Hadrian's Wall Path - 7 Days & 6 Nights
- Hadrian's Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Walk alongside northern Europe's largest surviving Roman monument.
- Wild and beautiful landscapes of the border country.
- Enjoy warm welcomes at your cosy accommodations each night.
- View forts, turrets and milecastles en route.
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Newcastle and overnightArrive in the wonderful city of Newcastle Upon Tyne and soak in some of the local atmosphere and culture. People from Newcastle have a very distinct "Geordie" accent which you will soon become accustomed to! Before leaving Newcastle we recommend visiting the Great North Museum: Hancock - it will provide you with lots of history, information and context for the walk ahead.
Hotel Indigo Newcastle is a four-star boutique hotel in the heart of the city, heavily influenced by its location within the historic Grainger Town area. The hotel features an on-site Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill restaurant, which is proving to be one of the city’s most popular eateries. Alternatively, the contemporary Grainger Lounge is open for lunch, afternoon tea and light evening dinners - the perfect place to unwind in comfortable surroundings.
Located in the city centre of Newcastle, Sandman Signature Hotel is a luxury accommodation only a 20 minute drive/train journey to the Northumberland countryside. This accommodation offers a laundry service, bike storage, and packed lunch on request.
Maldron Hotel Newcastle is a brand new 4-star hotel in Newcastle city centre and is located in a prime central location with all of this beautiful city’s attractions right on the hotel’s doorstep. The en suite rooms offer all one would expect of a hotel of this standard, and come with high speed Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TV, toiletries and hairdryer and 24 hour service.
It is the wide rolling mass of the River Tyne, and not Hadrian’s Wall, that is a constant companion during this section of the walk, allowing you to cut through the centre of Newcastle with ease, and then escape the last industrial clutches of the city. You will eventually turn your back on the river and head up to Heddon-on-the-Wall, a peaceful village to spend the night with an intact 100-metre stretch of Hadrian’s Broad Wall.
Ascent: 175m / Descent: 60m
PLEASE NOTE: As there is limited accommodation in Heddon, we may have to book you into accommodation in nearby Newburn, which is 3 miles before Heddon. This means you will have 3 miles less to walk today, but 3 miles more the following day.
Wormald House is a pleasant country home located near the centre of Wylam. It is the birthplace of railway pioneer George Stephenson and Wormald House stands on the site of the birthplace of one of his contempories - Timothy Hackworth. You will be guaranteed a warm welcome and comfortable stay and the owners will do everything possible to make your visit enjoyable and memorable.
Hadrians Barn is a unique and friendly place to stay just five minutes from the Hadrian wall path and a ten minute walk from Heddon-on-the-wall village. There is free wifi available and a garden and patio area to relax in the evening.
The accommodation consists of two self contained barn conversions which sleep up to 4 in two separate rooms. Each barn has an open plan lounge/dining/kitchen and bathroom in the main room. Barn is made of 1 Twin room & 1 double sofa bed in the living room. You do not share barns with people not in your party.
They also have a new small double with en-suite in the main house that is perfect for single guests and couples.
You will be guaranteed a warm welcome when you check into this B&B with lovely homemade treats and tea. All rooms have the amenities you require for a lovely overnight stay along with some added little extras like under floor heating. Breakfast in the morning is served in the conservatory with lovely views over the Tyne valley.
From Heddon, you join the Roman Road and begin to see ever more frequent signs of the wall itself. After a couple of miles, you pass the Vindolanda Roman Fort and then negotiate a few small climbs. Harlow hill is a small hamlet and two miles further on is East Wallhouses - home to Robin Hood’s Inn, a fantastic old pub, which you may like to try for dinner. The remainder of the walk follows parallel to the B6318 which was built directly on top of Hadrian’s Wall. You will see that a series of mounds and ditches provided an additional defence to the wall.
Ascent: 225m / Descent: 310m
Hallbarns is a detached farmhouse, on a working farm, situated on the edge of Hadrian's wall.
Linden House is the perfect escape for walkers offering lovely accommodation with friendly hosts. The house is a large Grade II listed property, all rooms have en-suite facilities and have all the amenities you require for a lovely overnight stay. The views from your room across the valley are absolutely stunning and completely unspoilt.
This old-school tearoom and B&B is great for walkers. The country-casual rooms feature TVs, free WiFi, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. All are on the first floor and accessed by stairs. Full English or continental breakfast is provided in the old-world tearoom on the ground floor. There's also a garden with tables, chairs and umbrellas, as well as a gift shop.
A long section of the trail where the first part of the walk continues, like previous days, alongside the Military Road, but you will notice the landscape beginning to change; from Chollerford there is a long section of uphill, after which the land assumes a more barren and wilder feel. With less human interference and development along this section, most of the wall and defences are retained, meaning your walk will be punctuated with milecastles, turrets, gatehouses, fortresses and temples. Some of these have been excavated and you can learn more from information boards and museums, such as at Chesters Roman Fort and Housesteads.
Ascent: 630m / Descent: 545m
Brookside Villa offers clean, bright, and contemporary en-suite bedrooms with all the facilities you would expect.
Built in 1860, Dacre House has served many purposes, Temperance Hotel, Board Residence, Tea Rooms and Antique Shop.
In June 2022 the house was re-opened as a luxury bed and breakfast accommodation for visitors to Gilsland.
Dacre House is situated in the centre of the village, on the Hadrian's Wall Path and near to all facilities.
Being a self-contained annexe, The Hollies offers a different and more flexible choice to your traditional B&B experience. The annexe offers you privacy to relax and has all of the extra facilities not usually included in a B&B holiday stay.
Gilsland straddles the two counties of Northumberland and Cumbria, and you might have seen the ‘Welcome to Cumbria’ sign as you crossed the River Irthing, which forms the border. Resultantly, you can expect to see some changes in the landscape. The hills will roll from one to the next. This section contains some of the best-preserved parts of the wall, and also some of the last – little of the wall remains intact west of Banks. While the drama of the middle section is now mostly behind you, Hadrian’s Wall continues to stand atop the high ground allowing views that stretch for miles in every direction, including to the Lake District to the southwest, which will keep you smiling as you wander further on.
Ascent: 185m / Descent: 265m
Howard Lodge is a friendly family run Victorian guest house located a short walk from Carlisle city centre. All the rooms are spacious, tastefully decorated and have en-suite shower rooms. The dining room which is modern, bright and airy, with many original features, will make a relaxing start to your day.
Warwick Lodge is a family run guest house in Carlisle, Caron Archibald takes great pride in her home and loves welcoming people to stay. Guest rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed with en-suite bathrooms, tea and coffee making facilities, hair dryer and a TV. Caron is known for her great breakfasts; all ingredients are locally sourced and breakfasts are all freshly cooked to order.
Melanie and Graham can assure you of a warm welcome at their Grade II Listed Victorian Guest House in Carlisle, conveniently located just 5 minutes’ walk from the city centre Cathedral and Castle. All rooms feature comfortable beds, high quality pillows and linens, as well as modern en-suites, fluffy large bath towels and luxury Elemis toiletries. Free fast wifi available throughout the guest house.
After following the River Eden out of Carlisle the route passes through Burgh by Sands and then follows the quiet road to Port Carlisle and Bowness-on-Solway. This area is regarded as an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” and the birdlife is prolific. The Kings Arms in Bowness is a great location for a celebratory drink and contemplation of your achievement.
Ascent: 15m / Descent: 30m
These stylish studio style luxury B&B apartments have everything you need for a nice relaxing break away, they are ideal for couples or small families.
Wallsend B&B provides comfortable en-suite accommodation to the weary walker. They have five guest rooms, all of which are homely, comfortable and restful. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms and are equipped with televisions, hairdryers and drinks making facilities. You are welcome to relax in their guest lounge, where the leather furnishings surround a log burning stove with the grand oak staircase rising to the first floor.
Shore Gate House used to be a corn mill and dates to 1684. This B&B provides comfortable and modern rooms that are en-suite and have all the amenities you require for a comfortable overnight stay.
After breakfast, your walking holiday will come to an end. See the travel info section for some useful details for your onward travel.
This trip has a carbon score of 8kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 8kg is equivalent to 12 pints of local beer at the bar. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?If you want to take on the challenge of a long-distance trail, with fantastically scenic walks, steeped in history, and then arrive in your comfortable and welcoming B&B’s every afternoon, feeling a sense of achievement each day, then this tour is for you.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This tour is graded anywhere between easy to moderate and strenuous, depending on which itinerary you choose. It is most suited for those walkers with previous long distance experience. The route is a mixture of paths, tracks and minor roads. Some of the paths can become very muddy and boggy and negotiating this terrain can be slow-going at times. Please read the Hadrian's Wall Code of Respect in your guidebook, which gives guidelines as to how to care for the natural environment for this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This 7-day version of the Hadrian's Wall Path is graded moderate to strenuous and is most suited for those walkers with previous long-distance experience and a good level of fitness. There are some long days with back-to-back hill climbs and descents (almost roller coaster-like in sections) - please do not underestimate walking this shorter itinerary (meaning longer walking days).
Overnight in B&B’s, small hotels and guesthouses, specifically chosen to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers and traditional hospitality.
On our full Hadrian's Walking tours, the first day’s walk to Heddon (or beyond) is one of the longer walks so many of our walkers choose to arrive early in Newcastle, drop their bags at their accommodation in Newcastle and then enjoy the 5 mile (2.5 hour) walk to Tyne Bridge that afternoon, returning by metro to Wallsend and starting again from Tyne Bridge in the following morning. If you would like to do this please let us know when you book.
Please note that Bowness has limited accommodation and transport links so many walkers choose to finish the last days walk in Bowness and then catch the bus back to Carlisle that afternoon, ready for the journey home the next day. Just let us know at the time of booking if you would prefer this option.
Accommodation Location
We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in the tour itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability, we may have to accommodate you into alternative accommodations which are not listed in the description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described.
IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE REGARDING OVERNIGHTING IN BRAMPTON - Due to very few accommodations in Lanercost/Haytongate, you will likely be staying in Brampton overnight instead. Brampton is approximately a 3-mile (5km) walk away from the Hadrian's wall trail path turn-off at Haytongate and 2.5 miles (4km) from Lanercost. You can either walk this section (adding the 3 miles / 5km to your walking day) using our supplemented walking route given in or alternatively, if your legs are feeling a bit tired or you'd rather not walk this extra section, you can instead call a local taxi company to take you to Brampton instead (number given in your tour documentation). Local cab companies generally do runs via Lanercost priory for around £10-15 depending on the time of day/year. The Priory is worth a visit in itself and also has a tearoom where you can get refreshments as you wait. The following morning, you will again have to decide if you wish to book a local taxi back to the Lanercost priory or walk via our supplemented route (again potentially adding 3 miles / 5km to your walk).
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
This tour is available to solo walkers, although a supplement is payable. If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate your request, although it is not generally possible to secure more than three single rooms in a party. A single supplement is also payable.
The Hadrian's Wall is well-waymarked and easy to follow. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure App which has maps, GPS tracks and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation on this tour will be made simple. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
Recommended Reading
Although not essential, if you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:
- Guidebook - Hadrian's Wall Path, British Walking Guide. Trailblazers
- Guidebook - Hadrian's Wall Path. Cicerone. Recommended if travelling West to East
- Map - Hadrian's Wall Path. Harvey Map
- Overnights in B&B’s, small hotels and guesthouses
- Breakfasts
- Baggage transfers
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure navigation app
- All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- 24/7 telephone support from our UK office
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Newcastle
- Travel from Bowness-on-Solway
- Lunches & Dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Extra night(s)
You can begin this long-distance walk anytime between March and October. Between these dates, the weather can be vastly different, from rain to wind to glorious days of sunshine. Please come prepared for walking in rain or shine.
Please note there are various events on throughout the year that may make availability difficult in the city of Newcastle (large concert events and the Great North Run). During these periods we recommend booking our "Best of" or Short Break Itineraries. Your adventure specialist will advise you of any difficulty in booking on particular dates.
By nature, the North of England is prone to varying types of weather throughout the year. Always be prepared for changeable conditions when walking in England. Waterproofs are essential. We recommend visiting https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ (the UK’s official source for weather warnings) before setting off each day. Do not attempt to walk any sections if any serious weather warnings are in place.
Newcastle is a major transport hub in the northeast of England and has excellent rail, road and air links from both Scotland and the South of England. It also has an airport which serves many carriers. You can take flights to and from London, and there is also a direct flight (at the time of writing this) from New York City on United Airlines.
By Rail
Newcastle is on the main East Coast rail line. A direct train from London takes approx 3 hours, or from Edinburgh takes around 1h 30m.
By Air
From outside the UK, you can fly to Newcastle with several airlines including Easyjet, KLM and Airfrance.
By Road
You can easily reach Newcastle by road too. It is a 2hr drive from Edinburgh via the East coast of Scotland or approx 3hrs from London. Car parking is quite limited but it is available at the main hotel we use in Newcastle which is £12 per night. Parking there is on a first-come, first-served basis and unfortunately cannot be reserved. You can also find a list of off-street parking locations here - https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/parking-and-permits/car-parks-and-street-parking/street-parking-places-order-city-centre
Bowness has limited accommodation and transport links so many walkers choose to finish the last day's walk in Bowness and then catch the bus back to Carlisle that afternoon for a second night in Carlisle, ready for the journey home from Carlisle the following morning. Just let us know at the time of booking if you would prefer this option.
The Stagecoach Bus Service 93 connects Bowness-on-Solway and Carlisle (the main transport hub for connecting travel). Please ensure you check the bus timetables in advance as it is a limited service that runs around three times a day - also, no buses run between Bowness-on-Solway and Carlisle on Sundays/bank holidays (so please keep this in mind when booking). Local taxi services are the only other option (we provide numbers in your information pack).
From Carlisle, there are excellent transport links to all major cities across both Scotland and the south of England.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
The distances listed are an approximation of daily walk lengths.
You may also notice that the total overall distance varies on our different itineraries - this is due to where you overnight along the way. Some examples of this - on our shortest (full) Hadrian's Wall Path itinerary (7 Day) you will remain on the Hadrian's Wall path for large sections meaning you will not detour off to overnight in places such as Once Brewed (which means you don't add in the extra mileages of coming off and back onto the Hadrian's Wall Path). Or on our longest (full) Hadrian's Wall Path itinerary (10-day), there is a 3-mile (out and back) detour to overnight in Corbridge that you would otherwise skip on our other itineraries.
Diversions on the Hadrian’s Wall Path
No matter what year you are due to walk Hadrian’s Wall Path you are likely to find some minor diversions in place along the way – this can be for a mixture of reasons, from forestry work, path resurfacing, damage after a storm or just general trail maintenance. Normally this will be a logical path that skirts around the effected section, and you should be back on the official trail path in no time at all. If there are any major diversions in place, the Macs Adventure team will reach out to you to let you know. Please always respect any diversion in place and ensure you follow them for your own safety.
Online Documents
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.
On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen etc. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walk boots, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a daypack.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
We suggest you book as soon as know your plans as Hadrians Wall is extremely popular especially over April/May and July/August.
We offer a range of itineraries so you can choose your preferred daily distance and hopefully you will find an itinerary that suits your level of fitness. If you currently don’t enjoy an active lifestyle, we suggest regular walking in hilly terrain supplemented by cardiovascular exercise for at least six months before your walk.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto the next overnight location. Just leave them in the reception area of your accommodation, and they will be collected while you are out walking and delivered for your arrival. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of 20kgs per person.
If you want to take advantage of the AD122, the Hadrian’s Wall bus to see other sights, or perhaps have a non-walking day, please check out the information on the Hadrian’s Wall website. It is possible to download a timetable which you may then carry with you.
If you arrive in Newcastle early, you may like to walk the first 5 miles today, reducing your walking for the second day. Arrive at the Segedunum Roman Fort, where the walk officially begins. Perhaps spend some time in the museum before heading out along the trail. On reaching the Millennium Bridge, you will have walked almost 5 miles and can either chose to continue or take the nearby bus and train links to your hotel. The next morning you can start here and enjoy a shorter day.
The honest truth is that there is no right or wrong way to walk the Hadrian's Wall, it's really a personal preference but it can often be a bit of a contentious subject to those who have walked it in the past! At Macs we tend to recommend walking it east to west (if you had to put us on the spot!) but we do offer the tour walking in both "west to east" and "east to west" directions. The commonly known "benefits" of walking in a particular way are as follows:
East to West (Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway)
- The Romans built the wall from east to west, starting at the North Sea and going to the Irish Sea, so many walkers do it this way as it gives the sense of you are following the same path that the Roman soldiers did when they constructed it
- There are some great museums - Great Hancock and Segedunum Fort - in Newcastle that give a wonderful context to the history and culture of the walk before you start (as opposed to finish).
- Easier connections to Newcastle from Airports/train stations at the start (so if you have a long flight for example, you don't need to make your way to Bowness-on-Solway in the evening or potentially spend an extra night in Newcastle). it's also argued that it's nicer to walk out of a big industrial city into the fresh air of the countryside as opposed to finishing in it.
West to East (Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend)
- The main reason for walking it west to east is that the prevailing winds in Northern England generally blow from the Atlantic (west to east), meaning you will have the wind at your back for most of the journey, which of course makes things a little easier.
- The trail is deemed a little easier also as the terrain is more downhill if you walk it west to east.
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers do not accept pets.
You can use public transport, the Hadrians Wall bus or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop.
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a day pack and hats/gloves etc.
The Hadrians Wall Walk is offered anytime between March and October. The weather can be variable whenever you decide to go since the wall is in northern England and the weather is often unpredictable!
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Hadrian's Wall Path
Hadrian's Wall Path follows the route of the UNESCO world heritage wall, built to keep the "barbarians" (Scots!) out of Roman territory. This outstanding historical site is punctuated with milecastles, museums and recreations, not to mention some of the best walking in England.
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WalkingEating and Drinking on the Hadrian's Wall WalkRead More3 Min Read03 April 2018
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WalkingHadrian's Wall Walk - Frequently Asked Questions.Read More3 Min Read02 April 2018
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CyclingWeekly Cycle: Hadrian's CyclewayRead More1 Min Read22 July 2015
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Sustainable TravelTaking care of Hadrian's Wall: Protecting the wall and pathRead More2 Min Read10 May 2021
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WalkingDiscovering Hadrian's Wall (inspired by Robson Green!)Read More1 Min Read19 January 2021
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Save %7 Days 6 Nights
Best of Hadrian's Wall Path - West to East - 7 Days & 6 Nights
Discover the best of Hadrian's Wall Path over five walking days, from Carlisle to Corbridge.Highlights- Explore the highlights of Hadrian's Wall Path.
- Wild and beautiful landscapes.
- View forts, turrets and milecastles en route.
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Save %14 Days 13 Nights
Coast to Coast Walk - 14 Days & 13 Nights
The original Coast to Coast itinerary. A challenging option, suitable for experienced walkers.Highlights- The challenging original Coast to Coast itinerary
- Mountains, lakes, hills, wild moors and pub
- Enjoy the camaraderie with fellow walkers
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Save %8 Days 7 Nights
Cotswold Way - 8 Days & 7 Nights
More suited for experienced walkers, complete the Cotswold Way over 6 long-mileage days.Highlights- See honey-coloured Cotswold villages
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- Enjoy a well-deserved pint at a local pub