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Self-Guided Walking: Hadrian's Wall

England
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Walk & Trek
Self-Guided
LEISURELY LEISURELY

An English coast to coast trail, the Hadrian’s Wall Path follows the line of the ancient Roman wall on this self-guided walking holiday

Trip Code: MHW8
Holiday Grades

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

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7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

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10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

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Self-Guided Walking: Hadrian's Wall

Highlights
  • Follow the line of Hadrian’s Wall, one of the most extensive Roman remains in the world which marked the northernmost border of the Roman Empire
  • Walk from the east coast to the west coast of England, all 80 miles of it on foot, visiting Roman forts and museums along the route
  • Savour the wild and dramatic scenery of the Borders of England and Scotland and enjoy the picturesque towns along the way
  • Dog-friendly itineraries are available and we can organise the daily transfer of your dog’s food, bed and towels too.
  • Extensive route notes, recommendations for local meals, daily luggage transfers and B&B in local guesthouses included in the holiday price
At a Glance
  • Self-guided
  • 7 days walking
  • Average of 21 km per day walking
  • Dog-friendly accommodation options
  • Packed lunches available on request
  • Recommendations for excellent local meals
  • Join In Tynemouth / Ends Bowness on Solway
Accommodation & Meals
  • 8 Breakfasts
  • 8 nights Guesthouse
Overview

Stretching 80 Roman miles (around 120km) from Wallsend, near Newcastle to the Solway Firth in the West, it's believed to have taken 15,000 men just 6 years to build Hadrian's Wall. Straddling a natural defensive spur at its highest point in the wildest part of the Borders, this was once an epicentre of a multi-ethnic community - with inhabitants from across the Empire as far-flung as Libya and Bithynia (modern-day Turkey).

Opened in 2002, the Hadrian’s Wall Path became an instant classic long-distance walking trail. Walking along the wall, where it has been painstakingly restored, and visiting the spectacularly positioned Roman fort of Housesteads not to mention the brilliant museums, one of which Vindolanda, continues to be Britain's largest on-going archaeological dig - we can't think of another walk in England, or even the entire of the UK, that is so historically alive and in such a dramatic setting. Overnighting in the border towns which remain nearly untouched by tourism and are very picturesque is another highlight. This is one of the walks that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime.

The trip includes all accommodation, breakfast and full luggage support meaning you can travel light and concentrate on the wildness of the scenery and its dramatic history.  

We offer a range of itineraries depending on your preferred daily walking distance ranging between 6 days walking and 10 days walking. We also have dog-friendly itineraries and can arrange to have your dog’s food, bed and towels transferred daily too.

Is this holiday for you?

Of the UK National Trails we cover, this is the easiest. The route journeys over rolling countryside and moorlands, but not mountains. Many people with limited walking experience have completed this route.

Terrain: Varied. Urban footpaths for day 1, then generally fields and parkland until Housesteads. Moorland up to 350m for the central section, then more fields a …

Of the UK National Trails we cover, this is the easiest. The route journeys over rolling countryside and moorlands, but not mountains. Many people with limited walking experience have completed this route.

Terrain: Varied. Urban footpaths for day 1, then generally fields and parkland until Housesteads. Moorland up to 350m for the central section, then more fields and parkland to Carlisle, followed by flat coastal plain to Bowness.

What’s it like underfoot? Pretty good. Well maintained paths throughout, although sections can get a bit muddy in wet weather.

How much up & down? Not too much! Generally rolling countryside with some gentle ups and downs. In the central section there are numerous short steep climbs.

Signposting: Good.

Navigation: Pretty straightforward. Well defined paths, and good signposting.

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Why KE?

We operate this trip in collaboration with our sister company Mickledore Travel, which is also based in Keswick in the Lake District. Mickledore have a long tradition of operating self-guided walking holidays along some of the finest trails in England, Scotland and Wales. Route notes, maps, luggage transfers and bed & breakfast accommodation in the best B&Bs, guesthouses and inns along the way are all included. Recommendations are also made for the best places to find delicious local meals at each night stop.

Mickledore have a near perfect customer satisfaction score (99%), and we have no doubt that you will find their knowledgeable and friendly team able to answer even the most detailed of questions.

Different durations of this holiday are available on request, as is dog-friendly accommodation for those wishing to bring their four-legged friends along for the walk.

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Itinerary

Download Trip Notes

Arrive at your first nights' accommodation in Tynemouth.

Accommodation

Guesthouse
Hide Details

To get to the start of the route at Wallsend to begin your walk, take the metro from Tynemouth to Wallsend (approx 7 min). Exit the station and follow Station Road to Buddle Street where you will find Segedunum Museum.

The walk starts in Wallsend near Newcastle upon Tyne, on the site of Segedunum, a Roman fort with an interesting museum. It follows the River Tyne into the city to the redeveloped central quayside, past the 'Blinking Eye' Millennium Bridge, which leads to the Baltic Arts Centre and distinctive Sage Building. The route continues beside the river to Newburn, on the outskirts of Newcastle.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B

Ascent

181 M

Distance

18 KM
Hide Details

The trail continues pleasantly through the Tyne Valley Country Park before climbing to the hilltop village of Heddon and onwards through rolling countryside. Turrets and milecastles become part of the landscape as you make your way to Port Gate and Corbridge.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B

Ascent

344 M

Distance

23 KM
Hide Details

The turrets and milecastles continue as you make your way along the line of a Roman Ditch towards Planetrees. The final 2 miles are marked by a descent through attractive parkland to the North Tyne Valley and the picturesque villages of Wall, Chollerford and Humshaugh.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B

Ascent

82 M

Distance

9 KM
Hide Details

The route soon reaches the Northumberland National Park and classic Roman Wall country with expansive views and undulating moorland. The route climbs steadily at first, past turrets and Brocolitia Roman fort; it then becomes more steeply undulating on reaching the Whin Sill escarpment. The views of open moorland, the South Tyne Valley, the Pennines and of the wall itself following ridges ahead are breathtaking. The route passes the well preserved Housesteads Fort and continues in a similar dramatic fashion to Twice Brewed.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B

Ascent

502 M

Distance

21 KM
Hide Details

Once Brewed is a good place to schedule in a rest day so you have time to explore the Vindolanda or Housesteads Roman forts. The route continues to follow the escarpment, over the rugged crags of Winshields, equally as impressive as the previous section. It passes the remains of Great Chester's Fort and the Roman Army Museum and continues to the pretty villages of Greenhead and Gilsland. Just after Gilsland the fort of Birdoswald is reached, after which the route continues high above the steep sided Irthington Gorge, before beginning a gradual descent at the village of Banks and on to Lanercost.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B

Ascent

576 M

Distance

24 KM
Hide Details

Rich agricultural landscape and parkland replaces the moorland as the route drops steadily through the villages of Walton and Irthington before reaching the River Eden for the final section into the historic border city of Carlisle. Carlisle's history is very much evident with its cathedral, castle and old city walls.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B

Ascent

173 M

Distance

23 KM
Hide Details

The final section is a complete contrast to all that has gone before; initially along the banks of the Eden and then across the pancake flat salt marshes of the Solway Firth. The mountains of the Lake District are visible to the south and Scotland is just across the water to the north. This expansive estuary is internationally renowned for its thriving bird life and the area has a peaceful charm of its own.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B

Ascent

125 M

Distance

26 KM
Hide Details

Depart from Bowness on Solway after breakfast.

Meals

B
Hide Details
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The Route
Point Point
Trek
Transfer

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

  • All accommodation as described
  • Meals as described in the Meal Plan
  • Self-guided information pack containing your map and route notes
  • Luggage Transport

  • Travel Insurance
  • Evening meals
  • Packed lunches (can be booked at an additional cost)
  • Off road parking (available at most locations on request)
  • Transport to the start and away from the finish
  • Personal equipment
  • Any additional activities/excursions indicated as optional

This holiday is operated by our sister company, Mickledore Travel. KE is not acting as an agent, but is marketing the holiday on Mickledore’s behalf. All bookings and payments will be processed by Mickledore, and you will enter into an agreement directly with them under the terms of their booking conditions.

You will be posted your self-guided holiday pack once we have received the balance (normally around 8 weeks before the start of your holiday).  We supply one holiday pack per booking and this will be posted to the person that made the booking. Extra packs can be purchased at £30 per pack. Please contact us a minimum of 6 weeks in advance if you require an extra pack. 

Your holiday pack comprises of:

  • Your itinerary with details of each night’s accommodation; information on your evening meals, as well as luggage transport and transfers, (where applicable).
  • Directions and detailed maps to each accommodation
  • A guidebook that describes the route in detail, and covers the whole route with a series of maps, as well as providing a wealth of background information.
  • Map(s) which cover the entire route(s).
  • Luggage Tags (if luggage transport booked) which the luggage courier will use to identify your bags.
  • Information on local facilities, such as cafes and other recommended places to eat, cash points, taxi companies, etc.

As part of the standard charge we will issue the following:

  • 1 guidebook and map for up to 4 people
  • 2 guidebooks and maps for 5-7 people
  • 3 guidebooks and maps for 8 people or more

You may purchase extra copies from us at a discounted price.

This holidays starts at your accommodation in Tynemouth. All of our self-guided holidays are sold on a land only basis allowing you the flexibility to choose the travel method which best suits you.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night's accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

This holiday is on a B&B basis. Packed lunches are available on request, and we have many recommendations for excellent local meals.

Water from the taps is perfectly drinkable on this holiday - please use this to fill your personal bottles for your daily activities. We do not encourage the purchase of single-use plastic bottles.

Your evening meal isn’t included in the package, but we include full details and recommendations for each evening meal in your itinerary. You will normally be within walking distance of a pub and/or restaurant, or where there is good food available at the accommodation, we’ll book that for you. Allow about £20 per person per night.

Pack lunches can be provided on this holiday for an additional cost from £52per person. We recommend this as there will not always be a handy shop or cafe on the route.

One of the great features of our Hadrian's Wall holidays is the quality of the accommodation, including small country house hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts and farm house accommodation. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.

We are happy to book single rooms on this walk but cannot normally book more than 2 for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Severe Allergies

Please inform our KE Sales and support team of any severe allergies you may have before travel. We will always do our best to help but we are unable to guarantee an allergy free environment on our KE trips. We advise that you always carry your own treatment for the allergy with you such as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' if required.  We also recommend that you discuss this with your accommodation on arrival so that they can better assist you.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that before travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Where luggage transport is included in the price, this will be a standard of 1 piece of luggage per person, usually up to 20kg in weight. On some routes the weight limit may be less, but we will advise you if this is the case. If you leave your luggage at your accommodation in the morning, it will be waiting for you on arrival at the B&B that evening. Any extra bags can be transported (at an additional charge) as long as they are pre-booked.

On certain holidays we also offer a storage service for extra luggage not needing to be transported for the holiday. Please contact us for for information on which holidays and a quotation.

All you need to carry is a small day sack to hold your waterproofs, personal items, packed lunch, map, guidebook and camera. You should be prepared for all weathers, at all times of year.

YOU SHOULD BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

  • Walking boots – need to be comfortable and well broken in
  • Several pairs of thick walking socks
  • Mittens/gloves
  • Warm hat and/or sun hat
  • Raincoat: (waterproof and windproof with a hood)
  • Waterproof trousers
  • Thermal long-johns & thermal top
  • Jacket
  • Fleece tops
  • Fleece or polypropylene trousers (no denim or cotton)
  • Spare clothing for the evening
  • Shorts and t-shirt (ideally made from synthetic fibres)
  • Map case
  • Compass
  • Torch: with spare batteries
  • First aid kit: insect repellent, sunscreen, blister kits, pain relief and assorted bandages
  • Water bottle
  • Walking poles (if you already use these)
  • Small day sack (20-30L) for carrying your personal items
  • Day sack liner / black bin bag / day sack waterproof cover
  • Camera and memory card
  • Phone and charger
  • Binoculars
  • Sunglasses
  • Whistle
  • GPS (if you already use one)

Many of the equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive a 12.5% discount with Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock and Runners Need. The discount code can be downloaded from your MyKE account and you can use this code at the checkout, either in store or online.

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