Hadrian's Wall Walk From Whitley Bay - 10 Days

Travel to Newcastle and then onto Whitley Bay. Stretch your legs and take the time to visit St Mary's Island, Lighthouse and Visitor Centre where you will experience spectaluar coastal views. Accommodation: The Metropolitan is a contemporary styled 4* B&B.

Today you take the 15 minute train from Whitley Bay to Wallsend and the start of the walk. If you have time before setting off take a close look at the remains of the Roman fort of Segedunum which marks the beginning of the route today. This is a multi award-winning site, with reconstructions of a Roman Bath House and an excellent interactive museum. From the Tourist Information in Wallsend, by the Swan Hunter Ship Yard, the trail heads out following the walls of the ancient Roman fort of Segedunum. Take the old Tyne to Blyth railway line, now a footpath through to Walker where you join the River Tyne at the Riverside Park and pass Byker. You come into the riverside area of downtown Newcastle upon Tyne with vistas of the elegant Tyne Bridges and of the Newcastle skyline including St. Nicholas Cathedral. There should be time to climb up to Newcastle Keep. Walk out of the city alongside the river. There is plenty of evidence of present and former industrial activity. As you get to the old village of Newburn, the countryside really begins to open up. You are now in the county of Northumberland. Just before you would cross the River Tyne for Heddon on the Wall, on the trail, we turn off for Wylam and our overnight stop at the end of this flattish day. Accommodation: Overnight in a nice Victorian country house which has been noted by English heritage.

Start the day with a nice steep stroll up to Heddon, where you can examine a good surviving section of the wall. The National Trail follows beside the road, often along the vallum, the ditch created as a defensive feature when The Roman Wall was built. After about 1 mile, you soon come off the road to follow the footpath by its side. Look out for remains of Vindobala Fort and the reservoirs around Welton which are good for birdlife. Reach a pub called the Robin Hoods Inn at East Wallhouses after about 8 miles, and maybe after a pint, you have a short walk up to your accommodation. Accommodation: The guesthouse is about a mile north of the pub in East Wall Houses along a footpath. A spacious stone-built former farmhouse dating from 1735. With well-kept gardens beautifully situated in the Northumberland Countryside. There is a Farm Brewery next door. Their Visitor Centre has a shop, bar, award winning tearoom & restaurant. If we are unable to accommodate in East Wall, we will make a booking in Corbridge where a return taxi transfer is required (own expense).

From East Wallhouses, continue along the roadside path. A slight deviation to Halton after 3 miles might be in order to admire the old keep there. Very near to the end of the walk, you pass Heavenfields where Oswald King of Northumberland defeated the Welsh hordes in 633 AD. You bypass the attractive little village of wall, with a pretty green slightly off route before you reach Chollerford. Walk into Chollerford with its handsome five-arched stone bridge from 1775. Or take footpaths down to the River Tyne to examine the foundation stones of the original Roman bridge which are well preserved. Accommodation: The George Hotel is situated close to The River Tyne this cosy pub is an ideal spot for walkers to relax.

The Walk continues on through Chollerford crossing the tyne over a beautiful stone bridge. You may have time to visit the Chesters Roman Museum which has Wall artefacts and great gardens with remains of the baths. The path still lingers beside the road as far as Fozy Moss, where the road veers off The Wall as it reaches the crags of the Whin Sill Escarpment. You walk past Brocolita Roman Fortress. Nearby there is a 3rd century mithric temple with replica deity figures of the Persian God Mithras and his associates. This stage rollercoasters to Housesteads, with its famed fort and National Trust Museum. There are excellent views over the “Northward Tynescape” to the Bellingham and Simonside Hills. Now follows arguably the most scenic section of the trip over Highshield Crags and then down via Peel Crags to the National Park car park at Steel Rigg, from where you can walk out to your accommodation at Once Brewed. Accommodation: Twice Brewed Inn is situated a stones throw from the Wall. *Take the option to visit their purpose-built planetarium with a 360 degree immersive dome and join an experienced astronomer who will bring the universe to life in their Stargazing Experience. Head outdoors to gaze at the stars through telescopes and contemplate life beyond earth. This experience is not included, prices vary. Please ask our team for details.

The Wall climbs to its highest point over Winshields Crags, before descending to the delightfully named Bogle Hole. Downsteps through Thorny Doors and up Cawfields Crags with excellent views onto the Pennines. The way passes by Great Chesters and Magnis (Roman forts), passing Greenhead, the ruin of Thirlwall Castle and in another mile or so crosses the Cumbria / Northumberland border on the River Irthing at Gilsand. Accommodation: Hollies on the Wall is a modern guesthouse.

Today is a shorter day giving you the chance to see the remains at the Roman site called Birdoswald where you can see the longest continuous remaining stretch of Hadrian's Wall. Explore the extensive remains of the Roman fort and discover interactive displays, artefacts and a model of the wall in their fascinating exhibition. With delicious locally made cakes and treats in the tearoom, it is the ideal place to stop and relax. Cross the River Irthing into Cumbria, and follow the trail to Banks and another signal tower turret. You can then turn off to visit Lanercost Priory which has a café. If we cannot get you booked into Walton then you will be staying in Brampton which is approx 3 miles off the route Accommodation: B&B or Farm House

The route continues undulating across country. After crossing the very attractive Cam beck, you briefly join the road at Newtown Village near the green before skipping across the fields. Here you are following the wall line via Old Wall, Blea head and Wall head farms, before detouring on a little “sandy lane” that takes you down to The Stanegate, the old Roman road that leads into Crosby on Eden and the river Eden. Now you will be riverside walking for about a mile. At Linstock there is a medieval ‘pele’, Peel Tower that rang in times of danger so that the locals could congregate within its fortifications. Next come to Rickerby which has, in contrast, a Victorian folly tower. Finally cross the River Eden towards Stanwix, then up into Carlisle - a very interesting historical city, with a castle founded by Henry I, extensive wall and other Roman remains and then there is the cathedral. The town has changed hands several times between Scotland and England and this is reflected in parts of the town’s structure. Carlisle is quite a bit smaller than Newcastle. A lot of the buildings such as the castle and the Old Town Hall are made of fine red sandstone. Beer fans will not want to miss out a couple of drams, as this is the centre for the Theakstone’s Brewery. Visit the Tullie House Museum for a fine collection of Roman remains. The inner city has been pedestrianised making exploration enjoyable around the market square. Accommodation: We stay at Crown and Mitre for 1 night - a historic, Grade 2 listed hotel

The final walk today will be to Bowness on Solway which is where you will be spending your last night. The walk from Carlisle follows at first the Southern side of the River Eden. The trail follows the Eden once again, more or less parallel with the line of the Wall and Vallum, through Grinsdale and Beaumont where you at last veer away from the Eden. You get good views from just north of the village to the peaks of Skiddaw and High Pike to the south and across the Solway Firth to the West. Through Burgh by Sands, a short detour takes you to the point on the marsh where Edward I died in 1307. In the vicinity of Dykesfield House, the trail joins an old railway embankment for a couple of miles before rejoining the line of “The Wall” near Glasson. From here the route follows the minor road to Bowness on Solway, the site of the Roman fort of Maia and journey’s end. Accommodation: Stay at Shore Gate House, a charming 17th century former corn mill, beautifully preserved and converted into a bed and breakfast

Trip concludes after breakfast.