Hadrian's Wall Path - 84 miles over 7 days (average 12 miles per day)

Let's walk the fabulous Hadrian's Wall Path - 84 miles - between Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria and Wallsend in Northumberland. This path closely follows the line of the wall built by the Roman emperor Hadrian in AD 122 to separate the Roman occupied territory to the South from the 'barbarian' lands of the North.

I did this walk in Sept 2019 and suggest we take 7 days (average 12 miles a day). 12 miles may sound a lot but it's surprising how easily you get used to the distance, especially with some amazing scenery and things to see along the way.
Average day - walk 5-6 hours plus lunch and visit sites etc

The walk can be done in either direction. I suggest we walk from West (Bowness on Solway) to East (Wallsend). The prevailing wind in England is from the West so we should have the wind behind us rather than against us. This can make a huge difference in the high exposed sections in the middle of the walk.

Bowness on Solway is a tiny place with very limited accommodation and no parking so we will base ourselves at Carlisle for the first 2 nights and take taxis to Bowness on Walk Day 1. And we will finish in Newcastle which is a lively city for post-walk celebrations.

Detailed Itinerary:
Ask me for details (I will send a file). The approximate walking mileages are
Day 1 - 15.0, very flat
Day 2 - 11.8, quite flat
Day 3 - 10.9, some hills
Day 4 - 8.6, lots of hills, hardest day
Day 5 - 11.6, a few hills then one long downhill
Day 6 - 13.8, one long uphill then all downhill
Day 7 - 11.8, downhill then flat

Where will we stay each night ?
Ask me for details (I will send a file)

You are responsible for booking your own accommodation but we can try to stay in the same places. If we are in different B&Bs we can meet up in the evenings if you wish and meet up the next day to start the walking.
If you want to camp or stay in hostels you may of course do so. Note 'wild' camping is not allowed.

How will we get to the start and back from the finish?
Drivers (Suggest car sharing)
Drive to Carlisle (about 4 hours). On Monday morning (walk day 2), park your car in Carlisle for the week (Cost around £30-40). At the end, get a train from Newcastle back to Carlisle and pick up your car.
Non-drivers
Train to Carlisle at the start and back from Newcastle at the end. Easy peasy.

Is the path easy to follow ?
Yes, the trail is well signposted with acorn signs. And of course there will be other people walking the route (in both directions)

What is the walking surface like ?
Some paved surfaces but mostly grass or fields. Some muddy bits of course. There are several stepped sections. Hiking boots are essential and walking poles are advised.
The walk along the side of the Tyne in Newcastle centre is quite a buzz.

Is it hilly ?
The first 2 days and the last 2 days are pretty flat. The middle 3 days are very hilly. The highest point on the walk, Winshield Crags, is 345 metres (1132 feet).

Will we see the wall itself?
Not for the first 2 days at all ! But plenty after that.

Do we have to carry all our luggage ?
No. Just take a day pack. There is a company called Hadrian's Haul who will move bags for us. Cost £10 per bag per day (max 20kg). We leave bags in B&B reception by 9am and they will be at the next night's B&B before you arrive. It works like magic ! (I will coordinate a booking for our group).
Hadrian's Haul advise against using AirBnBs because there is often no host on site so they cannot safely leave the bags.

Will we stay together ?
I will lead the walk each day but feel free to do your own thing, the route is very well signposted. You will be fed up of my jokes in a day or two anyway.

Are there things to see along the way ?
Absolutely. There are many Roman forts and points of interest along the way.
Sadly the iconic tree at Sycamore Gap (made famous in the Robin Hood film) was vandalised in October 2023 and is now just a stump.

What do we do for lunch ?
I will try to find a pub or cafe for a decent (1 to 1.5 hour) break during each day. You can buy pub food or bring your own. Many of the B&Bs will make you a packed lunch for a small charge.

What do we do in the evenings ?
Some of our overnight stops are in small towns or villages. Most have pubs though. Some B&B owners may even drive us to and from the pub.

What will it cost ?
In 2019 I spent £500 on B&Bs (nice ones, single room ensuite), luggage xfer, taxi on day 1, train back at the end. You can probably find cheaper B&Bs if you wish. And of course it will be much cheaper if you can arrange to share with somebody.

Passport
You can get a Hadrian's wall passport. You collect stamps during the walk and get a certificate at the end.

DETAILS OF ITINERARY, SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION AND HOW TO BOOK, TRAVEL, PARKING, SUGGESTED KIT LIST, HW PASSPORT AND OTHER INFO ARE IN AN EXCEL FILE WHICH I WILL SEND YOU ON REQUEST

Any questions please comment