Hadrian's Wall Path

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Hadrian's Wall Path
Waymark
Sights	Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site
Website	www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/hadrians-wall-path/

National Trails
Acorn symbol used to guide the route of National Trails
England Cleveland Way Coast to Coast Cotswold Way England Coast Path Hadrian's Wall Path North Downs Way Peddar's Way and Norfolk Coast Path Pennine Bridleway The Ridgeway South Downs Way South West Coast Path (longest) Thames Path Yorkshire Wolds Way (shortest)
Wales Glyndŵr's Way Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Cross-border Offa's Dyke Path (Wales and England)
v t e

Hadrian's Wall Path is a

.

Path description

Though muddy in places, the walking is relatively easy, as the highest point on the path is only 345 m (1130 ft) high

is the highest and wildest part of the path; it is also where the Wall is most visible, and includes several important Roman forts.

This itinerary breaks the 84-mile (135 km) walk into six reasonable stages, and is presented from east to west (against the prevailing wind).

Wallsend to Heddon-on-the-Wall

15 miles (24 km)

The path starts at the Roman fort and Museum of Segedunum which sets the historical context for the Wall. Segedunum is also the first / last of the National Trail's Walkers' Passport stamping stations. Most of this section runs through urban areas, including through the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, and along the banks of the Tyne. Only the last part, leading to Heddon-on-the-Wall, is in open countryside. There are occasional glimpses of the Wall.

Heddon-on-the-Wall to Chollerford

15.5 miles (25 km)

This section is almost entirely through open countryside, but along a road (the B6318, known as the Military Road). The Wall is occasionally visible, and the adjoining Vallum earthwork is frequently visible on the south side.

Chollerford to Steel Rigg

12 miles (19 km)

National Trail branches off northwards a little to the west of Milecastle 37.

Steel Rigg to Walton

16.25 miles (26 km)

This is another section across open countryside with the Wall occasionally visible. The Roman fort at Birdoswald has a museum. The Pennine Way long-distance path joins the Hadrian's Wall Path near the village of Greenhead. As the path approaches Walton, Lanercost Priory is a short walk to the south. Much of the Priory was built with stones taken from the Wall.

Walton to

Carlisle

11 miles (18 km)

In this section the path returns to farmland and crosses the M6 motorway. Part of the path is alongside the River Eden, passing through a pleasant park and over a large footbridge.

Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway

14.75 miles (24 km)

The first part of this section is rather bare but the walking improves once the path gets beyond the outskirts of Carlisle. Most of the path runs alongside either the River Eden or the Solway Firth. There is nothing of the Wall to be seen but the walking is open and pleasant. The path ends in the village of Bowness-on-Solway, at the end of the wall.

v t e Hadrian's Wall Path
Legend
Wallsend Newcastle-upon-Tyne  A1   A69  at Heddon-on-the-Wall Rudchester Halton Chesters  A68  at Corbridge Chesters Carrawburgh Housesteads Crag Lough Vindolanda Great Chesters Roman Army Museum at Greenhead Magnis Birdoswald Castlesteads  A689   M6  Carlisle  A689  Burgh-by-Sands Drumburgh Bowness-on-Solway
Sources[2]

Access

Both Newcastle and Carlisle are on the UK national railway network. The start of the walk at Wallsend can be easily reached by taking a local train from Newcastle to

runs between Newcastle and Carlisle, with stops at Wylam, Prudhoe, Corbridge, Hexham, Haydon Bridge, Bardon Mill, Haltwhistle, Brampton (1 mile from the town of Brampton) and Wetheral. For most of its length, the line is not within easy walking distance of the Wall. Northumberland National Park operates paying car parks at Brocolitia, Housesteads, Steel Rigg, the Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre, Cawfields quarry and Walltown quarry. Bowness-on-Solway does not have a car park and anyone thinking of leaving their car in Wallsend while they walk the Trail are advised to consider leaving their car in the long-stay car park at Newcastle airport.

There is a Hadrian's Wall bus (service AD122) Archived 9 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine (note 'Roman' numbering) which runs close to the central section of the Wall during the summer. The bus runs between Hexham, Chesters, Housesteads, Once Brewed, Vindolanda, Walton and Haltwhistle approximately once an hour 0900 – 1700. The service runs daily from Easter until September.

Bowness-on-Solway transport options

• There is no off-street parking in Bowness-on-Solway, and the streets are very narrow.
• There is one public transport option, the 93 Stagecoach Bus from Carlisle which stops in Bowness 2–3 times a weekday
• Other options include paid taxis from Carlisle or free shuttles which are available from some local establishments.^[3]

See also

• Hadrian's Wall
• Coast to Coast Walk – a similar alternative, somewhat to the south, from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay
• Hadrian's Cycleway – a 170-mile (270 km) cycle route from Ravenglass to South Shields, part of the National Cycle Network
• Antonine Wall
• National Trails
• Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom

References

• Hadrian's Wall Path by Anthony Burton. Published by
  ISBN 185410893X
  .

Further reading

• Walk Hadrian's Wall: The 84 Mile Route from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend (2007) by Brian Smailes. Challenge Publications
  ISBN 978-1-903568-40-8

External links

• Official website
• Aerial photographs of Hadrian's Wall
• "Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail". Long Distance Walkers Association.
• Page featuring the Hadrian's Wall Walk route in 2 mile sections

55°01′53″N 2°07′40″W / 55.03137°N 2.12791°W / 55.03137; -2.12791