A Travel Guide for How to Walk and Camp Along the Hadrian’s Wall Path
22 Minute Read
Hadrian’s Wall Path is a National Trails hiking and walking route that runs 84 miles across the north of England from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend.
The path follows alongside the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall. A famous landmark built in AD 122 at the height of the Roman Empire by Emperor Hadrian to keep the marauding hordes of northern Britannia at bay.
The Hadrian’s Wall Path crosses through a range of spectacular landscapes particularly in the middle section which runs through Northumberland National Park.
The route is a point to point hike and can normally be walked in 7 days. There are numerous Roman historical sites and the opportunity to see some of the best preserved fortifications in Britain today.
Using this in-depth travel guide should tell you everything you need to know for how to walk and camp the amazing Hadrian’s Wall Path yourself.
You can either skip through to certain sections you want information on, or you can read the whole thing and learn everything you need to know about walking and camping along Hadrian’s Wall.
- Where to Start?
- How to Get There?
- How to Find Your Way Around?
- Where to Stay?
- What to Pack?
- What to See?
- Is it Safe?
- Pubs and Cafes
- Day to Day Itinerary
- Bonus Tips
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See also:
How to Walk the Pembrokeshire Coast Path
How to Walk the South Downs Way
Multi-day Hike Kit List
1. Where to Start?
The first thing to take into consideration is what direction you want to walk the wall. At one end is Bowness-on-Solway which is just outside the city of Carlisle. On the other side is Wallsend which in the outskirts of Newcastle.
The Wall was built from east to west and so most guidebooks suggest you walk in that direction. I however walked from west to east because of one main reason: the prevailing wind blows to the east. This means if you walk from Bowness to Wallsend, you will have the wind at your back going with you and the weather in your favour.
The next thing to decide is whether you want to camp, stay in BnBs, stay in bunkhouses, or a mix of all three. I decided to camp along the whole route so this guide provides a lot of information for campers. However, much of the information is applicable to all walkers and I give some details on a variety of accommodation options.
2. How to Get There
Fly
There is a small domestic airport on the outskirts of Carlisle known as the Carlisle Lake District Airport. Alternatively there is an international airport in Newcastle with flights from all over the UK and rest of the world. If you want to compare flight times and prices, Skyscanner is a helpful website to use.
Train
Carlisle and Newcastle both have stations that run National Rail trains with direct trains available from London in 3 – 4 hours. There is also a train that goes directly between Carlisle and Newcastle every hour stopping at many of the towns along the Wall if you only want to visit a certain section.
Bus
If you’re looking for a slightly cheaper option there are National Express busses that go from London Victoria directly to Newcastle, but there are no direct services to Carlisle. The busses are also very long and not particularly cheap considering the time they take.
When you arrive in Carlisle, you’ll want to take Bus 93 from Carlisle Bus Station to get to Bowness-on-Solway and the start of the trail.
If you are already up at the Wall, the AD 122 shuttle bus service can be very useful for getting about to different areas if you don’t wish to hike the whole way.
Car
Weighing up all these options I decided to drive to Carlisle, park my car, walk the Wall, then take the train back from Newcastle and collect my car in Carlisle to drive home. It seemed the easiest, fastest, and cheapest option and it went off without a hitch.
However, I was stuck with the issue of where to park my car for the week! Thankfully a website called Your Parking Space came to my aid. I paid £12.50 to park my car in a Sainsbury’s car park of all places, and had the use of it for a month!
I’m not going to lie, I was slightly concerned it wasn’t legit or my car would get towed, but no, 7 days later I returned to the car park and there it was! So this is a great option and one I’d recommend using if you can.
3. How to Find Your Way Around?
The first thing to remember is that you’re walking in one direction, in my case: west to east. This is something you should always bear in mind when trying to navigate yourself.
Aside from this, it’s really easy to know where you’re going as the path is under the protection of National Trails who maintain, signpost, and monitor any diversions in the trail.
All you need to do is look out for the acorn. On walls, posts, signs, fences, and all sorts of structures you will see an acorn indicating the direction of the path. There are also plenty of clear signs pointing towards Hadrian’s Wall / Hadrian’s Wall Path / Hadrian’s Way.
You can also see where people have been walking by the trodden grass and this can be an indicator to keep you on track. (Although be aware, there are other walking routes in the area so don’t exclusively use this tactic otherwise you might find yourself on the Pennine Way!)
There were a couple of times when I lost sight of a sign but the tip I would give is to not turn off, just keep following the same direction or have a little look around and you’ll definitely see a marker somewhere. It’s really easy and I didn’t get hopelessly lost once.
You can always order an OS map. I saw lots of people doing this on the trail, I just didn’t find it necessary myself. There are lots of farmers and locals around who are very friendly and will happily point you in the right direction, so don’t worry about getting lost!
4. Where to Stay?
When I was first planning this trip I thought I wanted to wild camp along the whole trail. This technically isn’t allowed in most National Parks and should only be done if you’re discrete, arrive late and leave early, and you’re in an area of reasonable wilderness.
Because of these reasons, wild camping on the Hadrian’s Wall Path really isn’t feasible. There are two days which are spent near Carlisle and Newcastle providing few spaces to camp, and a lot of the trail is either protected or a farmer’s field. Much of the route is exposed and it was tricky to see any good camping spots.
If you really insist, I have a post on wild camping in the uk you may find useful.
Instead there are a number of great campsites you can stay in along the trail. Below is a complete list I got from the Carlisle Tourist Information Centre, with some extra sites added in that I came across on my walk!
I would advise you to plan your walking days based on where you want to stay each night because there are some long sections with no campsites and you don’t want to get stranded!
Most you don’t have to book ahead and can just turn up, but it never harms to send off a quick email or give them a call before you get there just to double check!
Campsite list (located west to east):
Wallsend Guest House, Wigwams and Campsite
Bowness-on-Solway, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 5AF
01697351055
Roman Wall Lodges
Beaumont, Carlisle, CA5 6ED
07784736423
Highfield Farm
Boustead Hill, Burgh by Sands, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA5 6AA
01228576060
07976170538
Cottage & Glendale Holiday Park
Port Carlisle, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA7 5DJ
01697351317
Stonewalls Campsite
Stonewalls, Laversdale, Carlisle, CA6 4PJ
01228573666
Green Acres Caravan Park
High Knells, Houghton, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA6 4JW
01228675418
Dandy Dinmont Caravan and Camping Site
Blackford, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA6 4EA
01228674611
Bleatarn Farm Caravan & Campsite
Bleatarn Farm, Irthington, CA6 4ND
07795490579
Irthing Vale Caravan Park
Old Church Ln, Brampton, CA8 2AA
07715904321
Sandysike Bunkhouse Hostel
Sandysike House, Walton, Brampton CA8 2DU
01697507067
07725645929
Quarry Side Camping
Banks, Brampton, CA8 2JH
0169772538
Brampton Wigwam® Holidays
New Mills, Brampton, CA8 2QS
01697741115
Holmhead Guest House
Greenhead, Brampton, CA8 7HY
01697747402
Winshields Farm Campsite
Twice Brewed, Military Road, Bardon Mill, Hexham, NE47 7AN
07968102780
Seldom Seen Caravan Park
Haltwhistle, NE49 0NE
01434320571
Herding Hill Farm – Caravan, Camping & Glamping Site
Shield Hill, Haltwhistle, NE49 9NW
01434320175
Haltwhistle Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Park Village, Burnfoot, Haltwhistle, NE49 0JP
01434320106
Hadrian’s Wall Caravan & Campsite
Tilery, Melkridge, Haltwhistle, NE49 9PG
01434320495
Brockalee Farm Caravan Site
Brockalee Farm, Bardon Mill, NE47 7JT
01434344427
Riverside Leisure (Hexham) Ltd
Tyne Green, Hexham, NE46 3RY
01434604705
Greencarts Campsite and Bunkhouse
Greencarts Farm, Hexham, NE46 4BW
01434681320
Fallowfield Dene Caravan & Camping
Acomb, Hexham, NE46 4RP
01434603553
Causey Hill Holiday Park
Causey Hill Holiday Park, Causey Hill Rd, Hexham, NE46 2JN
01434213214
Wellhouse Farm
Newton, Stocksfield, NE43 7UY
01661842193
ROBIN HOOD INN
Military Road, East Wallhouses, NE18 0LL
01434672549
The High Hermitage
The Hermitage, Main Rd, Ovingham, Prudhoe, NE42 6HH
07974461053
Northside Farm
Northside Farm, Horsley, NE15 0LZ
07904119327
Stephenson’s Arms Camping and Caravanning
Stephenson’s Arms, Wylam, NE41 8ED
07932555369
There are plenty of lovely countryside BnBs and bunkhouses that you can stay in along the route too. These are worth booking well in advance though as lots of them were full when I was planning my walk. Most of these accommodation options are on Booking.com if you want to see what’s available in the area.
Alternatively, head over to the National Trail Hadrian’s Wall Path website for an extended list of all accommodation options.
5. What to Pack?
It can be overwhelming to know what to take with you on a multi-day hike like this. There’s the complication of needing to take camping gear and food with you but also needing your bag to be as light as possible. Be ruthless and leave behind whatever you don’t think you’ll absolutely need.
Avoid cotton, have multiple layers, and make sure you have waterproof options.
One of the most important things to look after on your hike are your feet. Over the years I’ve found hiking boots to be too clunky and heavy when hiking. I now opt for trail running shoes and my feet have never been more comfortable.
I also use webbed socks that are synthetic as I find this gives my toes space when I’m walking and they are quick drying to reduce moisture build up making sure I don’t get blisters!
The weather on the trail is very temperamental and you’re likely to be hit with rain and wind, so make sure you pack a good amount of waterproofs. I don’t use rain trousers or a rain jacket and instead prefer a poncho as it covers myself and my bag, but this is down to personal preference. I also use a rain cover on my bag just for that extra bit of protection.
As you’re going to be walking with your camping equipment, you’ll want to go as light as you can whilst not overspending. I use a Coleman 2-man tent which I’ve found to be a good compromise between price, durability, and light pack weight.
I sleep on a Backture sleeping mat which serves to keep me comfortable and warm. I really wouldn’t recommend going camping without having an inflatable mat. They really are essential if you want a good nights sleep. The same goes for a blow up pillow and it’s always an idea to bring a microfibre towel for the moments when you get a campsite with a shower.
I use a Vango 3-season sleeping bag which is mummy-shaped. It’s probably not as small as I’d like it to be but without being a down sleeping bag it still packs down reasonably well and keeps me very comfortable even on colder nights.
My cooking set involves a camp stove, camping gas, and a 400ml stainless steel camping cup. It packs down pretty small and holds enough water for one person to cook a meal.
I mostly eat porridge in the morning with a coffee/tea then at night I cook a pasta or rice pouch for dinner. I eat lots of snacks throughout the day including trail bars, nuts, and beef jerky.
To carry all this equipment I use an Osprey Exos 48 backpack which managed to fit all my gear and food for the 7 day hike with some room to spare.
See also:
Multi-day Hike Kit List
Day Hiking Gear Essentials
6. What to See?
The reason this walk is so great is because you have all the usual views of rugged national parks, rolling hills, bristling forests, and meandering rivers, with the added bonus of exceptional historical sites to guide you through. There’s a pilgrimage feeling to this walk as you follow in the footsteps of those who would have walked the Wall’s battlements thousands of years ago.
Most of the sites do cost around £10, which means you can quickly stack up an expensive trip if you wish to visit every site. If this is something you really want to do, it could be more worth it to just buy a membership. This membership can then be used across all English Heritage sites.
There a many smaller sections of the Wall, gatehouses, guard towers, temples, and towns that you will pass on your walk. Far too many to list so instead I’ll try and focus on some of the highlights.
Carlisle Castle
This 900 year old castle is steeped in medieval history due to its close proximity to Scotland. Time and again it was besieged by the Scottish and fought over by leaders such as Robert the Bruce and Edward I of England who died nearby at Burgh by Sands. Not Roman history like the rest of the Wall but a good place to visit when starting your walk. Tickets can be bought from the English Heritage website.
Carlisle Cathedral
As you’re already in Carlisle I recommend you pop into the beautiful cathedral. It’s free to visit and I suggest you spend a little while walking around its quiet aisles admiring the stain glass windows and ornate architecture.
Lanercost Priory
Another English Heritage site; this gorgeous 14th century monastery was also embroiled in the Anglo-Scottish wars yet remains one of northern Britain’s best preserved priory’s following The Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII. I didn’t go inside but walked around the outside to view the incredible arches and old structures of this amazing building. It’s close to the Wall path and acts as a good resting point along the trail.
Birdoswald
These are the first significant remains of a Roman fortification that you will see on the walk. The fort is still being excavated and there is the opportunity to walk around the original structure. It was one of the best preserved of the 16 Roman forts along the Wall. Geographically it is in a great location as between here and Banks the Wall begins to rise up along the ridge providing you with the best sights on your walk so far!
Thirlwall Castle
At the entranceway to Northumberland National Park stands the ruins of a 12th century castle with an interesting history. It was held by the Thirlwall family for hundreds of years and was presumably under attack numerous times but due to it’s strong fortifications managed to remain strong. It is right on the Wall path and so no detour is required to wander through its remains.
Vindolanda
Another spectacular Roman archeological site with a museum containing numerous artefacts including the Vindolanda Tablets which, at the time of their discovery, were the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain. This fort is particularly interesting because it also has the remains of an old military bath house. Be aware, this is not on the Hadrian’s Wall Path and you will have to take a detour south of the trail to get there!
Housteads
This is one of the most dramatic historical sites on the Wall. It is set on an escarpment in the centre of Northumberland National Park. The ruins are epic in proportion and you can see the layout of what would have been this grand auxiliary fort including the town that sprung up around it. There is also a small museum but the main attraction is the remains of the fort that you walk around.
Chesters
More remains of another Roman fort, this time in the town of Chollerford. This site is famed for being the best preserved cavalry fort along Hadrian’s Wall. Also included at this site is a museum displaying artefacts from the area and further along the wall.
Corbridge Roman Town
A large Roman garrison and museum in the historical town of Corbridge. This site was less about fortifications and defence and more a town for Roman soldiers and civilians thus providing a different perspective on what Roman life may have been like along the Wall. However, Corbridge is a big diversion away from the Wall and should only reasonably be accessed by taxi or bus as walking would add an extra day into your trip.
Segedunum
Marking the end of Hadrian’s Wall Path at Wallsend in Newcastle is the Segedunum Roman Fort. It is the easternmost portion of the Wall touching the banks of the River Tyne. There is a museum and observation tower overlooking the foundations of the fort. Segedunum will either mark the start or the finish of your Hadrian’s Wall Path walk.
7. Is it Safe?
As with any walk or hike there are the usual hazards associated with being outdoors. This can range from more common injuries such as blisters, bruises, and strains up to more severe injuries such as bone breakages and hypothermia.
The National Trail is well maintained and in good condition. Of course there are still areas which are steep and sections that are crumbling or slippery. It is advisable to be at a reasonable standard of fitness to complete the full trail as it is a physical ordeal walking for many hours a day, back to back, over varying terrain and inclines/declines.
There are various things you can do to mitigate the dangers of hiking. It’s very important you stretch and limber up before each days walk and warm down at the end of the day. This minimises the chance of getting any strains or pulling muscles.
I also recommend you bring a small medical kit with you to cover yourself in terms of any injuries. The medical kit should include the following items:
- Paracetamol – or any other painkiller
- Ibuprofen – or any other anti-inflammatory
- Hay fever/allergy tablets
- Bandages and gauze
- Plasters (waterproof and durable) – various sizes
- Blister plasters
- Bandaging tape
- Alcohol swaps
- Vaseline or any soothing lip salve (make sure it includes SPF)
- Imodium – or any other diarrhoea relief
- Rehydration salts and diarrhoea relief
You won’t have phone signal in some places on the route but it’s still important to keep your phone charged in case you do need to call for help. For this I recommend using a portable phone charger.
Although you pass through towns and villages, it’s good practice to carry more water and food than you think you’ll need to keep yourself covered should anything go wrong. Also always carry an extra layer of warm clothing to slip on incase there is a turn in the weather.
Of course, you shouldn’t walk at night or during particularly stormy/foggy weather to ensure you don’t get lost. It’s a good idea to tell people where you’re going and to give friends or family an idea of your daily itinerary if you’re walking alone.
Overall the trail is very safe. There are quite a few people you meet on the route and there’s always a local farmer or town close by if you need any help urgently.
See also:
10 Hiking Safety Tips
Camping can be quite scary, particularly if you are wild camping alone, but all the campsites I went to felt safe and secure with lots of nice travellers and walkers also staying who were willing to keep me company and share stories of our days walk.
If you are looking to get covered with travel insurance then I recommend using World Nomads. There’s lots of different options, including special hiking cover, and if you want to find out more information head over to their website here.
8. Pubs and Cafes
Even if you’re camping, you’re going to want to know where your closest pubs and cafes are. This way you know where to stop in for a drink in the evening or on a rainy day for a hot bowl of soup and a cup of tea.
On my first night, I stayed at the Roman Wall Lodges in Monkhill and was pleased to find that only a few minutes walk down the road was a cosy inn called The Drovers Rest serving local ales.
On my second day, as I walked through Carlisle, I stopped in at Whyte’s Cafe Bar to have a delicious lunch before I continued my sightseeing around the city.
The following day, as I trudged through Walton, soaked to the skin from heavy rain, I decided to rest up at the Walton Reading Room Cafe to charge my phone and get some breakfast. The lady who owned the cafe was very friendly and happy to talk to me about some areas to visit along the wall whilst cooking me bacon and eggs on toast.
When visiting the Lanercost Priory, I dropped in to the Lanercost Tea Room to get a hot coffee to warm my cold fingers after a long day out in the wind and rain.
Passing through Gilsland on yet another rainy morning I came across the House of Meg cafe and was lured in by the smell of cooking bacon. I stopped off for 15 minutes to get an enormous breakfast bap which helped fuel me for the day’s walking!
After a long tiring day of walking up and down hills in Northumberland, I arrived in Once Brewed and set up my tent to the vistas of the rugged landscape about me. Thankfully, I’d booked a spot for dinner at The Twice Brewed Inn and devoured a delicious steak pie, washed down with a few pints of local golden ale. This place books up due to it’s stunning location in the centre of the trail, so definitely reserve in advance.
On my second to last day I covered a long stretch of the trail and was pleased to have the Robin Hood Inn to stop in at for lunch. I sat in the garden and rested up preparing for the final stretch of the day.
If you dip south of the trail to camp in Wylam for the night before you head into Newcastle, then I recommend visiting The Boathouse which is a great place to get a pint next to the River Tyne.
All these great places to eat and drink at broke up the route nicely and meant I wasn’t completely dependant on my stove for cooking!
See also:
Hiking Food for a Week – What to Eat
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Bowness on Solway to Monkhill
Distance: 16km
Campsite: Roman Wall Lodges
Price: £10
Today’s your first day on the walk, and what a place to start! You should’ve arrived in Carlisle at some time during the day and now you need to get to Bowness-on-Solway to start the trail. To do this, head to the Carlisle central bus station and catch the 93 bus. Within an hour you should arrive at the start of the Hadrian’s Wall Path.
You will notice the King’s Head Pub which is where many people have a drink to celebrate finishing if they are walking east to west. In this case you need to look for the signs pointing to Hadrian’s Wall promenade. Down beside the water, you will find a plinth and a wooden shelter wishing you good luck on your walk.
From here you follow the route as it tracks away from the Irish Sea, east and inland. Enjoy the views out across to Scotland and don’t rush this section as it’s a unique part of the trail.
Before long you will depart from the estuarine path and follow a grass side path down a long road heading for Burgh by Sands. Use this time to walk slowly, stretch, adjust the straps on your bag, and just generally get comfortable with how you’re walking. The route is flat and a relatively short distance so acts as a good warm up.
Soon you will take a turn off to Roman Wall Lodges where you will be camping for the night. Pitch your tent then head to the Drovers Inn for a pint to celebrate the start of your Hadrian’s Wall Path walk.
Day 2: Monkhill to Laversdale
Distance: 21 km
Campsite: Bleatarn Farm Campsite
Price: ~£10
Rise early and do your morning stretches because this is your first proper day of walking. The path crosses through a patchwork of fields filled with grazing livestock before joining the River Eden walking path leading into Carlisle.
Spend a couple of hours walking around the city, having lunch, visiting the Carlisle Cathedral and Castle, and stocking up on any last minute supplies for your walk. When satisfied, follow the trail out of the city alongside the River Eden.
The path is still reasonably flat but it’ll be hard on your feet from a lot of road and pavement walking. You’ll also still be warming up to wearing your pack and covering long distances each day.
Leaving Carlisle behind you’ll again cross through numerous fields and outcrops of forests. Unfortunately when I did the walk, Bleatarn Campsite weren’t accepting campers from COVID and I was forced to wild camp in the area. So be sure to check this before you go. If it is still not open to campers I recommend booking a BnB for this night instead!
Day 3: Laversdale to Banks
Distance: 18 km
Campsite: Quarryside Camping
Price: £5
This is a short day, and you’ll have to make up for this distance in future days so make sure you enjoy it! Spend some time in the Lanercost Priory and get some food or a hot drink either in the Walton Reading Room Cafe or the Lanercost Tea Room.
This night you’ll stay in the Quarryside campsite which is very basic and is really just a field to pitch your tent with no shops or pubs nearby. So don’t rush to get there as you might find yourself sitting about in the evening.
This section is exciting because you get your first glimpse of Wall remains at Banks and this is the moment the landscape begins to build and roll into a hills. As a result you will climb some ridges and be rewarded with your first views across the countryside including views over to the North Pennines in the distance.
Day 4: Banks to Once Brewed
Distance: 23 km
Campsite: Winshields Farm Campsite
Price: £10
Today you can look forward to one of the two must stunning days of your Hadrian’s Wall Path walk as you cross into Northumberland National Park. For the next couple of days you will almost exclusively follow alongside the actual remains of the Wall as it crests ridges and traverses the wild landscapes.
You’ll give your legs and feet a proper work out in the process but you’ll be so captivated by the views that you won’t mind. There are numerous turrets, forts, and battlements that you’ll pass on this stretch of the walk including the Birdoswald fort.
The path follows the River Irthing before heading over the site of a Roman bridge crossing and continuing on into the National Park. You’ll walk past Thirlwall Castle and Walltown Quarry before climbing the striking Walltown Crags.
To get to the campsite you drop down the valley side and you’ll arrive at Winshields at the bottom (it’s signposted from the path). Enjoy your evening here because it was the most picturesque campsite I stayed in and with the Twice Brewed Inn pub in close proximity it really offered everything!
Day 5: Once Brewed to Walwick
Distance: 20 km
Campsite: Greencarts Farm
Price: £8
Today has the potential to be the busiest day of your Hadrian’s Wall Path walk. To start with, you will leave the campsite and rejoin the trail by climbing up the steep valley wall. You’ll then come to a trig point marking the highest position of the wall at Winshields (345m).
From here you can take a diversion back down the valley to Vindolanda. If you do so, be sure to retrace your footsteps so you don’t miss the iconic Sycamore Gap, as seen in the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. You’ll then press on to Housesteads Roman Fort nestled high on an escarpment in the middle of the Hadrian’s Wall Path.
For the rest of the day you’ll follow the path with sublime views out over the loughs and fields of Northumberland National Park. The trail will steadily slope down and flatten out which will be a relief to your aching legs as you approach the end of the National Park.
At the end of the day, a short diversion from the trail will find you at the Greencarts Farm campsite. Again there are no shops, cafes, or pubs nearby, but by this point you’ll probably be exhausted and fall straight to sleep like I did!
Day 6: Walwick to Wylam
Distance: 31.71 km
Campsite: Stephenson’s Arms Camping & Caravanning
Price: £20
This day is a tricky one to figure out due to where the campsites are located. I would say the distance walked is much too long. You have to take a diversion to Wylam away from the Wall and the campsite is expensive.
The closer you get to Newcastle, the fewer campsites there are. The Robin Hood Inn is a lovely pub and they also do camping but if you stay there you’ll most likely have to add an extra day into your walk. This also still means you have to divert south of the trail to Wylam if you want to camp at the Stephenson’s Arms the following night but it does save your legs.
All things considered, it may be worth booking a BnB at Heddon on the Wall or somewhere in that area instead! Either way your final day of walking to get to Wallsend is going to be long.
As for the walk, thankfully by this point you’re going downhill and along flat paths. A lot of the trail is smooth grass, some pavement, and is relatively easy to walk. You may be in top condition and eating away the miles or you might be carrying niggles and injuries and feel exhausted. Listen to your body and let that make your decision of how hard to push yourself on this stretch.
The countryside is much more groomed but no less picturesque along this section. The road walking picks up again as you inch closer to Newcastle and you’ll pass through more villages and towns. I enjoyed the marvellous countryside even though it was less rugged than Northumberland. There are some tough sections along the B6318.
Day 7: Wylam to Wallsend
Distance: 25 km
So here it is, the final day and the home stretch.
The morning begins with you following a path along the River Tyne from Wylam which shortly joins up with the Hadrian’s Wall Path coming down from Heddon on the Wall.
The outer section of the Tyne is beautiful, with just the river and the nature surrounding it. As you approach Newcastle there are more warehouses and busy roads to contend with, but as you press on you’re greeted by the famous 7 bridges of the Tyne.
Legs aching from the hard walking surface, stop to take a picture and relish the thought that soon you’ll be at the end of your hard fought thru hike. The path passes under each of the bridges before continuing out to the east of Newcastle where you’ll pass through more parks, docks, and warehouses before arriving at Wallsend!
There’s no significant waypoint marking the end of the trail but you can visit the Segedunum Roman Fort to signify the ending of the Wall path. Alternatively you can keep walking out to Tynemouth or Southshields to get your view of the North Sea.
Newcastle also has a metro that can be used if your legs are completely worn out. This gives you the opportunity to explore the city some more or to simply head back and crash at a hotel or BnB for the night exhausted after your epic 90 mile hike!
Congratulations – you’ve done it! You have just walked across England and conquered the Hadrian’s Wall Path!
10. Bonus Tips
Print Off Trail Info
The more research you do (and hopefully this travel guide can help with that) the less likely you are to miss out on anything you want to do or see. With a trip like this, preparation is going to be your closest ally!
Figure Out Your Travel Options
This is a long point to point hike so requires coordination for how to get around. I like to use Rome2Rio to give me some ideas of the different ways I could travel to a location and then I piece together my trip using the information I find there! It’s free to use and can help building your trip itinerary.
Download the AllTrails App
I believe this is essential and was actually my main source of navigation along the Hadrian’s Wall Path. The app also tracked my distances and was useful for signalling any way marks I may have missed.
Do Stretches and Yoga
This is a long and physical hike and shouldn’t be underestimated. You need to be prepared, not just in you cardiovascular system and muscles, but in your joints and ligaments. That’s where some stretching and yoga can really help. Do gentle warm up and warm down stretches at the beginning and end of each day.
If you are able to do some yoga in the lead up to the walk this will help you no end. Get into the habit of looking after your body and it will look after you!
See also:
How to Train for a Long Distance Hike
Bring a Good Camera
You’ll feel very sad if you get to the middle of this amazing walk and don’t have any way to record what you’re seeing. Most phones have good cameras now but make sure it doesn’t run out of charge during your hike!
I prefer to record videos on my GoPro Hero 7 Black because it’s lightweight, durable, and has a good level of charge. I then supplement this with photos from my iPhone.
Wear in your hiking shoes
Turning up with new hiking shoes is a recipe for disaster. Do not buy a brand new pair of boots just before starting your trail. You need to know that they are comfortable first. They should be worn in and tested with the socks you plan on wearing during your hike. That way you’ll avoid the worst of the blisters.
Before You Go
Thanks for reading my Hadrian’s Wall Path travel guide. If guides like this interest you, head over to my travel guide page to find more!
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