Walking Hadrian’s Wall Inn-to-Inn

Day 1: Arrive Manchester Airport, England – Transfer to Brampton
Rendezvous at Manchester, England, airport. Group transport to our B&B in Brampton, a medieval market town built of the local red sandstone and surrounded by gently rolling countryside. Welcome dinner.

Days 2: Circular walk to Lanercost Priory
We start our walk heading west to a Roman camp that pre-dates the wall before crossing the River Irthing to meet Hadrian’s Wall at Newtown. We then follow the line of the wall to Hare Hill where we find a section of the wall still standing to almost its full height. From here we leave the wall and return to our B&B via Lanercost Priory. This Augustinian priory was founded in the 12th Century and was built with stones taken from Hadrian’s Wall.

Elevation gain: 800’; Elevation loss: 800’; Distance: 11 miles; Time: 6 hours. 

Day 3: Brampton to Greenhead
We head back towards the wall, this time taking a ridge path with views north to yesterday’s route. The line of the wall takes us past the remains of turrets and milecastles to Birdoswald Fort, perched high above the River Irthing, which we will explore before following the longest surviving stretch of the wall to Willowford Roman Bridge, Poltross Burn Milecastle, and our accommodation at Greenhead.

Elevation gain: 850’; Elevation loss: 610’; Distance: 12 miles; Time: 5 – 6 hours.

Day 4: Greenhead to near Bardon Mill
Our way takes us to Carvoran Roman Army Museum, which gives a fascinating insight to the life of a Roman soldier on the Empire’s Frontier, before climbing onto the precipitous Whin Sill ridge for the most spectacular – and strenuous – sections of the wall. We pass Aesica Fort in the middle of a farmer’s field, with an original Roman altar in sight before a final climb to Whinshields Crag, the highest point along the wall. From here it is a short stroll to the welcoming inn for the night.

Elevation gain: 1650’; Elevation loss: 1400’; Distance: 9 miles; Time: 6 hours.

Day 5: Circular walk to Housestead and Vindolanda
With 2 outstanding sites to visit today, our walk is somewhat shorter. We start with a strenuous climb onto Peel Crags – home of the world-famous Sycamore Gap – and continue high above the Barbarian lands to the north to reach Housesteads Fort, built on a dramatic site on the top of the escarpment. From here we head south, away from the wall, passing an Iron Age hill fort, a Roman signal station, and a restored lime kiln. We follow the Stanegate to visit Vindolanda, a fort which pre-dates the wall and was still in use after the wall was abandoned. It is one of the most important Roman sites in Britain because of the level of preservation of organic materials in the silts. The Vindolanda writing tablets – postcards from the past – are considered to be Britain’s greatest treasure. Hopefully, we will meet archaeologists at work and learn about their latest discoveries first-hand. From Vindolanda it is just 1.5 miles back to our inn.

Elevation gain: 1400’; Elevation loss: 1400’; Distance: 8 miles; Time: 6 hours. 

Day 6: Near Bardon Mills to Chesters Roman Fort
Today we start by rejoining the Wall at Housesteads to continue along the Whin Sill ridge, then along gentler terrain to the Temple of Mithras, a god beloved of the soldiers. A further 3 miles brings us to the cavalry fort at Chesters. The mansion at Chesters was the home of John Clayton, the savior of Hadrian’s Wall. He discovered the fort in his front garden then bought up large sections of the Wall to protect it from further stone-robbing. There is a delightful museum on the site showcasing his finds. From here we take a short transfer to our inn for the night.

Elevation gain: 500’; Elevation loss: 1000’; Distance: 10 miles; Time: 5 hours.

Day 7: Chesters to Corbridge
Crossing the River North Tyne on an elegant Georgian bridge, we can visit the Roman bridge abutment left high and dry by a change in the river’s course. We then head uphill, passing sections of wall, and take a small diversion to the church of St Oswald at Heavenfield. This is believed to be the site where King (later Saint) Oswald of Northumberland raised a Christian cross before defeating the pagan King Cadwallon of Wales in 633CE. Continuing on our way through fields and woodland, we reach the site of the Port Gate, where the Roman Road from York to Edinburgh, known as Dere Street, passed through the wall. It continued to be a very important trading route even after the wall was built. Our route then leaves the wall to head to Corbridge. On route, we visit Aydon Castle, a 13th century fortified manor house which has appeared in historic films including Ivanhoe and further on we find two bottle kilns which date back to the time of the Industrial Revolution. Our hotel is nearby in the center of Corbridge.

Elevation gain: 800’; Elevation loss: 800’; Distance: 11 miles; Time: 5 – 6 hours.

Day 8: Corbridge to Newcastle
Our day starts with a visit to the Roman town of Coria, which stood at the crossroads of Dere Street and Stanegate, the Roman road between Newcastle and Carlisle.  Originally a military fort, it developed into a civilian town and became a major supply base for the forts on the wall. A transfer will take us to the village of Heddon on the Wall – which has a substantial section of intact wall – but soon the suburban spread of Newcastle covers all traces of Roman occupation, and we leave the line of the wall to head towards the River Tyne, which we follow to the village of Wylam. On the way we pass the birthplace of George Stephenson, the “father of railways”. We continue our day with a train ride to the center of Newcastle – Pons Aelius to the Romans – to our hotel.  Later we can enjoy a stroll through the historic center of the city with its castle, cathedral and medieval walls as well as elegant Georgian streets. Our hotel is by the historic quayside, which was the beating heart of the industrial revolution with staiths on both banks of the river for loading coal, lead and other ores onto waiting boats. Huge shipbuilding yards are now covered in smart apartment blocks and the Quayside has been transformed into a vibrant arts hub for the city.

Elevation gain: 200’; Elevation loss: 600’; Distance: 8 miles; Time: 4 – 5 hours.

Day 9: Circular journey to Segedunum and Arbeia
Taking the city metro to Segedunum Fort, we can celebrate our achievement of “Walking the Wall” before continuing to the coast at Tynemouth to visit the Norman Priory and medieval castle. We then walk along the Tyne to the Shields Ferry which will take us across the river.  Although Segedunum is officially the end of Hadrian’s Wall, we now visit Arbeia, which the Romans built to guard the entrance to the Tyne. Here we can visit the full-scale reconstructed gatehouse, barrack block and governor’s house to better understand how soldiers lived on the frontier 1900 years ago. There may be time left to further explore the city before heading back to our hotel – a visit to the Great North Museum, with its collection of original Roman artefacts, or maybe you prefer to wander the elegant Georgian streets that lead to the Earl Grey monument (of tea fame).  We will end our trip with a celebratory dinner.

Elevation gain: 200’; Elevation loss: 300’; Distance: 6 miles; Time: 3 – 4 hrs.

Day 10: Depart Newcastle
The trip will end with our last full English breakfast at the hotel. Independent return to Manchester Airport or other onward destinations will be independent. There are hourly direct train departures from Newcastle to Manchester Airport. Travel time is about 2 hrs. 45 min.

• This itinerary is subject to change prior to the trip start or while en route.