Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail
Cumbria, Northumbria and Tyneside
Length: 130 km/81 miles
Average time to complete: 7 days
The only Trail within a World Heritage Site
While some stretches of road walking remain, the pieces of an amazing jigsaw are gradually falling into place to reveal a tapestry of historic features, coast to coast, across the narrow isthmus of northern England. From the eponymous Wallsend where, not surprisingly, the trail begins, via the vibrant city of Newcastle upon Tyne to the quiet solitude of the Solway estuary, the route shadows wherever possible the historic line of Hadrian’s Wall.
Not since the Roman occupation of Britain have some parts of the Wall witnessed any form of public access but this has changed. As well as the sections of visible wall masonry, mile upon mile of earthworks, ditches, forts, turrets and milecastles reveal the northern frontier of the Roman empire. Sometimes only a slight ridge or depression in a field, they all have a story to tell. This is not a challenging walk, the highest point is less than 400 metres high, rather one to dwell at a more leisurely pace. The 130 kilometre (81 mile) walk will probably take about seven days to complete but, to visit and appreciate all of the sites, allow for much longer than that.
While we want you to enjoy and understand Hadrian’s Wall, its uniqueness and sensitivity renders it one of the most protected landscapes that you will encounter anywhere. Its World Heritage Site status obliges the UK government to make sure that it is protected for everyone, for ever. Every visitor can play their part by following the advice contained within “Every Footstep Counts”, the World Heritage Site’s own code of respect. Parts of the Wall, for example, are particularly vulnerable to erosion during the wet winter months.
Use our interactive map to search for nearby accommodation for walkers (www.enjoyengland.com/book/accommodation/searchresults.aspx?Sec=accommodation&advsrch=1&Rad=3&Reg=Northumbria&FcWkr=true&durat=1&room=1&adult=1&child=0&display=map)
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