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
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
- River Tyne
- Chesters Roman Fort
- Winshield Crags
- Bowness-on-Solway
Itinerary
Please note that our default itinerary direction is east to west. When booking, you can also opt to walk west to east, this will not affect the tour price.
Day 1: Arrival in Newcastle upon Tyne
Arrive in Newcastle upon Tyne, if time allows, we recommend a visit to the city’s Norman-era castle (payable locally) that gave Newcastle upon Tyne its name, or one of the many museums and galleries such as Laing Art Gallery.
- Accommodation: The County Hotel or similar in Newcastle upon Tyne
Day 2: Wallsend – Wall Houses | 34km
Segedunum Roman Fort & Museum marks the official start of the trail. Follow the River Tyne along Newcastle upon Tyne’s historic quayside, passing beneath several bridges, including Gateshead Millennium Bridge, before continuing west out of the city. Continue on to Heddon-on-the-Wall, where the longest section of unbroken wall at its original width can be seen. End the day in Wall Houses, a small rural settlement near Corbridge.
- Walking for the day: 34km, ↑410m ↓380m
- Accommodation: Robin Hood Inn or similar in Wall Houses
Day 3: Wall Houses – Once Brewed | 36km
Today’s section passes Chesters Roman Fort before entering Northumberland National Park. Follow some of the best-preserved sections of Hadrian’s Wall, with the option to visit Housesteads Roman Fort (payable locally), one of the largest and most complete Roman forts in Britain. Continue along above Crag Lough, an inland lake at the south edge of Northumberland National Park, and onto Sycamore Gap. Finally, the route leads to the volcanic rock formation, Peel Crags, and onto the steep Cat Stairs, finishing at Steel Rigg. Overnight in Once Brewed.
- Walking for the day: 36km, ↑620m ↓550m
- Accommodation: Twice Brewed Inn or similar in Once Brewed
Day 4: Once Brewed – Walton | 29km
We recommend starting the day with a visit to Vindolanda Roman Fort (payable locally), an important archaeological site with a museum displaying artefacts from daily Roman life. From here, climb over Winshield Crags, the highest point of the path at 345m, offering views across the countryside and several of Hadrian’s Walls’ best-preserved sections. Continue on past the remains of Great Chesters and Magnis forts, through Walltown, and later Thirlwall Castle ruins. Crossing the Cumbria–Northumberland border, the path leads to the village of Gilsland, where cafés and pubs provide a good rest stop, before continuing on to Walton. Spend the night in either Walton, a small Cumbrian village surrounded by farmland, or Brampton, a small market town with shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Walking for the day: 29km, ↑320m ↓550m
- Accommodation: Old Vicarage or similar in Walton/Brampton
Day 5: Walton – Bowness-on-Solway | 42km
Begin the day walking through farmland, following the Roman road via Newtown along the banks of the River Eden into Carlisle. Cross the flat salt marshes of Solway Firth, before passing the village of Burgh by Sands, where a statue of Edward I stands beside the Greyhound Inn. Solway Firth estuary is internationally recognised for its rich birdlife and distinctive landscape. The day concludes at Bowness-on-Solway, a quiet coastal village overlooking the Solway Firth and marking the end of the journey along Hadrian’s Wall.
- Walking for the day: 42km, ↑5m ↓75m
- Accommodation: Rooms at the Bush or similar in Bowness-on-Solway
Day 6: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note that some accommodation may be located a short walk from the trail itself, as there is not always suitable accommodation close to the trail.
Click to view sample hotels for this tour
- The County Hotel (Newcastle upon Tyne)
- Robin Hood Inn (Wall Houses)
- Twice Brewed Inn (Once Brewed)
- Old Vicarage (Walton)
- Rooms at the Bush (Bowness-on-Solway)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal 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
This tour is graded strenuous and covers the full length of Hadrian’s Wall Path, with daily distances ranging from 29-39km. It is the most challenging of our Hadrian’s Wall routes and is best suited to experienced hikers (read more about difficulty grades). The route follows a combination of paths, tracks and minor roads, some of which can become muddy in wet conditions. Parts of the route cross main roads, so extra care should be taken at these points.
The route is signed with white acorn signs and is easy to navigate. 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. For more information, see our blog, Best time to visit England.
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 Airport (EDI), Manchester Airport (MAN) or Newcastle Airport (NCL).
By train or bus
This holiday is reachable by rail with train stations in Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle (1h). For more details, see the booking platforms Traveline or Trainline or use the Omio planner above.
Arrival: Newcastle upon Tyne is well connected by rail and bus to Newcastle Airport (30mins), Edinburgh Airport (2h) and Manchester Airport (3h). For more information 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, to meet onward connections to the airport. For more information please see the Traveline or Trainline website or use the Omio planner above. Please note that there are no buses from Bowness-on-Solway to Carlisle on Sundays.
UK Visa and entry requirements:
IMPORTANT: From 2025, the UK is implementing a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for many countries around the world. Up until 08 January, the ETA requirement only applied to nationals from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
On 08 January 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to visitors from eligible non-European countries, including Australian, Canadian and US nationals. Then, on 02 April 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to eligible European countries, referring to most of Europe.
You can view the full list of countries that this applies to here and apply for your ETA here, or on the UK ETA app. The ETA usually takes up to three working days to be processed, although we advise applying as early as possible, in advance of your travel dates. People travelling with an Irish passport don’t need an ETA.
You can read more about the UK entry requirements on our blog.
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights accommodation
- 5 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Access to your digital pre-departure information (accommodation list, GPS map of the route, baggage transfer information, itineraries, route information of cafes, restaurants, local bus timetables, etc.)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
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
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
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. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request.
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