11-Day / 10-Night Gentle 🥾

From your point of arrival, use the public transport information we provide to make the journey to Bowness-on-Solway.

The Hadrian’s Wall Path starts (or ends) in Bowness-on-Solway, a small, peaceful village on the Irish Sea. From here, the trail follows bridleways and tracks along the coast and through farmland to the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The trail now follows the former route of the Roman Wall in a straight line through the marshes to the village of Burgh-by-Sands, where the English King Edward I, ‘the Hammer of the Scots,’ died in 1307 near the Solway coast.

The trail leads you through a pastoral landscape and a number of pretty villages. You then follow the lovely River Eden on quiet paths and through suburban parks to the 2,000-year-old, historic city of Carlisle. There is much to see in Carlisle, such as the famous castle or the Tully Museum, with its Roman artefacts.

Today starts with a pleasant walk along the quiet River Eden and then continues, through parks and meadows, to the charming village of Crosby-on-Eden. From there, the trail leads through small villages, fields, and pastures and along secluded old bridleways to the small, pleasant village of Walton.

Quiet country roads and fields guide you to Haytongate, where a short detour will bring you to the old Lanercost Priory, once the capital of England for six months. At Hare Hill, you will get a first view of the original Hadrian’s Wall, and from here on, turrets and milecastles soon become part of the landscape. You can visit the Roman Fort of Birdoswald, inhabited for 2,000 years, where you find the longest surviving section of the Wall before passing more Wall, a Roman Milecastle, and the remains of a Roman bridge across the River Irthing.

A varied hike with a lot of classic Hadrian’s Wall scenery. You pass the ruins of imposing Thirlwall Castle and the fascinating Roman Army Museum before the route climbs up along the rocky ‘crags’ where you encounter some well-preserved Wall sections. At Great Chesters Fort, you can leave an offering to Jupiter on an original Roman altar. Exciting sections of the Wall lead past high cliffs to the highest point of the walk at Green Slacks and on to the superbly preserved Roman fort at Housesteads.

The trail now snakes up and down along the top of the Northumberland Crags, where you suddenly find yourself walking along some of the most spectacular sections of Hadrian’s Wall. You pass more milecastles and turrets before the route descends from the crags and passes a Roman temple at the Fort of Brocolitia. The day comes to an exciting conclusion at the fascinating Roman fort and bathhouse of Chesters in Chollerford.

At the start of the day, you pass the remains of a Roman bridge across the River Tyne and then the interesting Brunton Turret. At the Heavenfield battle site, Oswald, king of Northumbria, won a famous victory in 634. Following the gentle curves of the defensive Roman earthworks south of the Wall, the trail brings you to the Port Gate, where the main Roman road into the North of Britain used to pass through Hadrian’s Wall. Pass through the un-excavated Roman fort of Onnum on your way to Wallhouses and the Robin Hood Inn.

Through a rolling countryside of meadows and pastures, the trail follows the old Military Road (now the B6318) and the earthen defences on either side of Hadrian’s Wall. The Whittle Dene Reservoirs and Nature Reserve may give an opportunity for some bird-watching before you arrive at the aptly named Heddon-on-the-Wall, where you find one of the last preserved sections of the Wall. The route now turns south towards the River Tyne and then follows a former wagonway, close to the birthplace of George Stephenson, the Father of all Railways.

Today you follow the historical River Tyne, first through a pleasant riverside park and then through the rejuvenated vibrant city of Newcastle, with its seven famous bridges. From the city centre, the trail takes you along the banks of the river past the old heartland of the British Empire’s shipbuilding industry. The end (or start) of Hadrian’s Wall Path is found at Segedunum Roman Fort & Museum in Wallsend, the best excavated Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall and its recreated Roman Bath.

There are regular bus & train services from Newcastle. Full details provided upon booking.