Hadrian’s Wall Path (9 days, 8 nights)
Price (from)
Difficulty
Tour information
A slightly extended hiking tour along the iconic Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail runs from coast to coast, between the tidal River Tyne at Newcastle in the east and the Solway Firth, west of Carlisle, alongside this magnificent ancient monument.
This is an iconic trail and ideal for your first walking holiday, especially at a more leisurely pace.
Included/Excluded
- Accommodation at the stated category with breakfast
- Luggage Transfers
- Full Tour Pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS routes
- 24-hr emergency helpline
- Lunch, Dinner & Drinks
- Entrance to attractions
- Buses, Taxis and/or Ferries unless otherwise stated
- Tourist taxes where applicable
Itinerary
Arrive in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and stay overnight
Walking alongside the River Tyne, you will start your journey. Make your way out of Newcastle's city centre, then slowly make your way up to the charming village of Heddon-on-the-Wall.
Heddon-on-the-Wall contains the longest section of unbroken wall at its original (and planned width). Hadrian's wall was later built narrower to save both time and money.
Overnight in Heddon-on-the-Wall.
From Heddon-on-the-Wall, you will join the old Roman road and pass by Vindolanda Roman fort, where the famous 'Vindolanda tablets' were discovered, which cast light on life on the northern frontier of Roman Britain.
Passing by Harlow Hill and East Wallhouses, you will walk parallel to the B6318 which replaced Hadrian's Wall. Reach Chollerford and enjoy a well-earned break.
Overnight in Chollerford.
Start the day by passing Chesters Museum, an important stop on the wall, then use the Roman road to reach Tower Tye (also known as Milecastle 29). This is one of the most spectacular stretches of wall so keep your eyes peeled for the views.
After Shield, you will reach rugged countryside filled with Roman ruins and forts. This section ends at Steel Rigg Peel Crags, near to Once Brewed. Ensure you visit the nearby Vindolanda fort for an insight into Roman Britain.
Overnight in Once Brewed.
This starts with a climb to Winshields Crags, which is the most strenuous part of the day, but worth it for the stunning views and some of the best-preserved sections of Hadrian's Wall.
You will eventually end up in Gilsland, a village that straddles the border between Cumbria and Northumberland.
Overnight in Gilsland.
From Gilsland you will follow a section of the wall to Birdoswald. The Roman fort here is well worth a look and breaks up your journey nicely.
Continue up the hill to Banks and onto Newtown.
You will finish today's walk in Brampton, a pretty market town.
Overnight in Brampton.
Enjoy the stunning countryside views before you reach the historic city of Carlisle. There is lots to see and do, we recommend stopping off at the Grade I listed cathedral as your first stop.
Overnight in Carlisle.
Follow the path of the River Eden out of Carlisle. The route winds its way to Burgh by Sands and then onto Port Carlisle and Bowness-on-Solway.
The Solway Coast National Landscape is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) at the western end of Hadrian's Wall so its well worth spending time here, enjoying the varied ornithological delights and celebrating your achievement. You've just walked Hadrian's Wall!
Overnight Bowness-on-Solway.
Travel home from Bowness-on-Solway.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to the start of my tour?
Most UK travel destinations are accessible by public transport.
However, some of the locations are quite rural and may require a car or taxi to reach the starting point.
Our tours do not include travel to the starting point as standard but if you would like specific travel to be include in your trip please let our team know.
Not quite sure where to start? Contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your travel plans.
Do I have to walk/cycle every day of my trip?
Absolutely not! You can enjoy additional stop overs at various points along the tour if you would like more time to explore the local area.
We can also add additional days to the start and end of your trip to allow you to explore and relax.
If you would like to add rest days or additional nights to your trip please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your specific requirements. We’re happy to tailor your trip to suit you!
How does the luggage transfer service work?
We offer a luggage transfer service across most of our tours so you don’t have to worry about your luggage during your vacation. We pick up your luggage on the morning you are moving accommodation and take it direct to your next stop.
How far can I walk or cycle each day?
How far you choose to travel each day depends on your individual fitness levels and how long you want to spend walking or cycling.
We have a wide range of tours to suit all fitness levels.
All our itineraries specify the daily mileage and the difficulty level of the tour.
If you would like to make adjustments to a tour to suit your specific needs, please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss a bespoke tour. We are good at this!
What about places to eat?
All our tours come with bed and breakfast as standard.
In some more remote locations, accommodation providing breakfast may not be possible but we will find you somewhere to get breakfast nearby. This will be covered in the price of your trip.
Our tours do not include lunch and dinner as standard, though some accommodations do offer packed lunches and dinner options at an additional charge. Please let us know if you would like this option when booking.
How fit do I have to be?
Our tours all vary in degrees of hardness.
We specify the difficulty level of all of our tours on our website. The itineraries also give an indication of the gradients travelled on any given day.
If you would like to discuss this in more detail with our travel experts please contact us prior to booking.
What ages do you cater for?
Both our walking and cycling tours can cater for travellers of all ages. Distance is listed on each of the tours. If you are unsure about the distance covered, please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642.
All of our routes have been tried and tested by our expert team with lots of stop-offs and attractions so younger members of the team can rest and enjoy all that’s on offer. Please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642 at the time of booking to discuss your exact requirements.
Cycling equipment
We have a large range of bikes and accessories suited to adults and budding cyclists. We also offer a tag along (tandem) (please note it is not fully enclosed and waterproof but a single wheeled bike that attaches to the adult bike). We can also provide fully enclosed and waterproof trailers for younger children.
What day can I start my tour?
Most of our tours can be taken at any time but there are some which start on specific days which are usually Saturday to Saturday.
To find out more information, please call our expert travel team on +44 (0) 1242 250 642 or email info@compass-holidays.com.
What type of accommodation is included?
Our holidays are priced with 3* hotel, B&B as standard. These accommodations are hand picked for our tours.
Where a bespoke or luxury option is required please contact us on +44 (0) 1242 250642.
