If, like me, you want to tick walking or running Hadrian’s Wall off your bucket list you need to plan it properly.
Thankfully, I’ve done all the hard work for you. This article is a round-up of my research and my experience of completing the Hadrian’s Wall trail in 3 days.
Hadrian’s Wall Path is a National Trails hiking and walking route spanning 84 miles coast-to-coast across the north of England. Slightly longer than the 80 Roman miles long Wall.
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hadrian’s Wall was built in AD 122 at the height of the Roman Empire by Emperor Hadrian to keep the threat of a Scottish invasion at bay.
Hadrian’s Wall Path spans 84 miles (135km) coast-to-coast across the north of England. Slightly longer than the 80 Roman miles long wall.
The Hadrian’s Wall route is fast, flat and incredibly scenic.
The total distance of the Hadrian’s Wall route is 84 miles and it is well sign-posted in sections. Elevation is relatively gradual, the highest point on the path being only 345 m (1130 ft) high.
Therefore, walking or running Hadrian’s Wall across multiple days is very accessible and achievable.
The Hadrian’s Wall route has its own distinct markers. Remembering these will help you when retracing the wall. At every Roman mile was a small fort which acted as a fortified gateway through the Wall, known as a ‘milecastle’. Between every two milecastles were two small watch towers (‘turrets’) approximately 30ft in height.
The Roman army was stationed along the wall in 15 major garrison forts. The last defining feature you’ll encounter is the ‘Vallum’ or ditch, 6m wide and 3m deep, that runs alongside much of the wall beyond Newcastle.
It is best to travel West to East along the Hadrian’s Wall trail – from Bowness on Solway to Wallsend. Doing so avoids walking head-on into the wind, sun or rain.
The 84 mile Hadrian’s Wall path crosses through a mix of majestic landscapes and terrains, particularly in the popular middle section through Northumberland National Park.
You’ll start at the coastline, pass through farmland, parkland and woodland, see Roman ruins and fully intact sections of the Wall and encounter never-ending Roman roads.
It is best to travel West to East along the Hadrian’s Wall trail – from Bowness on Solway to Wallsend. Doing so avoids walking head-on into the wind, sun or rain.
The 84 mile Hadrian’s Wall path crosses through a mix of majestic landscapes and terrains, particularly in the popular middle section through Northumberland National Park.
You’ll start at the coastline, pass through farmland, parkland and woodland, see Roman ruins and fully intact sections of the Wall and encounter never-ending Roman roads.
This is the best Hadrian’s Wall GPS watch map I found. It’s East-West, so you’ll want to flip it in the watch.
I bought this 1:25,000 OS Hadrian’s Wall Route Book, which proved very handy for plotting the route ahead of each day and working out key milestones along the way.
The Hadrian’s Wall route is well-signposted on the whole but having a pocket-sized map is advisable. This Ordinance Survey Hadrian’s Wall map book shows the full modern day line of the 84 mile (135km) Hadrian’s Wall Path, from Bowness on Solway in Cumbria to Wallsend (or the reverse) in great detail. It’s lightweight, durable and easy to follow.
Day 1 morning: Bowness on Solway – Carlisle (15 miles)
Day 1 afternoon: Carlisle – Greenhead (18 miles)
Day 2: Greenhead – Corbridge (24 miles)
Day 3: Corbridge – Wallsend (21 miles)
You can follow my exact path and experience of running it on my Hadrian’s Wall route review.
Day 1: Bowness on Solway – Carlisle (15 miles)
Day 2: Carlisle – Walton (12 miles)
Day 3: Walton – Steel Rigg (14.5 miles)
Day 4: Steel Rigg – Chollerford (12.5 miles)
Day 5: Chollerford – Heddon-on-the-Wall (15 miles)
Day 6: Heddon-on-the-Wall – Wallsend (13 miles)
Hadrian’s Wall is a popular tourist destination attracting 100,000 visitors per year. However, only 7,000 people run or hike the full length of the wall annually.
The most popular section cuts through Northumberland National Park.
This includes the undulating hillsides of the majestic Whin Sill, the most intact stretch of walls and highest points at Winshield Crags and Caw Gap, and Sycamore Gap, featuring the ‘Robin Hood Tree’, so called since its standout performance in the 1991 film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.
The best hotels near Hadrian’s Wall and for hiking the route West-East are:
– Crown Hotel, Wetheral, Steele’s Bank, Wetheral, Carlisle CA4 8ES (near Carlisle)
– Blenkinsopp Castle Inn, Brampton, CA8 7JS (near Greenhead, milecastle 48)
– The Wheatsheaf, Corbridge, NE45 5HE (near Corbridge, milecastle 21)
– Hotel du Vin, City Road, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2BE (near Wallsend)
I stayed in all of these when undertaking my 134km Hadrian’s Wall run.
The best time to walk Hadrian’s Wall path is between May and October, when average temperatures are 10.5 °C to 15 °C. See the chart below for average temperatures and rainfall of the Hadrian’s Wall route.
With 100,000 visitors per year, the Hadrian’s Wall route is well worn and muddy when wet in patches. Therefore, it many walkers choose to give the trail time to recover over winter.
I have run Hadrian’s Wall in August, when it gets popular with tourists and extremely hot, with minimal sun cover.
Check out more my complete Hadrian’s Wall packing checklist for full info.
Walking or Running
Snacks
Ankle support
Shoes x2
Sun hat
Sunscreen
Electrolytes
Duct tape
Vaseline
Toilet Paper
Plasters
Running bandages
Running bottles
Map
Running bag
Drop bag
Run shorts
Run socks
Run vets/tops
Nat pics
Recovery
Flipflops
Towel
Stretch band
Run gun
Compression socks
Ibuprofen
Roll ball
Masks
Hand sanitiser
Book
Spare water bladder
Bottled water
Bank cards!
Toiletries
Shampoo
Spare clothes
Headphones
Headphone charger
GPS
Overnight stays
Noise cancelling headphones
Sleep clothes
Toothpaste/Toothbrush
Phone charger
