Overview
Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail is a fascinating and rewarding coast to coast walk from the North Sea to the Irish Sea alongside the iconic Hadrian’s Wall (also called the Roman Wall) in Northern England. It is Britain’s biggest Roman archaeological feature and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Opened in 2003, the 135km Hadrian’s Wall Path follows the course of the Roman wall closely along its entire length from Wallsend to Bowness on Solway and is one of Britain’s most popular long distance walks.
Hadrian’s Wall was a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia, begun in AD 122 in the emperor Hadrian’s reign. It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea, and was the northern limit of the Roman Empire, immediately north of which were the lands of the northern Ancient Britons. A significant portion of the wall still stands and can be followed on foot along the adjoining Hadrian’s Wall Path.
This Hadrian’s Wall Path demanding but rewarding itinerary takes in the full path in just four walking days. If you have more time and need a more relaxed walk, we recommend our Hadrian’s Wall Highlights, the classic full itinerary that takes six walking days to complete or the relaxed one which takes seven walking days.
- Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The vibrant city of Newcastle
- The delicious seafood in Northumberland
- Wild and beautiful landscapes
- A warm welcome and comfortable accommodation each night
- One of Britain’s most popular long-distance walks
Click to view map
Itinerary
Note: Our default itinerary direction is East to West; when booking, you can opt to do it in reverse, which will not affect the tour price.
Day 1: Arrival Newcastle Upon Tyne/Wallsend
Arrival at the vibrant city of Newcastle. Newcastle is a major transport hub in the north-east of England and has excellent rail, road and air links from Scotland and the South of England. It also has an airport which serves many carriers. Overnight accommodation in the Newcastle area.
- Accommodation: The County Hotel Newcastle or similar
Day 2: Wallsend to Corbridge | 35km
The Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum is the official start point of the trail. The initial part follows the River Tyne along the Newcastle Quayside, underneath numerous bridges including the Millennium Bridge then continues west out of the city to the village of Heddon on the Wall and then to Corbridge.
- Walking for the day: 35km, ↑410m ↓380m
- Accommodation: Fellcroft Bed and Breakfast or similar
Day 3: Corbridge to Once Brewed | 29km
The trail takes you past Chesters Roman Fort, you then enter Northumberland National Park passing the most complete sections of Hadrian’s Wall with a chance to visit Housesteads Roman Fort. Then you walk following the crags above Crag Lough through Sycamore Gap to Peel Crags and the very steep Cat Stairs finishing at Steel Rigg Peel Crags, close to the hamlet of Once Brewed.
- Walking for the day: 29km, ↑620m ↓550m
- Accommodation: Twice Brewed Inn, Vallum Lodge Hotel or similar
Day 4: Once Brewed to Walton/Brampton | 29km
You could visit Vindolanda Roman Fort before you re-join the trail at Steel Rigg car park. The route continues with a climb over Winshields rugged crags and to the highest point of the path at 345m with wonderful views over the countryside and some of Hadrian’s Wall’s best-preserved sections. You also pass the remains of Great Chesters and Magnis Forts, Walltown Crags and the impressive Walltown Quarry, the ruin of Thirlwall Castle. You will then cross the Cumbria/Northumberland border and walk on to the village of Gilsland where you can relax at a local cafe or pub before continuing towards Lanercost. The wall then continues on past Birdoswald taking you down passing Banks Turret on towards the village of Walton
- Walking for the day: 29km, ↑320m ↓550m
- Accommodation: Old Vicarage Walton or similar
Day 5: Walton/Brampton to Bowness on Solway | 39km
From Walton, the route continues through farmland following the Roman Ditch line through the hamlet of Newtown and along the banks of the River Eden into Carlisle. You will then walk across the flat salt marshes of the Solway Firth passing the village of Burgh by Sands with the statue of Edward I next to the Greyhound Inn. The route continues to the official end of the trail at Bowness on Solway. This expansive estuary is internationally renowned as an area of outstanding natural beauty for its thriving birdlife and has a charm of its own. The Kings Arms in Bowness is a great place for a drink to celebrate your achievement.
- Walking for the day: 39km, ↑70m ↓125m
- Accommodation: Inn at the Bush or similar
Day 6: Departure
Local bus and taxi services connect Bowness to Carlisle from where there are excellent transport links to both Scotland and the south of England.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodations on this tour include a mix of welcoming B&Bs, guesthouses and 3-star hotels. They have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere, cuisine and/or unique services. All rooms are private en-suite. Note that it is sometimes necessary to accommodate you a short walk away from the trail itself, as there is not always suitable accommodation close to the trail. Details will be given in your pre-departure info pack.
Click to view sample hotels for this tour
- The County Hotel Newcastle
- Fellcroft Bed and Breakfast
- Twice Brewed Inn
- Vallum Lodge Hotel
- Old Vicarage Walton
- Inn at the Bush
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can have dinner at the guesthouse you are staying at or at the village pubs and restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
On this demanding but rewarding trip covering the full Hadrian’s Wall Path in just 4 walking days most days offer 7-9h of walking; this is our most challenging Hadrian’s Wall Path itinerary and you should be a seasoned hiker to complete it. There are no steep ascents and descents but on some days you will walk up to 39km. The route is a mixture of paths, tracks and minor roads. Some of the paths can become very muddy and boggy and negotiating this terrain can be slow-going at times. Parts of the route cross main roads, so extra care should be taken at these points when crossing (read more about difficulty grades). The route is signed with white acorn signs and is easily navigable. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of March until the end of October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
Up-to-date travel advice on the United Kingdom is available here (for Canadian citizens) and here (for US citizens).
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Edinburgh (EDI), Manchester (MAN) or Newcastle upon Tyne (NCL).
By train or bus
- Arrival: Newcastle is a major transport hub in the north-east of England and has excellent rail, road and air links from Scotland and the South of England. It also has an airport which serves many carriers. Check the Traveline or Trainline website for up-to-date travel information or use the Omio planner above.
- Departure: Local bus and taxi services connect to Carlisle from where there are excellent transport links to both Scotland and the south of England. You can check the Traveline or Trainline website. If you wish to return to Newcastle, there are direct trains departing from Carlisle approximately every hour. Please note that there are NO buses from Bowness to Carlisle on Sundays, so try to plan your trip so that it doesn’t finish in Bowness on a Sunday or prepare to pay an extra GBP 35-45 per car for a taxi ride (20min).
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights in private en-suite rooms (3-star hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses)
- 5 breakfasts
- Detailed journey documentation and practical information: Stedman Guidebook, National Trail waterproof map, A5 guide, Services information sheet (places to eat, banks, shops etc), AD122 bus timetable
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel on all walking days (one bag per person, up to 15kg)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local representative in Northumberland
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room (subject to availability); note that single rooms sometimes may be of an inferior standard to double/twin rooms
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request
Gallery
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