self-guided tour operators often have preferred rates with accommodation providers and luggage transfer companies. They also often have reserved allocations at the best-located/most suitable accommodation for the particular walk, so sometimes when accommodation shows no availability to an independent inquiry there’s still availability through a self-guided operator.
Essential Information
Access
The starting point for Hadrian’s Wall Path (going east to west) is Wallsend, near Newcastle Upon Tyne.
The finishing point is Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria.
Newcastle Upon Tyne and Bowness-on-Solway are readily accessible by public transport:
For Wallsend, there are regular trains from London’s Kings Cross to Newcastle and from there Wallsend is a short bus or metro trip;
From Berwick-upon Tweed, there are buses to Carlisle from where there are regular trains to London’s Euston.
Best Time
The best time to do the walk is between March and November.
Difficulty
This walk is rated at a difficulty level of easy to moderate. It is well waymarked with the National Trail acorn symbol and is generally well-defined and maintained.
The walk is generally regarded as one of the more accessible and less demanding National Trails. Its highest point is 345m. Still, it is 135 kilometres and if you aim to do that without rest days you need to have a good level of walking fitness.
Accommodation
There are many accommodation options at either end of Hadrian’s Wall Path (Newcastle and Bowness) and, generally, plenty along the route. Accommodation options include camping, hostels, B&B’s, guesthouses, inns and hotels.
Bowness has limited accommodation so, upon finishing, many walkers catch the bus back to Carlisle and overnight there.
Many of the accommodation providers, particularly those near to the route, are attuned to walkers’ needs or offer amenities suited to walkers.
We can assist walkers in choosing the accommodation options which best suit their needs.
Dining
We can assist you in choosing special dining options along the route or at the end.
Other activities
As a popular tourist destination, the Hadrian’s Wall region offers many attractions in addition to the Hadrian’s Wall Path.
Many walkers choose to add extra days to their trip so that they can explore these other attractions. Some will do that through rest days along the trail; others prefer ‘add-ons’ at the end of the walk. Some do both!
The village of Once Brewed (three days into the walk) is a very good choice for a rest day. It allows you to explore the Roman fort of Housesteads (which many consider the best of the forts) at your leisure, and the area has some of the best-preserved parts of the wall.
We can assist walkers to explore the many attractions of the Hadrian’s Wall region.
Assistance
We can assist walkers with various aspects of their walking holidays.