Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail
137 km / 85 miles
The Trail follows the line of the Wall built in the second century AD by order of Roman Emperor Hadrian as a defensive barrier that continued in use for most of the next 300 years until the Romans finally left our shores in the fifth century. The Wall included milecastles at each Roman mile, some 80 in all, as fortified gateways to control traffic of people and trade. Hadrian's Wall is recognised as a World Heritage Site, Frontiers of the Roman Empire.
The Trail provides a fine coast-to-coast walk and if completed east to west first takes the walker from urban and riverside walking on the north bank of the Tyne to farmland above Tynedale. The upland sections along the wild and dramatic escarpments of Whin Sill give way to gentler pastures of Cumbria and finally the Solway estuary and its salt marshes bring the walker to Bowness.An alternative west to east traverse has the benefits of a following wind and access to a city, Carlisle, at an early stage and certain of the guidebooks describe it.
In places the Trail runs close to roads, or on minor roads. To create the Trail footpaths were created where none currently exist in order to provide a line as close to the Wall's remains as is possible, but avoiding interference with it. There are real future concerns for this World Heritage Site and in consequence a 'User Code of Respect' was developed to include recommendations for keeping to signed paths, avoiding interference with the remains and using promoted circular walks especially in wet winter conditions. In response to the intensive use of the main trail in its most vulnerable sections, where in part it coincides for a time with the Pennine Way/E2 E-Route around Housesteads Fort, initiatives such as the Roman Ring and Moss Troopers' Trail and the provision of circular walks based on the Trail seek to spread walkers into the surrounding countryside corridor that has much to offer in scenery and interest.
The part of the Trail within the Tyneside area is known locally as Hadrian's Way. The Keelman's Way between Wylam and Bill Quay (14 miles) is a cyclist/pedestrian route to the south of the River Tyne with links to the National Trail which is north of the river.
The LDWA National Trails Register offers certificates for completers of several British National Trails.
Strider News - December 2010 (Publication Update)
There is a new 2010 edition of the popular Aurum guide to the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail
revised for changes in the route and updated by author Anthony Burton. With
ISBN: 978-18545135676 it is priced at £12.99.
Connected Paths:
Details:
| Waymark: | National Trail Acorn | |
| Attributes: | National Trail/National Route; Moorland; World Heritage Site; Heritage | |
| Start: | NZ304660 - Wallsend, Tyne & Wear  |
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| Finish: | NY225628 - Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria |
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| Open Date: | 2003 | |
| Web Sites: | National Trail Website - Hadrian's Wall | |
| http://www.hadrians-wall.org | ||
| http://www.planyourinvasion.co.uk |
Maps:The map to the right is from the Ordnance Survey. You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a marker for more info. (interactive map help) |
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| Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps): | |
| OS Landranger: | 85, 86, 87, 88 |
| OS Explorer: | 43, 314, 315, 316 |
| OS Explorer Active: | 43, 314, 315, 316 |
| Other Paper Maps: | |
| Harvey Map (Stripmap): | Hadrian's Wall Path (Harvey Maps - 2007) |
| Digital Maps: | |
| Downloadable Digital Mapping: | Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail (Anquet Maps - 2009) |
| Digital Mapping (25k Scale): | MEMORY-MAP V5 HADRIAN'S WALL PATH OS 1:25,000 (Memory-Map Europe) |
| Digital Mapping (25k Scale): | Hadrian's Wall Path 1:25k & 1:50k (Satmap - 2009) |
Route Profile:
| 137.3 Km (85.3 miles) 1,744 m (5,722 ft) ascent 326 m (1,070 ft) maximum height |
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Walking Support Providers:
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling and Self-Guided Walks (Wycheway Country Walks) |
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling Service (Sherpa Van Project) |
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling Service (Walkers Bags) |
| Support Providers: | Guided and Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Northwestwalks) |
| Support Providers: | Guided and Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Shepherd's Walks) |
| Support Providers: | Guided and Self-Guided Walking Holidays (HF Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Guided Walking Holidays (Footpath Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Guided Walking Holidays (Ramblers Countrywide Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Contours Walking Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Walking Support) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Macs Adventure) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Celtic Trails Walking Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Instep Walking Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Trek-Inn Holidays Limited) |
| Support Providers: | Self-guided walking holidays with baggage transfer (The Walking Holiday Company) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Discovery Travel) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Brigantes Accommodation & Baggage Courier Service) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Explore Britain) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Mickledore Travel Ltd) |
Group Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:
| Hostel Accommodation: | Newcastle YHA, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear | 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Albatross Backpackers In!, Grainger Street, Newcastle | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Houghton North Farm Accommodation, Heddon on the Wall | 2 Km |
| Camping Barn: | Barrasford YHA, The Barrasford Arms, Hexham, Northumberland | 3 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Grindon YHA, Grindon, nr Haydon Bridge, Northumberland | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Once Brewed YHA, Bardon Mill, Northumberland | < 1 Km |
| Bunk House: | Gibbs Hill Farm Bunkhouse, Bardon Mill, Hexham | 2 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Greenhead Hostel, Greenhead, Brampton, Cumbria | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Birdoswald YHA, Birdoswald Roman Fort, Gilsland, Carlisle | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Carrock Halls University Of Cumbria | 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Carlisle YHA, Old Brewery Residences, Caldewgate, Carlisle | 1 Km |
| Bunk House: | Hillside Farm Bunkbarn, Boustead Hill, Burgh by Sands | < 1 Km |
Publications, Badges and Certificates:
| Certificate: | Certificate for National Trails (Long Distance Walkers Association - 2009) |
| Paperback: | Hadrian's Wall Path: National Trail Guides (Aurum Press - 2010) |
| Paperback: | Hadrian's Wall Path: Two-way National Trail Description (Cicerone Press - 2004) |