UK - Hadrian’s Wall - Walking Coast to Coast

Itinerary

Day One
Meet in the evening for lecture at our Wetheral hotel.

Day Two (8.4 mile walk)
To Bowness-on-Solway, where the walk along the course of the wall begins on the shore of the Solway Firth, with views across to Scotland. The walking is flat and easy here, and there is very little to see of the wall, since virtually all of it was robbed away in later times. Pub lunch; by coach to the Tullie House Museum Carlisle.

Day Three (12.7 mile walk)
Today we follow the line of the wall from Crosby-on-Eden, stopping for a picnic lunch provided enroute (6.3 miles). Past Hare Hill to fort and museum at Birdoswald (6.4 miles).

Day Four (11.3 mile walk, some of it steep)
By bus to Birdoswald, and walk to Willowford bridge abutments, then to Gilsland (1.3 miles, steep down and up) and then take coach to hotel. Continue to the Roman Army Museum at Carvoran (3.9 miles). Soup and sandwich before continuing over Walltown Crags, past Great Chesters to Burnhead (3.6 miles). Great Chesters remains an atmospheric ruin, having been largely unconsolidated. Optional pick-up at Cawfields Quarry, or on over Cawfield Crags, milecastle 42 and Windshield Crags (the highest point on the Wall) to Steel Rigg. (2.5 miles). Coach to hotel.

Day Five (8 mile walk, some of it steep)
We divert from the course of the wall this morning, to visit Vindolanda, where the writing tablets voted Britain’s greatest treasure were found. This was one of the Stanegate forts, founded in the 1st rather than the 2nd century, and is famous for its extensive excavations. Back on course by coach to Steel Rigg and walk along the crags to Housesteads (2.8 miles). The whole central range of buildings is displayed here, including the commander’s house. Lunch here. Continue to Carrawburgh (5.2 miles) to meet coach.

Day Six (6.2 mile walk)
We pick up the trail again at the fort and mithraeum at Carrawburgh, and continue past ‘Limestone Corner’ (actually whinstone, and the most northerly point on the wall system), to Chesters (Cilurnum Roman fort), on the bank of the river North Tyne. Drive to our hotel.

Day Seven (11.1 miles)
Walk to Brunton turret, past Planetrees (a farmhouse built out of stones from the wall) to the Portgate, where Dere Street crosses the Wall. Lunch and then on to Harlow Hill. Coach to hotel.

Day Eight (10.8 mile walk)
Walk to Heddon-on-the-Wall for lunch. On to several short lengths of surviving Wall in Denton, after which there is an optional pickup. We finish with the Vallum crossing and Temple of Antenociticus in Benwell. Coach to hotel.

Day Nine (2.7 mile walk)
By coach to Benwell, then walk to the remains of the fort at Newcastle. By metro to the Great North Museum, and then to Wallsend site and museum. The excavated fort sits beside Swan Hunter’s shipyard, and the museum observation tower allows a wonderful view of both Roman and industrial archaeology. Finish at South Shields. Disperse late afternoon at Newcastle Station, or drivers will be returned to your hotel to pick up your car.