Hadrian's Wall Short Break - West to East

Tour Type:

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!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

Activity Level & Terrain

Our short break tour is graded moderate. 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 of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Navigation

The Hadrian's Wall is well-waymarked and easy to follow. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone 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 and you cannot get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.

• 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 smartphone 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 Gilsland
• Travel from Corbridge
• Lunches & Dinners
• Drinks and snacks
• Personal equipment

• Extra night(s)

When To Go

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.

Weather and Climate

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.

Getting to the Start

Our short break west to east itinerary starts in Gilsland. There are various options to get to Gilsland that mainly will involve you getting a train to Carlisle/Newcastle/Corbridge and then a connecting train to Haltwhistle, From Haltwhistle you can catch a bus or taxi to Gilsland (this information is noted in your information pack). Please note: Sundays and bank holidays, train services are less frequent and the bus from Haltwhistle to Gilsland does not operate.

For the most up-to-date information on train timetables, we recommend checking www.trainline.com for your proposed travel dates/times.

Getting from the End

Our Short break west to east itinerary ends in Corbridge, which is easily accessible by train to Newcastle. Trains run approximately every half an hour and the journey can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on if they are direct or not.  Please note, Sundays and bank holidays, train services are less frequent.

For the most up-to-date information on train timetables, we recommend checking www.trainline.com for your proposed travel dates/times. 

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).

Luggage Transfer

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.

General Information

The distances listed are an approximation of daily walk lengths.

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.

Equipment

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.

Travel Insurance

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.