Hike the historic frontier of the Roman Empire — Hadrian’s Wall Path

The Hadrian’s Wall Path follows the Roman Empire’s most famous frontier on an enchanting coast-to-coast adventure through the rolling border country of Northumberland and Cumbria.

Hadrian’s Wall was one of Rome’s greatest feats of engineering. Built between AD 122 and 128 on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian, the Wall stretched 73 miles (117 km) across the width of northern Britain.

The purpose of the Wall was to protect the Empire from the unconquerable Scottish tribes. It was the northwest frontier of Rome for nearly 300 years and remains an iconic symbol of ancient history today. The Wall was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

The Hadrian’s Wall Path follows the crumbling remains —past countless Roman settlements, forts, and milecastles—through some of England’s most spectacular scenery. With history every step of the way, it is an unforgettable journey into the past.

Starting from Wallsend, on the west coast, the trail travels 84 miles (135 km) through Newcastle’s urban centre before emerging into the wild and atmospheric countryside of Northumberland and Cumbria's northern reaches. The trail finishes in Bowness-on-Solway, on the beautiful Solway Firth.

I grew up in Port Carlisle, a little village towards the end of the trail, and know the region intimately – the Wall would have actually passed through my house but little trace of it remains today. Fortunately, there are still plenty of places where the original wall can be followed.

There is no set direction to walk Hadrian’s Wall and both have their merits. This Collection opts for the east to west crossing as you get all the urban walking out of the way early and finish on the serene, wildlife-rich Solway Estuary. The only downside about east to west is that you are walking into the prevailing winds.

In this Collection, I split the route into six stages. Every stage finishes close to accommodation, even if there are only a few options nearby. However, places to stay are not always abundant so it is worth planning in advance and scheduling any rest days accordingly.

If you are planning to arrive by public transport, you can catch a train to Newcastle, which has direct trains from all over the country. From the station, you can catch a tram on the Yellow line to Wallsend. Alternatively, it is a four-mile (6.5 km) walk from the station.

At the end of the walk, you can catch the 93 bus service from Bowness-on-Solway to Carlisle. It is then a five-minute walk to the railway station, which has direct services to many places across the country, including the option of returning to Newcastle.
If you are planning to arrive by car, your best bet is to negotiate with a hotel or B&B a rate to stay for a night either side of your hike in Newcastle. Alternatively, you could find long stay parking in the city.