Hadrian's Wall Path

A classic westward coast-to-coast walk that strings together Roman sites, open moorland and friendly villages.

Time to Hike: Most walkers take 6-7 days, with shorter days in the central Wall section to allow time for forts and museums.

Best Time to Go: Apr-Oct is the main season. Late spring and early autumn are quieter while still offering long daylight.

Getting there: Start at Wallsend on the eastern edge of Newcastle upon Tyne and finish at Bowness-on-Solway. Both ends are reachable by public transport, with the biggest hub at Newcastle upon Tyne.

Costs: You can walk the trail for the cost of food, transport and accommodation. Budget extra if you plan to visit Roman museums and pay-to-enter sites along the way.

Difficulty: Moderate. The distances are manageable, but expect rough, rocky sections on the central Wall, frequent gates and stiles, and changeable weather.

Hadrian’s Wall Path runs from the River Tyne at Wallsend to the saltmarsh edge of the Solway Firth at Bowness-on-Solway, tracking the line of Hadrian’s Wall and its associated defences. It is at its most dramatic in Northumberland, where the Wall climbs a whaleback ridge of crags and pastures.

The highlights come thick and fast through the middle: you pass major Roman forts such as Housesteads Roman Fort and Birdoswald, sections where the Wall is still standing, and frequent earthworks that show how much survives even when stonework has gone. East and west of the central section the walking is gentler, linking urban riverside paths, farmland lanes and quieter stretches of open country.

What makes this route notable is how it balances a walkable week-long itinerary with a real sense of time depth. You can hike it purely as a long-distance path, or slow down to build in site visits, viewpoints and museum stops along the frontier line.

• Stage 1: Wallsend to Newcastle upon Tyne (short stage) - An easy warm-up along the River Tyne on paths and pavements, with time to start at Segedunum.
• Stage 2: Newcastle upon Tyne to Heddon-on-the-Wall - Urban edges give way to fields and the first clear traces of the Wall line as you head out of the city.
• Stage 3: Heddon-on-the-Wall to Chollerford - Rolling countryside walking with more frequent Roman earthworks, finishing near the River North Tyne.
• Stage 4: Chollerford to Housesteads Roman Fort - Enter the best-known central Wall country, with steeper ups and downs and big views from the ridge.
• Stage 5: Housesteads Roman Fort to Gilsland - Classic Wall-top walking past crags and consolidated Wall sections; the surface can be rocky and slow underfoot.
• Stage 6: Gilsland to Birdoswald to Carlisle - A mix of rural path, riverside sections and easier going as you approach the larger city services around Carlisle.
• Stage 7: Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway - Flat, airy walking towards the Solway Firth, often with open skies and a strong sense of crossing to the western sea.

Apr-Oct is the main walking season, with the longest days in early summer. Spring and autumn often bring quieter trails and good walking temperatures, though you should expect rain and brisk winds at any time.

The central section across the ridge can feel exposed in poor weather, and wet conditions can make rocky steps and grassy slopes slippery. Start early if you want time to visit sites like Housesteads Roman Fort without rushing your walking day.

Most people begin in Wallsend (east of Newcastle upon Tyne), which is straightforward to reach via rail to Newcastle upon Tyne and local transport onwards. The finish at Bowness-on-Solway is a small village; many walkers return via transport connections through Carlisle, the nearest major rail hub.

The classic direction is east to west, ending with the wide horizons of the Solway Firth. West to east also works if it suits your transport plans.

No permit is needed to walk Hadrian’s Wall Path as a long-distance trail.

Some Roman sites and museums along the route may charge entry and can have their own opening times, so it can help to decide in advance which places you want to go inside versus view from the path.

Most walkers use a mix of B&Bs, inns and small hotels in villages and towns along the route, with particularly good choice in and around Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle. The central Wall area has fewer places right on the trail, so it is worth thinking about your overnight stops before you set off.

If you are travelling in peak summer or want to stay near popular sites such as Housesteads Roman Fort, booking ahead is sensible. Camping is possible in the region, but plan around designated sites and local rules rather than assuming you can camp anywhere.