Hadrian’s Wall Path – 9 nights | Walking Holiday in Britain | Self Guided Walking Holiday

The route starts at the eastern end of the wall at the Roman Fort of Segedunum, but for anyone wishing to walk coast to coast, you can start at the cliff top at Tynemouth Priory and Castle, which would add about 6 miles to the route. You then walk alongside the River Tyne with its refurbished quayside, Millenium Bridge and Baltic Arts Centre, before joining the wall itself at Heddon On The Wall. You then journey westwards through the dramatic scenery of Northumberland and Cumberland passing all the famous Roman Forts and milecastles. It soon becomes apparent just how mighty and impressive these structures, built 1900 years ago, must have been, and indeed still are. The scenery is often wild and dramatic in the central section of the route, but becomes more pastoral as you approach Carlisle and the River Eden. The last section takes you to the western end of the wall at Bowness on the Solway Estuary where the silence is broken only by the wind or by birds calling as they circle over the coast.

Grade: Moderate

Meals:
You will normally be staying in a town or village where there is at least one place to buy an evening meal. On the rare occasion that this is not possible, we will book you into an accommodation which provides an evening meal (this is not included in the holiday price). Lunches can usually be bought on route and we can advise you of the days when this is not possible. On these days you can book a packed lunch from your accommodation by letting them know the night before or we can book it for you. These usually cost about £5. Alternatively, most of the towns and villages in which you stay have shops where you can buy items to make up your own packed lunch.

When to Go:
April, May and June are when everything comes to life so it is very green, wild flowers are abundant and blossom abounds. July and August tend to be the warmest months, but it is rarely so warm as to be uncomfortable for walking or cycling. September tends to be one of the most pleasant times in the countryside and is quieter as most people with children have finished their holidays. By October the days are getting shorter and the weather is much more changeable.

Getting there:
Travelling from London Kings Cross to Newcastle, there is a direct rail service taking approximately three hours. From Newcastle station take the Metro for the short journey to Wallsend. Newcastle is the nearest major city with an international airport and is also served by the Metro link.

Departure:
From Bowness on Solway at the end of the walk, you can catch a bus to Carlisle (approx one hour) or go by taxi (30 mins) for rail connections to London, Glasgow and Edinburgh. (Carlisle to London should take five hours thirty minutes).

Day 1 Arrive Wallsend

Day 2 Wallsend to Newburn
After seeing the Roman Fort of Segedunum, you don't see any more Roman remains today. Instead the first day walking Hadrian's Wall is spent alongside the River Tyne. You will pass right along the Newcastle Quayside underneath numerous bridges including the "blinking eye" millenium bridge. If time allows you can cross the bridge and visit the new Baltic Arts Centre on the Gateshead side of the river. It is then time to continue west out of the city to Newburn. ~ 11 miles

Day 3 Newburn to Harlow Hill
Today you will join Hadrian's Wall at Heddon-on-the-Wall and start to become familiar with the pattern of turrets and milecastles. ~ 7 miles

Day 4 Harlow Hill to Chollerford
Beyond Harlow Hill a real sense of spaciousness begins. The Roman ditch, or Vallum as it is called, is more in evidence than the wall itself. However, as you approach Chollerford sections of the wall itself start to appear. The Roman crossing of the River North Tyne was a short distance south-west of the current crossing, itself a handsome five-arched bridge built in 1775. ~ 12 miles

Day 5 Chollerford to Twice Brewed
Today's route is a memorable one as you really are alongside Hadrian's Wall. After leaving Chollerford you soon enter Northumberland National Park and the scenery gets grander as you gain height. The highlight of the day is Housesteads Roman Fort and the ensuing section of the wall as you cross the crags above Crag Lough. ~ 13 miles

Day 6 Twice Brewed to Gilsland/Greenhead
Another superb day awaits as you set out from Steel Rigg and marvel at the engineering achievement completed here by the Romans 1900 years ago. ~ 7 miles

Day 7 Gilsland/Greenhead to Banks
Gilsland is the last place in Northumberland before crossing into Cumbria. Today you again pass many turrets and milecastles, as well as Birdoswald Fort, before reaching your accommodation in the small village of Banks. ~ 6 miles

Day 8 Banks to Carlisle
Although the main forts are now behind you the walk from here to Carlisle via Walton is a very pleasant one with lovely rolling countryside. The approach to Carlisle is along the banks of the River Eden. The city is very different to Newcastle and has a castle, a cathedral and museums that are all worth seeing. ~ 13 miles

Day 9 Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway
The final day's walking is like none of the others. It is the vallum rather than the wall itself that you follow west to Bowness. You initially follow the calm waters of the River Eden out from Carlisle as far as the village of Grinsdale. The route then leaves the river for a while before joining it again for a short section to Beaumont. Then you strike away from the river into a vast open and flat countryside dominated by the Solway Estuary to your right, with Scotland just across the water. It is an area abundant in sea birds with the land liable to flooding at times of very high tides. Journey's end is reached at Bowness on Solway and standing there, it is striking just how much of a contrast there is between the two ends of the wall. ~ 15 miles

Day 10 Depart

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